The line of succession to the Monegasque Throne passes to the descendants of the reigning Prince of Monaco in accordance with male-preference primogeniture. The line of succession was most recently and notably modified by a constitutional change implemented by Princely Law 1.249 of April 2, 2002. Succession is the act or process of pooing or of following in order or sequence. ... The Sovereign Prince of Monaco is the sovereign monarch and head of state of the Principality of Monaco. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... April 2 is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...

Rules of succession

Under the constitution of Monaco, the eldest son of the incumbent inherits the throne, or the eldest daughter if there are no sons. Should the reigning Prince die without legitimate offspring, the succession passes through the Prince's siblings and their legitimate descendants using the same male-preference rule. If a would-be successor dies or renounces the succession, the succession nevertheless passes to his or her own legitimate descendants using the same male-preference rule. The next in line of succession is known as the Hereditary Prince(ss) of Monaco. The Constitution of Monaco, first adopted in 1911 and heavily revised by Prince Rainier III on December 17, 1962, outlines three branches of government, including several administrative offices and a number of councils, who share advisory and legislative power with the Prince. ... The Hereditary Prince(ss) of Monaco is the title given to the heir apparent or heir presumptive to the reigning Prince of Monaco. ...

If these rules fail to produce an heir, a council of regency takes power until the Crown Council selects a new reigning prince from among the more distant descendants of the House of Grimaldi. Only persons with Monegasque nationality are eligible. The Crown Council of Monaco is a seven-member administrative body which meets at least twice annually to advise the Prince of Monaco on various domestic and international affairs. ... The House of Grimaldi is associated with the history of the Republic of Genoa and of the Principality of Monaco. ...

Current line of succession

Current Monarch: Albert II Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco (Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi; born March 14, 1958), styled His Serene Highness The Sovereign Prince of Monaco, is the head of the House of Grimaldi and the current ruler of the Principality of Monaco. ...

1. HRH Princess Caroline, the Princess of Hanover, Hereditary Princess of Monaco and Heiress Presumptive, elder sister of Albert II
2. Andrea Casiraghi, elder son of Princess Caroline and Stefano Casiraghi
3. Pierre Casiraghi, younger son of Princess Caroline and Stefano Casiraghi
4. Charlotte Casiraghi, daughter of Princess Caroline and Stefano Casiraghi
5. HRH Princess Alexandra of Hanover, daughter of Ernst August V, Prince of Hanover and Princess Caroline
6. HSH Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, younger sister of Albert II
7. Louis Ducruet, only son of Princess Stéphanie and Daniel Ducruet
8. Pauline Ducruet, daughter of Princess Stéphanie and Daniel Ducruet

All of the above are heirs presumptive; that is, they could be moved down the list if Albert II were to father a legitimate child. If Albert's firstborn were a daughter, she would become the first in line, but still an heiress presumptive; on the other hand, his first son would be the heir apparent, who could not be displaced by any future births. Royal Highness (abbreviation HRH) is a style His Royal Highness or Her Royal Highness. ... The Princess of Hanover is the eldest child of the late Prince Rainier III of Monaco and is currently heir presumptive to the principalitys throne. ... Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco (Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi; born March 14, 1958), styled His Serene Highness The Sovereign Prince of Monaco, is the head of the House of Grimaldi and the current ruler of the Principality of Monaco. ... Andrea Albert Pierre Casiraghi (born June 8, 1984) is the eldest child of HSH Princess Caroline of Monaco and Hanover and her second husband, Stefano Casiraghi, an heir to an Italian oil fortune. ... Stefano Casiraghi pictured with Princess Caroline in 1990 Stefano Casiraghi (August 9, 1960 – October 3, 1990) was a sportsman and Italian businessman. ... Pierre Rainier Stefano Casiraghi is the youngest child of HSH Princess Caroline of Monaco (now Princess of Hanover) and her second husband, Stefano Casiraghi. ... Charlotte Marie Pomeline Casiraghi (born August 3, 1986, at the Princess Grace Clinic in Monte Carlo, Monaco) is the daughter of HSH Princess Caroline of Monaco (now HRH Princess of Hanover) and her second husband, Stefano Casiraghi, an Italian industrialist. ... Princess Alexandra with her mother Princess Alexandra Charlotte Ulrike Maryam Virginia of Hanover (born July 20, 1999) styled Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Hanover, is the only child of Ernst August V, Prince of Hanover and his second wife Princess Caroline of Monaco. ... HRH The Prince of Hanover Ernst August, Prince of Hanover (German: Prinz von Hannover, in English also known as Ernest Augustus of Hanover), styled His Royal Highness The Prince of Hanover; born 26 February 1954 in Hanover, Lower Saxony, Germany) is the eldest son of Ernest Augustus IV, Prince of... Serene Highness (acronym HSH) – His Serene Highness or Her Serene Highness. ... Princess Stéphanie of Monaco. ... Louis Robert Paul Ducruet was born in Monaco on 26 November 1992, the son of Princess Stéphanie of Monaco and Daniel Ducruet, a former Palace bodyguard. ... Daniel Ducruet (born November 27, 1964) was the husband of Princess Stéphanie from 1995 until 1996. ... Pauline Ducruet Pauline Grace Maguy Ducruet is the daughter of HSH Princess Stéphanie of Monaco and Daniel Ducruet and was born on 4 May 1994. ... An Heir Presumptive (capitalised) is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honor, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an Heir Apparent or of a new Heir Presumptive with a better claim to the throne. ... Contrasting with heir presumptive, an heir apparent is one who cannot be prevented from inheriting by the birth of any other person. ...

