Monaco Royal FAQs

Who is the present ruler of Monaco?
Prince Albert II is the present Sovereign Prince.  He succeeded to the throne on April 6, 2005 upon the death of his father Prince Rainier III.

What is Prince Albert’s address?
The Private Secretary to HSH The Prince
Palais de Monaco
Boîte Postale 518
MC-98015 Monaco-Ville, Monaco

What are the current laws of succession?
Monaco’s succession is primogeniture, where males take precedence over the females and older children take precedence over younger.  Up until 2002, the succession could only pass to direct descendants of the reigning prince. This was changed to allow the throne to be inherited by the reigning prince’s siblings and their legitimate descendants.  Illegitimate children have no succession rights, however if their parents marry, they would be legitimized.  If there is no heir using these rules, the Crown Council selects a new reigning prince from the more distant members of the family who are Monegasque citizens.  For more information see Current Line of Succession.

What is the Sovereign Family’s last name?
The Sovereign Family’s last name is Grimaldi.  The family descends from Grimaldo Canella, a wealthy statesman from Genoa who lived in the 1100s.

How does one address the Sovereign Family?
Prince Albert II is addressed as His Serene Highness Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco.  The children and the wife of a Sovereign Prince are addressed as His/Her Serene Highness.

Can a member of the Sovereign Family marry whomever s/he chooses?
Members of the Sovereign Family must have the consent of the Sovereign Prince to marry.  Those who marry without consent lose succession rights for themselves and their descendants.  If a family member marries without the consent of the Sovereign Prince and no children are born and the marriage is dissolved, then that person will regain succession rights.

How long has there been a monarchy in Monaco?
Monaco has been a monarchy since 1297.  However, there have been several periods of occupation by Genoa, Milan, and France.  The first rulers were “Lords of Monaco.”  From 1612 onward, the rulers were “Sovereign Princes.”

What does the flag of Monaco mean?
Monaco’s flag is red (top) and white (white) divided horizontally and was adopted in 1881.  Red and white are the heraldic colors of the Grimaldis, the reigning family.

What is the Sovereign Family’s coat of arms?
The Coat of Arms shows two monks supporting a shield of red and white. The monks represent the story of François Grimaldi seizing the Rock of Monaco in 1297 dressed as a monk.  The Grimaldi motto Deo Juvante, Latin for "With God's help" is depicted on the coat of arms.  See Coat of Arms of Monaco.

How is Prince Albert related to other current European monarchs?
Belgium: King Albert II and Prince Albert are fourth cousins once removed. They are descendants of Karl Ludwig, Margrave of Baden.

Denmark: Queen Margrethe II and Prince Albert sixth cousins.  They are descendants of Karl Ludwig, Margrave of Baden.

Liechtenstein: Prince Hans Adam II and Prince Albert are fifth cousins once removed. They are descendants of Karl Ludwig, Margrave of Baden.

Luxembourg: Grand Duke Henri and Prince Albert are fifth cousins. They are descendants of Karl Ludwig, Margrave of Baden.

Netherlands: Queen Beatrix and Prince Albert are sixth cousins once removed. They are descendants several times of Ludwig IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt.

Norway: King Harald V and Prince Albert are fifth cousins.  They are descendants of Ludwig IX, Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt.

Spain: King Juan Carlos I and Prince Albert are fifth cousins once removed. They are descendants of Karl Ludwig, Margrave of Baden.

Sweden: King Carl XVI Gustaf and Prince Albert are sixth cousins. They are descendants of Karl Ludwig, Margrave of Baden.