The Royalist - World Royalty Gather For Albert of Monaco's Enthronement

World Royalty Gather For Albert of Monaco's Enthronement

Written by Joanne Leyland

Saturday, 19 November 2005

Royalty from around the world have started to gather in Monaco for the big royal event of the weekend, namely Saturday's 'coronation' of 47-year-old Prince Albert II.

Amongst those to arrive on Friday were Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.

Whilst Kings and Queens gathered for the April funeral of Albert's father, Prince Rainier, the royal guests at the investiture will primarily consist of royals from the lower ranks. The day will begin with a formal mass at the Principality's tiny cathedral. This will be followed by a football match and what will undoubtedly be a glamorous evening for all at the opera.

Albert has been in the world's headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent months following the revelation he has one illegitimate child, Alexandre, with possibly yet more to be publicly recognised.

However, it's the way Monaco is seen by the world at large that apparently upsets the Prince more than anything.

Speaking in a new TV interview, the 47-year-old bachelor Prince has yet again hit out at the stereotypical image of the Principality as being a somewhat shady tax haven for the rich, saying: "I'm a little bit fed up with the same old phrase that's trotted out about Monaco and money laundering. From now on ethics will be at the heart of all the principality's actions and everything will be done to crack down as severely as possible on all those that break the rules".

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