Albert II, Prince of Monaco

Prince Albert led the life of a bachelor until he was 53 and then married Charlene Wittstock in July 2011 in an elaborate wedding celebrated throughout Monaco in all its royal splendor. Before his marriage, he had been in and out of relationships with several glamorous women in the fashion and film industry.

His wife, Charlene, gave birth to their twin children, Gabriella Therese Marie and Jacques Honore Rainier, on December 10, 2014, with the accession right to the throne going to Jacques.

In addition to his legitimate children, the prince also has two illegitimate children. These include: Jazmin Grace Grimaldi born to a California woman, namely Tamara Rotolo, and Alexandre Coste born to Nicole Coste, a former Air France flight attendant of West African origin. Both the children have been acknowledged as his by the prince

Prince Albert II was born in Monaco on March 14, 1958 in the royal family of Prince Rainier III and his wife, Grace Kelly, an American actress and movie star. He has two sisters: Princess Caroline and Princess Stephanie.

He attended the prestigious Lycee Albert Premier high school, in Monaco, and graduated in 1976.

In 1977, he went to Amherst College, Massachusetts for his higher education. He studied political science, English literature, economics and music and graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor degree in political science.

Always a keen sportsman, Prince Albert II participated in several different sports, which included swimming, tennis, fencing, javelin throwing, sailing, rowing, judo, and cross country.

A keen sportsman, the prince joined the Monaco bobsleigh team and participated in five consecutive Winter Olympics from 1988– 2002, including being the flag bearer for Monaco in three of the games.

With a background in economics and management, he has held trainee positions in Morgan Guaranty Bank, New York, Roger & Wells International Law Firm, New York, and LVMH Group, Paris.

Princely duties were part of Prince Albert's life, and as the heir incumbent, he was groomed from an early age. As his father, Prince Rainier III became increasingly ill, he spent more time taking care of him during his illness while handling royal responsibilities in 2005, eventually succeeding his father to the throne upon his death.

He was formally enthroned as Sovereign Prince of Monaco in a two-part investiture on July 12, 2005 and November 19, 2005.

The prince serves as president of the Monaco Red Cross which was established in 1948 by Prince Louis II. He presides over the Princess Grace Foundation, established in memory of his mother, Grace Kelly, to promote and offer assistance to budding talent in the theater and arts by offering scholarships and grants.

In 2009, he was awarded the Roger Revelle Prize by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, for his global outreach to promote understanding and awareness of the environmental challenges.

On October 20, 2009 he was honored with the Teddy Roosevelt Medal at the United States Congress for his dedication and work in the field of environmental protection.