Prince Rainier of Monaco dies at 81

[Mrs Fish]

ananova said:

Prince Rainier of Monaco dies at 81 Prince Rainier of Monaco, Europe's longest-serving monarch who brought glamour to his Mediterranean principality with his marriage to Hollywood star Grace Kelly, has died. Monaco's royal palace made the announcement. The Prince, who was 81, had been in intensive care since March 22 with heart, kidney and breathing problems. His death came nearly a full month after he was first admitted with a lung infection to a heart and chest clinic that overlooks Monaco's glittering, yacht-filled harbour. Prince Albert, his son and heir, was at Rainier's side when he died. Rainier's doctors called Albert to tell him that the end was near, the palace said. Rainier's romance with Grace Kelly captivated the world. They met in 1955 when she was the 25-year-old star attraction of the Cannes Film Festival. Their marriage in 1956 put Monaco on the world stage. He never remarried after her death in a car accident in 1982. Albert, their only son, succeeds Rainier as Monaco's de facto ruler until a formal investiture ceremony expected after a mourning period. Albert had already taken over the royal powers - but not the throne - from his father last week after a royal commission decided that Rainier was too sick to rule. The 47-year-old Albert, groomed for decades to succeed his straight-laced father, is well travelled, multilingual and a five-time bobsledding Olympian. In recent years he has been Monaco's top ambassador. A confirmed bachelor raised in the spotlight, he also has been seen as a sometimes reluctant heir.

I read a thread somewhere on here last week asking who would be first, him or the pope but can't find it now.

I would laugh my socks off if his funeral was announced to be Saturday

sorry f that sounds a tad insensitive

[JagLover]

Lotus Lad beat you by 10 seconds.

[Mrs Fish]

It doesn't show you seconds on the clock so how do you know?

Anyway, mine had the first reply and story attached so.....

[lazyitus]

He enjoyed a good life.

[wolves_wanderer]

I bet his son is glad that he will no longer be referred to as "Prince Albert"

[lotuslad]

Mrs Fish said:

It doesn't show you seconds on the clock so how do you know? Anyway, mine had the first reply and story attached so.....

[Mrs Fish]

Sorry

[lotuslad]

Big meanie! I've had enough of being treated like this - I'm leaving

But if a "Where's Lotuslad gone?" thread starts, I might be tempted back

[Mrs Fish]

lotuslad said:

Big meanie! I've had enough of being treated like this - I'm leaving But if a "Where's Lotuslad gone?" thread starts, I might be tempted back

[FourWheelDrift]

wolves_wanderer said:

I bet his son is glad that he will no longer be referred to as "Prince Albert"

He still will be, it's a Principality not a Kingdom

[Zod]

wolves_wanderer said:

I bet his son is glad that he will no longer be referred to as "Prince Albert"

Eh? It's a principality: he remains Prince.

So with his being a "confirmed bachelor" (nudge, nudge, wink wink), presumably one of his sisters is next in line to the principality.

[FourWheelDrift]

They hurridly changed the constitution quite recently to allow one of his sisters to take over should there be no heir from Albert.

[ErnestM]

Zod said:

wolves_wanderer said: I bet his son is glad that he will no longer be referred to as "Prince Albert" Eh? It's a principality: he remains Prince. So with his being a "confirmed bachelor" (nudge, nudge, wink wink), presumably one of his sisters is next in line to the principality.

Probably Caroline as she is the eldest. Stephanie would be much more interesting to the tabloids however...


ErnestM