Albert II, Prince of Monaco
Albert II (Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi; born 14 March 1958) is Prince of Monaco, reigning since 2005.
| Albert II | |||||
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Albert II in 2019 | |||||
| Prince of Monaco | |||||
| Reign | 6 April 2005 – present | ||||
| Predecessor | Rainier III | ||||
| Heir apparent | Jacques | ||||
| Ministers of state | See list
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| Prince Regent of Monaco | |||||
| Tenure | 31 March – 6 April 2005 | ||||
| Monarch | Rainier III | ||||
| Born | 14 March 1958 Prince's Palace of Monaco, Monaco | ||||
| Spouse | |||||
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| House | Grimaldi | ||||
| Father | Rainier III, Prince of Monaco | ||||
| Mother | Grace Kelly | ||||
| Religion | Catholic Church | ||||
| Signature | |||||
| Military career | |||||
| Allegiance | Monaco | ||||
| Service/ | Compagnie des Carabiniers du Prince | ||||
| Years of service | 1986–2005 (end of active service) | ||||
| Rank | Commander-in-chief | ||||
Born at the Prince's Palace of Monaco, Albert is the second child and only son of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace. He attended the Lycée Albert Premier before studying political science at Amherst College. In his youth, he competed in bobsleigh during Winter Olympic finals before retiring in 2002. Albert was appointed regent in March 2005 after his father fell ill, and became sovereign prince upon Rainier's death a week later. Since his ascension, he has been outspoken in the field of environmentalism and an advocate of ocean conservation, and adoption of renewable energy sources to tackle global climate change, and founded Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation in 2006, to directly raise funds and initiate action for such causes and greater ecological preservation.
With assets valued in 2010 at US$1 billion, Albert owns shares in the Société des Bains de Mer, which operates Monaco's casino and other entertainment properties in the principality. In July 2011, Prince Albert married South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock. He has four children: Jazmin, Alexandre, Gabriella, and Jacques.