Albert II Prince of Monaco: Encyclopedia II - Albert II Prince of Monaco - Succession issues

Albert II Prince of Monaco - Succession issues

As Prince Albert has yet to marry, his lack of legitimate issue became a matter of public and political concern, due to the possibility that there might be no successors to the throne upon his death. Monaco's constitution specifies that only "direct and legitimate" descendants can assume the throne. Albert's illegitimate son, Alexandre, could be legitimated via legislation or if Albert marries the boy's mother, however, he has so far refused to do either. On April 2, 2002 Monaco passed Princely Law 1.249 which provides that if a reigning prince dies without surviving legitimate issue, the throne would pass to his siblings and their descendants under the rule of male-preference primogeniture. Before this change, the crown could pass to a direct male descendant of the reigning prince only, making Albert's sisters ineligible. This change made the extinction of the Grimaldi dynasty less likely. (This did not arise in Rainier's case, as he succeeded his maternal grandfather, not an uncle.)

Caroline, Princess of Hanover, follows Albert as heiress presumptive in the line of succession to the Monegasque throne. Though she is only the heiress-presumptive and not heiress-apparent, in the constitution, the title Hereditary Prince or Princess is not reserved for heirs-apparent. Thus, Caroline is Hereditary Princess, and her son, Andrea, is currently second in line to the throne.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Succession issues", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki