HSH Prince Albert Current Events 13 : Nov.2005 - Dec.2005

[queenofthenile]

Does anyone have any new photo of Alexandre Coste, He is very beautiful baby like all the Grimaldi children. ALL of the Grimaldis are very good looking .

 

[LadyMacAlpine]

Does anyone have any new photo of Alexandre Coste, He is very beautiful baby like all the Grimaldi children. ALL of the Grimaldis are very good looking .

I haven't seen anything posted in the thread on him and Nicole so they must be keeping a low profile and she is behaving herself which would be rather nice considering the trouble she has caused so short after Rainier passed away. This year will be a different type of Christmas at the Palace and for the family with the loss of Rainier.

 

[purple_platinum]

from hola.es :
December 11, 2005
Alberto II receives the key of the Red Cross the Principe Alberto of Monaco has received the key of a van of the Red Cross. The Monegasque Prícipe assumed the reins of the Principality and propusto is had to consolidate the small State and to renew it so that it is a perfect place to live.

 

[semisquare]

does anyone think prince albert is compared to his father? i was just wondering

 

[paca]

does anyone think prince albert is compared to his father? i was just wondering

I think everyone does, but so far the judgement has been positive. He is described as being more direct with people (i.e. using the phone instead of writing long letters). I remember that after each NH we received a letter written by Colonel Lamblin to express Rainiers gratitude for our work. On special occasions, he wrote himself. PA simply invites people to the palace and throws a little reception in their honour. So the style is different, but for the results we will have to wait. He is definetely persuing the landgrowing projects though it seems the islands in front of Fontvielle have been dismissed. At present two projects, one at the feet of the Casino/ Grand Hotel (former Loews), the other at Larvotto. Though the protected under water area is to be maintained.

I think in a few years only we can see how he compares to his dad, but seeing but a charismatic figure his father was and due to his long reign, I am sure that people will always compare, just as people will always compare any woman near him to his mother, whether it fits or not. He will just have to live with it. Other children have to fend their way out of the shadows of their famous parents as well. Some succeed some don't. But I think that PA is well acquipped to make his way. If he is lucky enough to find a good companion as did his dad, the better for him, but I'm sure he can make it on his own and with the support of all the other mebers of the family.

 

[teense]

Paca,
I can't wait until you come back from the reception you've been invited to-Let us know your impressions! Sit back and enjoy the event..

 

[Donna]

I think the comparison of his companion to Princess Grace is highly overrated. Sure PA is compared to his father but not to a killing extent. People allow him to have his own style and they love him for his difference. The same goes for his wife. At the very first they may say she is not as beautiful or not as something as Princess Grace but as she grows on the people they will recognise her own style. Every woman is beautiful in her own way so even though his wife does not have the classic beauty of Grace she will still be beautiful, that is if she is beautiful on the inside.

You don't see Princess Mary being compared to Queen Margaret of Denmark, or Princess Mette Marit being compared to Queen Sonja of Norway.

Monaco does not need another Princess Grace. There is something else far more needing.

Regards
Donna

 

[Freedom]

Donna, I wholeheartedly agree with you.

 

[mandyy]

Silvio Berlusconi meets Prince Albert of Monaco at Palazzo Chigi in Rome

#1: Hello magazine

 

[fanletizia]

more images of the visit to Italy

from polfoto

 

[paca]

Paca,
I can't wait until you come back from the reception you've been invited to-Let us know your impressions! Sit back and enjoy the event..

The big day is tomorrow, but it is already throwing it's shadows... Just received instructions about what to do and what not to do (like don't throw your self at PA and don't rush like a starved hyenna to the buffet etc.) If we all follow te instructions it is promissing to be a very stiff, stuffy and boring affair. I wish I could have been at the kiddies reception and seen the Santa tie . That one looked like fun. Guess I'm not adult enough for the other one. Can you believe that you have to write a thank you letter before you even get there? If I'd receive sth like that, I'd put it straight in the bin. Doesn't say anything, doesn't mean anything. Empty words and waste of paper IMO. (poor trees to have died in vain ). I probably forget to courtesy too. I am soo "unpolished", can't take me anywhere

 

[boss80]

As far as I know they are both denying it. She gave an interview to this paper http://www.aktuelle.de/aktuelle/content/aktuelle_home.php I can't access the interview, but I read somewhere else that he said he only met her briefly. Considering how busy he has been recently, I doubt that even if there was anything, they would be able to tell if it was lasting. I mean how much time would they have been able to spend alone, given the fact that they live in different parts of the world? And phonecalls are not a good substitute.

