Prince Albert to take over his father’s duties

Prince Albert, 47, the only son of Prince Rainier and his late wife, American actress Grace Kelly is due to take his father’s place, as Rainier health was described as stable but fragile.

The palace has published vaguely worded health bulletins nearly every day since the prince was placed in intensive care on March 22.

The next health bulletin will be released in 48 hours, the palace added.

On Tuesday, the palace released a statement saying the 81-year-old Rainier was in stable but “very fragile” condition after three weeks in Monaco’s Cardio-Thoracic Center, including more than a week in intensive care.

Prince Albert of Monaco has taken over his ailing father’s duties, it was announced today.

The Council of the Crown decided that Prince Albert should temporarily take over as it was difficult for Prince Rainer to “exercise his high functions”, a statement from the palace said.

“From now, the regency is assured by His Serene Highness Prince Albert,” it said.

Rainier’s frail condition was underscored by Monaco’s decision to postpone a gathering of small European states’ parliaments at short notice.

“In today’s very painful circumstances and the lack of medical reassurances, the National Council considered it preferable to postpone the meeting of the Parliaments of Small European States which was scheduled to take place in Monaco on March 31 and April 1,” the Monaco parliament said in a statement dated March 29.

Representatives from San Marino, Malta, Cyprus, Andorra, Iceland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein had been due to attend.

Residents of this tiny Riviera principality remained anxious about the prince’s health.
“For us, it’s terrible. We have a knot in our throats even to talk about it,�? said nurse Patrick Audoli, 43.

The ailing Rainier, who had ruled the tiny Mediterranean principality nestled on the edge of the French Riviera since 1949, has been hospitalized several times since 2002 for recurrent respiratory problems.