DECRYPTION – Charles III and Albert of Monaco: their unsuspected friendship
10 years separate them. On the one hand, Albert II, 64, sovereign prince of Monaco since 2005, on the death of his father, Rainier III. On the other, Charles III, 74, eldest son and yet king since a few monthson the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. A first common point, that of having their from an early age, was trained to reign. In the shadow of the builder prince, Albert listened, questioned, learned. Between the thick walls of the palaces, Charles was guided, guided, instructed by a monarch whom everyone thought eternally. Grimaldi and Windsor, two illustrious families and a heavy heritage to preserve and modernize. “Family relations have always existed between the various royal and main European courts. The cousin relationships between the Grimaldis and the Windsors exist” explains André Peyregne, historian, to Gala.fr. And the latter to be enthusiastic after some research: “You have to go back to the 15th century for the genealogical trees of the two families to intersect.” Result: Charles III and Albert II are distant cousins!
In the 1970s, the two distant cousins rubbed shoulders at family events. Weddings, baptisms or other less markedly festive events, such as funerals. “Prince Albert and King Charles III share an anecdote that they like to remember each time they meet. At a time when they were still single, Albert and Charles were regularly put side by side during social events requiring to come accompanied. For a long time, each time they met at these events, they knew that we would put them side by side if it was required to make an entrance in procession “comments Nicolas Fontaine, from the site Royal stories. And who better than Prince Albert II, in person, to counter this amusing memory. “We were always paired because we were ‘the two royal bachelors’ recalled with amusement the Monegasque sovereign in the magazine People,“It became a kind of ‘Here we go again!’ situation, which happened to us so often that we laughed about it.’Oh, I see you’re here, so I guess we’ll end up walking down the aisle together.’ You know, that kind of stuff. It was actually quite funny.”
⋙ PHOTOS – Charles III, dandy king: the “best dressed man in the world”
Their celibacy stirs up rumors
At that time, Prince Charles was one of the most popular bachelors in the world. Real playboy, seductive as hell, he multiply the conquests. Sabrina Guinness, Susan George, Lady Jane Wellesley, Lady Sarah Spencer… his hunting list makes you dizzy. But none seem to meet the criteria oh so demanding of an heir to the throne of England. Rumors are circulating, especially about… Carolina of Monaco. “At a charity event in Monaco, the Prince of Wales sat next to Princess Grace of Monaco’s eldest daughter, Princess Caroline. They didn’t even attempt to reconcile their inexplicable – but genuine and intense – dislike for each other. It turned out that she was irritating; she dismissed it as simply “boring”. Charles told a reporter, “With our first difficulty, the world married us, and now the wedding is already in!” relate Christopher Andersen in his book The King, Life of Charles III.
On the side of the Monegasque hereditary prince, the same parade of women, each more attractive than the other. Brooke Shields, Kylie Minogue, Gwyneth Paltrow, the list is long. Rumors or fantasies? Only he knows. Still, the two men did not show any serious relationship for years, fueling the tabloid press. “Prince Albert II, like King Charles III, both suffered from criticism about them, before their reign. Charles’s speed was tarnished by his private life relayed for decades in the press, while Albert suffered from the popularity of his parents and his too discreet character, generating certain doubts as to his ability to lead a country” emphasizes Nicolas Fontaine.
At the end of the 1970s, Prince Charles would eventually cross paths with Lady Diana Spencer, whose sister he had already rubbed shoulders with. Four years later, he asks for her hand. Marriage of convenience ? Undeniably, since her heart beats for another, a certain Camilla Parker Bowles. On the side of the Rock, who became Monegasque sovereign in 2005, Albert II finally decided to marry in 2011 the one who has made his heart beat since the beginning of the 2000sa top South African swimmer named Charlene Wittstock.
Defense and protection of the environment
Besides a long-term celibacy, the two distant cousins have in common a boundless passion for nature and environmental protectiont. A commitment pegged to the body. “Both succeeded in what they were capable of. Prince Albert ascended the Monegasque throne at a time when he almost found new aspirations in the Principality. Prince Albert, like Charles, is passionate about nature and is committed to the environment.Prince Albert II, who certainly has more opportunities to impose his style on his reign than Charles III can do, has decided to make environmental protection the main cause he wanted to defend” adds the expert. As early as the 1970s, Prince Charles had launched an environmental protection campaign mocked by his detractors. “The press nicknamed him the ‘potty prince’ (‘the crazy prince’), because his the commitments seemed far-fetched. Some were. But everyone will agree today that alerting on plastic pollution in the seventies was not wacky” reported Philip Kyle, author of Charles III published by Perrin. A pioneer, who ignored criticism, forcing the admiration of Albert II. “Prince Albert appreciates King Charles’ commitment and the tenacity he can have in defending the interests he holds dear. Prince Albert has already thanked Charles for his personal involvement during COP21 in Glasgow and he considers himself a pioneer in this field”, emphasizes Nicolas Fontaine.
Architecture, town planning and the desire to build
A strong commitment to ecology, which is not unrelated to town planning. The Monegasque sovereign also admires the work of Charles III for the improvement of architecture. Between the two distant cousins, the exchange of points of view is regular. “Prince Albert II is a builder prince. By the end of 2024, beginning of 2025, Monaco will gain an area of 6 hectares on the sea, which corresponds to a 3% growth in its territory. At the beginning of the 19th century, Monaco had already increased its surface area by 20% by building the Fontvieille district” explains the expert. If the Monegasque sovereign is more interested in marinas and buildings, Charles III’s vision of architecture is considered much more retrograde by its detractors. “He prefers mansions with charm and surrounded by beautiful gardens. We know how much time and money King Charles obtained in the renovation of his little secret gardens, whether in Highgrove House or in Dumfries House “. As early as the 1980s, the man who was still only the Prince of Wales went to war against modern architecture, which he considered “ugly”. Didn’t he call it “monstrous wart” an extension project for the National Gallery in London? A Poundbury, village built according to the views of the Prince of Walesthe latter has found a fantastic playground to express his vision of a more traditional architecture.
On May 6, Charles III should therefore enjoy being crowned under the Gothic vaults of Westminster Abbey. A historic event to which Albert of Monaco should respond. “We have kept in touch since Her Majesty became King, but I haven’t spoken to her personally since the Queen’s funeral.” clarified the prince. A surprising presence nonetheless. “Indeed, it is the coronation of a head of state and the presence of another head of state at the ceremony is even rather inadvisable.” analyzes Nicolas Fontaine. To represent him, Hereditary Prince Jacques, aged 8, turns out to be clearly too young… Which would push the Monegasque sovereign to foul English soil. At the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953it was Prince Pierre of Monaco, father of Rainier III, who attended the ceremony.
Photo credits: Ison Chris/PA Photos/ABACA