Husband of Monaco's Caroline seriously ill

The husband of Princess Caroline of Monaco was seriously ill in a hospital intensive care unit yesterday, just two days after the death of the tiny state's sovereign ruler Prince Rainier, the palace said.

Prince Ernst August of Hanover was taken to the Princess Grace hospital in Monaco on Tuesday morning, suffering from an acute pancreatic infection, the palace said in a statement.

"His state of health is serious," the palace added. Earlier, hospital and palace sources said Prince Ernst August slipped into a coma on Tuesday evening, hours before Prince Rainier died. The palace made no mention of a coma in its statement.

Prince Ernst August's problems are likely to renew discussion of the myth that a curse has hung over the Grimaldi dynasty during its seven centuries of rule over Monaco, condemning them to never having long and successful marriages.

Prince Rainier, who died on Wednesday morning aged 81, will be buried next Friday beside his wife, former Hollywood actress Grace Kelly.

Prince Ernst August, 51, has regularly made tabloid headlines in Germany with his explosive temper.

He was sentenced to pay €445,000 in fines last November for beating a German club owner on a Kenyan island resort.

He has also been accused of kicking a photographer and offending journalists.

German newspaper Bild quoted Monika, Princess of Hanover, the prince's stepmother, as saying Prince Ernst August was in hospital but gave no details as to his condition.

"Yes, it's true, Prince Ernst August is in hospital in Monaco," she told the daily. "I have no information from Monaco. I don't know how he is doing."