Monaco's Prince Albert assumes ill father's duties

Monaco's Prince Albert has assumed the duties of his sick father, Prince Rainier, as monarch of the tiny state on the Mediterranean coast, the palace said yesterday.

A brief statement did not say whether Prince Albert, 47, who is in line to succeed his father, was taking over the monarch's duties permanently and gave no new details about Prince Rainier's health.

Prince Rainier, 81, is in intensive care in hospital after suffering lung, heart and kidney problems. He is one of the world's longest-serving monarchs and was married to the late film actress Grace Kelly.

"In accordance with the statutes of the sovereign family, the (advisory) Crown Council took note of the inability of His Most Serene Highness Prince Rainier III to exercise his functions," the palace said in the statement.

"Prince Albert is empowered to exercise sovereign powers in the name of the sick sovereign prince," the palace added.

The National Council of Monaco, which governs the low-tax haven, said in a statement it would give Prince Albert its full support.

Prince Albert has been hounded less by paparazzi than his father and mother and his glamorous sisters Princess Caroline and Princess Stephanie.

Although Prince Albert has been called Europe's most eligible bachelor, Prince Rainier swore never to abdicate as long as his son was unmarried and childless.

He was educated in Monaco and the United States, where he majored in political science, and served in the French Navy.

His passion remains sports. He dreamt of a career in soccer, took part in the Paris-Dakar motor rally in 1985 and is a judo black belt.

Prince Rainier, whose Grimaldi family has ruled the low-tax haven for seven centuries, has been in and out of hospital in recent years with both lung and coronary problems. He was admitted to hospital on March 7.