PS. I just read the interview and she claims that she refused him. He is not really her type and after a few meetings she she dropped out of the race to the altar. So he is still looking

Paca, I just read this interview ( die aktuelle) and it sounds fake to me. I don't think she would talks about him that way ( or i hope she wouldn't talks about him this way).
I also reads the magazine where he said he just briefly meets her, it was funny, he was saying how he is the one who sometime decides if a person can live in monaco, and the reporter asked him what he would say if shermine sharivar wanted to live in monaco.
PA asked " i'm supposed to know this person?"
reporter "you're together on this week Bunte cover "
PA " i don't read Bunte" and he suddenly remembers who she is " she is a good friend of a very good friend, i mets her only briefly"

She was at the Bambi award last week with his close friend Dr Michael McNamara

She was just on TV, they asked her if she has a relationship with PA, she said " in principle i would not like to say anything on it, it's too important to me, i don't wants to jeopardise everything with a statement"

I hope nothing serious is going on between those 2, she seems blinded by "Prince Albert" ( her Interview in Frau im Spiegel). The simple thought of a beauty queen who catches a real prince makes me sick.

 

[boss80]

Who gave you those instructions? they are acting like you don't have some social skill.

 

[paca]

Who gave you those instructions? they are acting like you don't have some social skill.

Oh , just someone in charge. It was all very ridiculous since we were told to dress decent and not throw ourselves at him, not to hog him if he decides to speak to us etc etc. in the end the same people where hogging him (btw people he sees often enough and clearly didn't want to spend much time with but felt like he was obliged to do so). Also some people were IMO not at all apropriately dressed for an afternoon reception, one of them seemed to know him better and kissed him ( i knew she was his type, though very inapropriately dressed for any occassion except the sidewalk IMO, usually nice girl though with a few strange ideas of the world). I had a nice "brainy" talk with our oldest member, met Colonel Frangin (whom my small kids the other day in church wanted to stick sth on his seat as he was standing up straighter then straight in front of us) and exchanged a few words with him and had a nice chat with one of the palace guards, whom I have met previously. So I had a good time after all, froze half to death, they were a bit skimpy on the wining and dining (city hall gave us a more generous reception), whole thing didn't last long since football started at 18.30h, but we all received a little coin with his portrait on it (better pic than what I've seen on the pic the other day) which might be worth sth when my grandkids have my age

Anyway if anyone gets invited to the palace this time of year, don't forget to pack a warm coat, because outside was warmer then inside. Judging from the pics in the xmas thread we were possibly in a similar room unless they have the same sort of columns and paint everywhere. The part where we were needs seriously a female hand/redecoration IMO. The uniformed guards where very friendly though. None of them was stiff as one might expect.

All in all it was not a very impressive occasion. Nothing that warranted the nervousness of some of the participants. Though I must admit that PA made it very easy on people as he came to great us for the pic and started joking around.

 

[paca]

I hope nothing serious is going on between those 2, she seems blinded by "Prince Albert" ( her Interview in Frau im Spiegel). The simple thought of a beauty queen who catches a real prince makes me sick.

I dont think he has anything serious going on, but the type he is going for does not really fit what probaly most people would expect from a future princess, and is certainly not the type that goes down well with people here. I witnessed one of his types in action today and I can guarantee you, people would not like it. Definetely playing at a man's primary instincts, but certainly not fit for the job. So really, with that sort of clash I don't see him marry anytime soon.

 

[teense]

Thank you for the report on the reception Paca ..... I have read that the food/drink served at the Palace is not plentiful at all(I believe I read it in the "Palace" book by Demassey----people who attended Caroline's wedding ball were not impressed with the food and drinks offered....)
Who is Colonel Frangrin? Its nice to hear that the Palace guards are welcoming.....
It's interesting how Prince Rainier made a concerted effort to find a bride Monaco would approve of...It seems that Prince Albert (judging from how you described the girl who kissed him at the reception) is just not interested in doing this...
Do you think the people of Monaco are a little annoyed by the female companions he chooses? Would they be happy for example, if a divorcee waitress with several children or a stewardess with issues married Prince Albert--or would anyone he chooses be just fine?? Maybe they wouldn't judge-or would they? Just wondering......

