While much fanfare was made in Luxembourg to mark the installation of Grand Duke Guillaume and the abdication of Grand Duke Henri after a reign of 25 years, in Monaco, Prince Albert marked the 20th anniversary of his accession with a series of events surrounded by his family.
By 2005, Prince Rainier III was 81-years-old, suffering from long bouts of bad health, and growing progressively weaker.
His reign had begun in 1949 and was nearly 56 years long. In that time, he helped reform the image of Monaco, gave it an economic reform, worked on its constitution, married Hollywood royalty in Grace Kelly and helped shape the principality into a spotlight on the French Riviera, and had three children: Princess Caroline, Prince Albert, and Princess Stephanie.
In March 2005, he was placed on a ventilator battling kidney and heart failure, and his son, Prince Albert was declared regent on the 31st. The Prince’s Palace was forthcoming in sharing that it seemed unlikely that Prince Rainier would recover from this illness, and he sadly passed away on 6 April.
Prince Albert immediately succeeded him as Sovereign Prince of Monaco. A period of mourning lasted three months, after which Prince Albert was formally enthroned on 12 July in the first part of a two-part installation, the second taking place on National Day, 19 November.
In the 20 years since his reign began, Prince Albert married his longtime love, Charlene Wittstock, now Princess Charlene, and together they have twins: Princes Jacques, the Hereditary Prince of Monaco, and Princess Gabriella, born in December 2014.
This year in Monaco, Prince Albert’s anniversary was marked over the course of several months.
At Monaco’s Red Cross Ball, one of the biggest nights of the year in the principality, Princess Charlene took the time to fête her husband, telling him, “This July 12th marks exactly the 20th anniversary of your accession. Twenty years ago, you took the reins of the principality and, since that day, you have guided Monaco with wisdom, courage, and determination.”
She concluded her speech with a personal message to her husband, telling him, “You know that I will always be by your side, along with all the Monégasques. We are with you, wholeheartedly, to protect Monaco and its future at your drive. We love you, support you and thank you for being there for all of us.”
At a special party a few days later, the principality came together to celebrate Prince Albert with a cake of macarons. There, Prince Albert delivered an emotional speech, speaking of his love for the principality and its commitment to climate change, environmental causes, the ocean, and biodiversity.
“We must be aware of how lucky we are, aware of the joy of living in Monaco, and aware of the strength of the ties that bind us. For my part, I remain as determined, as motivated and as confident as I was 20 years ago,” Prince Albert said, as quoted by the Monaco Tribune.
To his wife and children, he simply said: “I thank them every day for their love and support.”
Later in the year, at National Day celebrations in November, Prince Albert and his late father were on everyone’s minds as the principality celebrated.
Princess Stéphanie was honoured for her work with Monaco’s arts sector, mainly the circus, and the two sisters who proudly stood at their brother’s side when he was installed 20 years ago again had pride of place at this year’s ceremony.
The next generation of royals, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, also took part in the festivities. As they grow, they’re starting to reach their own milestones. This year, they had their first communion. And speaking of new additions: Princess Caroline became a grandmother again with the birth of Bianca Carolina Marta Casiraghi, born 13 October to Pierre and Beatrice Casiraghi!
