Prince of Monaco

See also: Princess of Monaco

Sovereign Prince of Monaco
Monarchy
Arms of His Serene Highness the Sovereign Prince of Monaco
Incumbent: Albert II
Style:	His Serene Highness
Heir apparent:	Caroline, Princess of Hanover (presumptive)
First monarch:	Honoré II (as Prince, previous monarchs were called Lords)
Formation:	29 November 1604

Monaco

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The Reigning Prince or Princess of Monaco is the sovereign monarch and head of state of the Principality of Monaco. All Princes or Princesses thus far have taken the name of the House of Grimaldi, but have belonged to various other houses in male line. The current Prince is Albert II.

Powers of the Prince

Monaco, along with Liechtenstein and Vatican City, is one of only three states in Europe where the monarch still plays an active role in day-to-day politics.

The Prince or Princess exercises his or her authority in accordance with the Constitution and laws. He or she represents the Principality in all foreign relations and any revision, either total or partial, of the Constitution, must be jointly agreed to by the Prince and the National Council.

Legislative power is divided between the Prince who initiates the laws, and the National Council which votes on them. Executive power is retained by the Prince. The Minister of State and the Government Council are directly responsible to the Prince for the administration of the Principality.

Judiciary powers also belong to the Prince. The present Constitution states that the Prince has full authority in the courts and tribunals which render justice in his or her name.

Albert II also grants and other ranks of distinction (see Awards and decorations of Monaco)

Titles and styles

Like all Monegasque nobility, the Prince is styled His Serene Highness (or, in the case of a ruling Princess, Her Serene Highness), abbreviated to S.A.S. (Son Altesse Serenissime). Though they are rarely used, the Prince also bears a great many other hereditary titles, some of which are occasionally bestowed on his relatives or their spouses. Some of these titles have merged with the Crown of Monaco as a result of the Grimaldi family's acquisition of various duchies, counties, baronies, and other fiefs, though they are almost all extinct and carry no administrative power. Most were granted by the Kingdom of France under Salic law, and can only pass in the male line, and therefore ended on the death of Albert's grandfather Louis II in 1949.

The current Prince's complete titles and styles are:

His Serene Highness Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco (princely title)

• Duke of Valentinois, only a Monegasque title (formerly also a French title)
• Marquis of Baux, only a Monegasque title
• Count of Carladès, only a Monegasque title
• Count of Polignac, a French title
• Baron of Calvinet, only a Monegasque title
• Baron of Buis, only a Monegasque title
• Lord of Saint-Rémy, only a Monegasque title
• Sire of Matignon, only a Monegasque title
• Count of Torigni, only a Monegasque title
• Baron of Saint-Lô, only a Monegasque title
• Baron of La Luthumière, only a Monegasque title
• Baron of Hambye, only a Monegasque title
• Duke of Estouteville, only a Monegasque title
• Duke of Mazarin, only a Monegasque title
• Duke of Mayenne, only a Monegasque title
• Prince of Château-Porcien, only a Monegasque title
• Count of Ferrette, only a Monegasque title
• Count of Belfort, only a Monegasque title
• Count of Thann, only a Monegasque title
• Count of Rosemont, only a Monegasque title
• Baron of Altkirch, only a Monegasque title
• Lord of Isenheim, only a Monegasque title
• Marquis of Chilly, only a Monegasque title
• Count of Longjumeau, only a Monegasque title
• Baron of Massy, only a Monegasque title
• Marquis of Guiscard, only a Monegasque title

Non-reigning princes(ses) of Monaco

Prince(ss) of Monaco is a title also given to certain members of the princely family of Monaco. It is not to be confused with the ruling Prince's title "Sovereign Prince of Monaco", from which the first word is commonly dropped, or with the title of the heir apparent or presumptive to the throne, Hereditary Prince of Monaco.

See also

• List of rulers of Monaco
• Line of succession to the Monegasque throne