 

[paca]

Thank you for the report on the reception Paca ..... I have read that the food/drink served at the Palace is not plentiful at all(I believe I read it in the "Palace" book by Demassey----people who attended Caroline's wedding ball were not impressed with the food and drinks offered....)
Who is Colonel Frangrin? Its nice to hear that the Palace guards are welcoming.....
It's interesting how Prince Rainier made a concerted effort to find a bride Monaco would approve of...It seems that Prince Albert (judging from how you described the girl who kissed him at the reception) is just not interested in doing this...
Do you think the people of Monaco are a little annoyed by the female companions he chooses? Would they be happy for example, if a divorcee waitress with several children or a stewardess with issues married Prince Albert--or would anyone he chooses be just fine?? Maybe they wouldn't judge-or would they? Just wondering......

Yes, food was really not that great, considering who much interest they payed into the carreer of Alain Ducasse I should have thought they'd pay more attention to it. Also the drinks were limited. You were lucky if you got one. Of course there were children present, but still...

To me food and drinks are a sign of how much you care for your guests and I felt it was a bit thoughtless. Might not have done it at all then if you don't want to do it properly. It was all very tasteless and I have been invited to a lot of this type of things around here and I felt a bit like they had asked for the leftovers from some other event to be served. I know that also the palace has a budget, but they could have done sth different to what you always get.

The colonel Fringant (sorry for misspelling earlier) was responsible for protocoll, so basically made sure that we ended up in the right room, that the mike worked and basically was in charge of the frame (giving cues about what next - a bit like the souffleuse in the theater).

I really don't think that PA is really seriously looking at present. He has his expedition coming on and all the other stuff he would like to do, so I think at present he will just take what is easy to get and on offer. A classy woman who would suite the bill might want some attention and require more effort on his part then just being a prince. And not to be nasty but IMO the attributes he is attracted to and the brains and personality needed are hard to find combined in the same woman.

well, considering what I heard mentioned today, they certainly wouldn't approve of a princess who dresses as though she just stepped in from doing the sidewalks, no matter how proper a life she otherwise might lead. Whereas a woman with class, but a few children, maybe divorced, I don't think they would mind that at all, especially if she does a good job. IMO respect has to be earned through hard work. It is not just given due to marriage. I think a good woman would have a good chance of being dearly loved by the Monegasques, no matter whether she is still a virgin comming out of convent school or whether she is divorced with children.

BTW the caribinier I talked to for a while told me that Ernst-August is actually always very polite and very friendly to everyone. He never forgets to greet people, no matter their rank and apparently his public image differs a lot from the person people actually meet in the palace.

 

[semisquare]

paca
did you enjoy yourself? i have kept up with the thread as much as i would like to have, can u tell me what the reception was for? and everyone was nice and friendly? i have a perjudice of sorts- that if u have as much money & power as prince albert has, u r a snob. so tell us are they all, prince albert & sisters, nice?

 

[paca]

paca
did you enjoy yourself? i have kept up with the thread as much as i would like to have, can u tell me what the reception was for? and everyone was nice and friendly? i have a perjudice of sorts- that if u have as much money & power as prince albert has, u r a snob. so tell us are they all, prince albert & sisters, nice?

yes, I did enjoy myself, but that was certainly not due to being invited by PA. I would have enjoyed myself just as much talking to the people I did talk to elsewhere. I like intellectual conversation and I knew who to turn to. Besides that person (possibly our oldest member) was standing a bit apart and since I always like to talk to him and hear about his youth in Monaco etc. I thought it was a good bet to keep him company. And honestly I preferred what I had, to the automatisms that I saw and overheard from those who actually did talk to PA. Of course he can't have deep conversations with everyone, but I think he really wasn't that interested. He was more interested in getting to the match on time. Which is what annoys me a little, because no one would have expected him to do it in the first place (my friend is a member since 1941 and has never been invited to a reception, though he was given some sort of medal or order by the prince and also by the pope) and do it exactly this day. BUt IMO if you do sth like that, you should do it whole heartedly. As we say in my native language this was neither fish nor meat. The intentions where good, but the carrying out was thoughtless. We were expected for 17.25h, then take pics and start the recep. Obviously we were on time, M. Lucie took some pics to see where he had to place himself and then finally PA came, made a few jokes to put people at ease. Then we were rushed off to the recep room. Short speeches were given (none of them good or impressive) then the buffet was opened to get things over with quickly. One of my friends talked to him and told him that she had already seen him and his dad in Liechtenstein at the wedding of Alois. He spoke in good German and then turned to say a few words to our Japanese friend and apparently he made an effort to say a few words in Japonese. (btw my fried thinks that the royals of liechtenstein are more generous and appreciative)

