H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco

H.S.H. Prince Albert, Alexandre, Louis, Pierre, Hereditary Prince of Monaco, Marquis of Baux, was born on 14 March 1958.

His Highness is the son of Prince Rainier III, Louis Henri-Maxence-Bertrand (31 May 1923-6 April 2005) and of Princess Grace, née Kelly (Philadelphia, United States, 12 November 1929-Monaco, 14 September 1982).

On Wednesday 6 April 2005, H.S.H. Prince Albert II succeeded his father, Prince Rainier III. On 12 July 2005, at the end of the period of official mourning, the Prince’s accession to the throne was celebrated.

H.S.H. Prince Albert had assisted his father in conducting the affairs of State since 1984.

Studies

1976: H.S.H. Prince Albert II obtained his baccalauréat “with distinction” at the end of his secondary school studies at the Lycée Albert 1^st in Monaco.
1976-1977: training in familiarisation with different branches of the Principality’s Government.
1977-1981: H.S.H. Prince Albert II studied political science, economics, psychology, English literature, the history of art, anthropology, geology, philosophy, sociology, German and music at Amherst College, Massachusetts, in the United States.
During the summer of 1979, H.S.H. Prince Albert toured Europe and the Middle East with the Amherst College Glee Club choir.
30 May 1981: H.S.H. Prince Albert II graduated in political science, the diploma being given to him in the presence of his parents, Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace, and his sister, Princess Caroline.
September 1981-April 1982: H.S.H. Prince Albert II completed a training course on board the French Navy’s helicopter-carrier “Jeanne d’Arc”, with the rank of Ship-of-the-Line Ensign (2^nd class). His Highness is currently a reserve corvette Captain.
January-May 1983: training in financial management with Morgan Guaranty Trust, New York.
End of year 1983: study course in multinational management and functioning with Moёt Hennessy, Paris.
January-May 1984: training in marketing with Morgan Guaranty Trust, Paris.
May 1984: training period with Wells Rich Greene, advertising agency.
Winter 1985: training in international law with Rogers & Wells, New York.
20 September 1996: H.S.H. Prince Albert II received an Honorary Doctorate in philosophy from the Pontifical University of Maynooth in Ireland.
26 October 2000: His Serene Highness was made an Honorary Professor of International Studies at Tarrant County College, Forth Worth, Texas.

International

Since 28 May 1993, the Prince has led the Monegasque delegation to the General Assembly of the United Nations. Since the opening of the 48^th Session in September 1993 in New York, His Highness has taken the floor on behalf of the Principality of Monaco at the opening of each Assembly.

At the 36^th Plenary Assembly of the Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM) held in the Principality from 21 to 28 September 2001, the representatives of the member states unanimously elected Monaco to head the Commission for a period of six years. H.S.H. Prince Albert II, Head of the Monegasque delegation, will chair the Commission. H.S.H. the Prince succeeds his father, Prince Rainer III, who had presided over the CIESM since 1956.

Created at the beginning of the century on the initiative of Prince Albert I, the CIESM is an intergovernmental body with 23 member states, 20 of which have a Mediterranean coast. Its objectives are to promote multilateral international research and facilitate the exchange of information, in particular between countries on the north and south sides of the Mediterranean Sea. The CIESM co-operates with 500 specialised institutes.

On 5 October 2004, H.S.H. the Prince presided over the delegation of Monaco in Strasbourg for the official ceremony of accession of the Principality to the Council of Europe as the 46^th member state of that organisation.

In June 2006, H.S.H. the Prince set up the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation dedicated to environmental protection. It promotes the sustainable and equitable management of natural resources and places mankind at the heart of its projects. The Foundation supports the implementation of innovative and ethical solutions in three main areas: climate change, biodiversity and water.

On Wednesday 20 June 2007, H.S.H. Prince Albert II was elected an associate member of the Marine Academy.