Prince Albert: the sovereign who celebrated a milestone anniversary in 2025

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 20^th
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 31^st. 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 12^th 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!