Nothing wrong with all that, but what bothered me was the fact that some people went to great length in order to be there. Not everyone lives and works in Monaco. Some had to take time off work in order to be there. And what would he have thought if we wouldn't have made the effort to show up. Thus I think it was bad planing to squish it in just befor the match. I don't think that you can be a good host when you have to be somewhere else in 5 minutes. IMO that was simply impolite and thoughtless. For some people, who don't have much in their lives, this would have been or should have been a moment out of the ordinary. If he just wanted to thank us and give us a presi, he could as well have passed at rehearsal and dropped them off. No one would have thought less of him. But with this reception he raised expectations he couldn't or wouldn't live up to. And that of course makes you think whether the rest is also just sweet talk or whether he is actually going beyond the superficial. At present I take everything as sth that sounds nice when you have company and wait whether things are really going to change. It is nice to talk about signing the Kyoto treaty, when back home the fish have to share the pond with plastic bags and all sorts of rubbish that never gets cleaned up and when you icinary plant is way below Europeen standards.

 

[Donna]

Dear Paca

I love your posts, they are so informative and interesting. Please keep these kind of posts coming. We know the touristy stuff but are dying to know the deepest side of Monaco from an intellectual level.

Regards
Donna

 

[Donna]

Can someone please explain to me what IMO means?

Thank you
Donna

 

[paca]

Can someone please explain to me what IMO means?

Thank you
Donna

In my opinion IMO; in my honest opinion IMHO

 

[paca]

Dear Paca

I love your posts, they are so informative and interesting. Please keep these kind of posts coming. We know the touristy stuff but are dying to know the deepest side of Monaco from an intellectual level.

Regards
Donna

I'm glad you appreciate my posts. I was a bit worried when I posted it and it disappeared of the screen and didn't show up when I reentered that it was too critical and being censured , sooo glad I ddn't have to rewrite it. BTW he wore the same suit and tie as the day before (hope he washed though )

PS i edited the other post adding a few comments.

 

[Donna]

Paca

Which room did you meet him in? One of the official rooms behind the big staircase, off the Hercules hallway, or some other?

Rgds
D

 

[paca]

Paca

Which room did you meet him in? One of the official rooms behind the big staircase, off the Hercules hallway, or some other?

Rgds
D

I have no idea what the room was called. But I can tell you how to get there: main entrance turn left walk straight towards door, up the stairs to first floor, follow corridor (fairly narrow actually) and a few old ugly paintings down you enter a little foreroom before you enter the main room. the art selection on the way there was a bit strange: kitschy portrait of Rainier, old oil (yuck) of unfamous painters and modern statue. It was more like: we put on the walls what we have, instead of giving each artefact the place where it would be most appreciated. The statue was a bit large and IMO was not in a good spot to be truely appreciated. You would have needed to stand back, but then you would have crushed into a wall. Besides it took up too much space in an already narrow hallway. Considering how large the palace looks, I felt very crowded in. positive point: when I came home to my small appartment, I though it was so much bigger

 

[Donna]

Like I said, Monaco does not need another Princess Grace, although she was magnificent. They need someone culturally developed who has knowledge of art.
D

 

[paca]

Like I said, Monaco does not need another Princess Grace, although she was magnificent. They need someone culturally developed who has knowledge of art.
D

Guess he should have talked to me then instead, since that was one of the topics I was discussing with my friend Oh he missed his chance again

 

[Donna]

You will have to ask for a private meeting.

 

[paca]

You will have to ask for a private meeting.

Considering how cold it was I think I'm not interested before August. I'm not surprised he wants to go the north pole. It's warmer there

 

[Donna]

I think he is building up an excuse to come to Iceland, i.e. his North pole expedition. And maybe he is tuning himself down in temperature by keeping his surroundings freezing cold.