Caroline's descendants are ahead of Stéphanie and her legitimate descendants, and will remain so even if Caroline herself died or renounced her claim to the throne.

Recent history of the line of succession

The following nine people formerly occupied the tenth through eighteenth places in the line of succession (from 2002, with the new succession rules), but lost their positions at the death of Prince Rainier III, since succession only passes to the siblings and descendants of the current Prince, and not those of his parents:

10. HSH Princess Antoinette, Baroness of Massy, aunt of Albert II
11. Christian de Massy, eldest son of Princess Antoinette, cousin of Albert II
12. Brice de Massy, eldest son of Christian de Massy, first cousin once removed of Albert II
13. Antoine de Massy, younger son of Christian de Massy, first cousin once removed of Albert II
14. Laetizia de Massy, daughter of Christian de Massy, first cousin once removed of Albert II
15. Elisabeth-Anne de Massy, daughter of Princess Antoinette, cousin of Albert II
16. Baron Jean-Léonard Taubert-Natta, son of Elisabeth-Anne de Massy, first cousin once removed of Albert II
17. Mélanie de Lusignan, daughter of Elisabeth-Anne de Massy, first cousin once removed of Albert II
18. Keith Sebastian Knecht, son of the late Christine de Massy, first cousin once removed of Albert II
19. Baron J Von Habsburg-Lothringen, second cousin once removed of Albert II

20. Theoretical alternatives

    Male preference resulted in Albert becoming ruler of Monaco even though his sister Caroline is older as his father became Prince Rainier III over his older sister Antoinette; and for the same reason, Pierre Casiraghi is ahead of his older sister Charlotte. If Albert had had a brother of any age, that hypothetical brother would be the heir presumptive instead of Caroline. Princess Antoinette, Baroness of Massy (born Antoinette Louise Alberte Suzanne Grimaldi) (born 28 December 1920) is a member of the princely family of Monaco and the elder sister of the late Prince Rainier III. Her parents were Count Pierre de Polignac and Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois. ... Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco (Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi; born March 14, 1958), styled His Serene Highness The Sovereign Prince of Monaco, is the head of the House of Grimaldi and the current ruler of the Principality of Monaco. ... Elisabeth-Anne, Baroness de Massy was born in 1947 to Princess Antoinette of Monaco and her lover Aleco Noghes. ... Baron Jean-Léonard Taubert-Natta de Massy (3 June 1974) is a member of the extended Princely Family of Monaco. ... Melanie de Lusignan was born in Monacoin 18 January 1985 and is the daughter of Baroness Elisabeth Ann de Massy and her second husband Nicolai de Lusignan. ... James Von Habsburg-Lothringen, who holds the titles of Baron and count, was born in Vienna on the May 16, 1989. ...

    
    Not included in the line of succession are Eric Alexandre Coste and Jazmin Grace Rotolo, who are acknowledged illegitimate children of Prince Albert II, and Camille Gottlieb, younger daughter of Princess Stéphanie. All three are considered illegitimate under Monegasque law and therefore are automatically excluded. By Monaco law, only "legitimate and direct" offspring are eligible and only a future marriage between their parents would legitimize them. Alexandre Eric Stéphane Coste (born 24 August 2003 in Paris) is the son of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and his former lover, Nicole Coste, a native of Togo in west Africa. ... Jazmin Grace on cover of Paris Match Jazmin Grace Rotolo was born March 4, 1992 in Palm Springs, California, United States). ... Camille Marie Kelly Gottlieb (born July 15, 1998) is the third child of HSH Princess Stéphanie of Monaco. ... The Constitution of Monaco, first adopted in 1911 and heavily revised by Prince Rainier III on December 17, 1962, outlines three branches of government, including several administrative offices and a number of councils, who share advisory and legislative power with the Prince. ...

    
    Another hypothetical considers if Jazmin and Eric Alexandre were legitimate, they would be at the top of the line as Albert's oldest direct descendants. And even though her half-brother is younger, Jazmine would then be behind Eric Alexandre due to the preference given males. However, it is very unlikely as Prince Albert II has issued a statement saying neither will be in line for the throne. While he acknowledges fathering them, they are unlikely to be legitimized.

    Necessary changes

    Until 2002, the crown of Monaco could only pass to the direct descendants of the reigning prince. These old rules meant that Princess Antoinette was not in the line of succession and that Princesses Caroline and Stephanie would lose their places in line at the moment of Prince Albert's succession. This created considerable concern that the throne might fall vacant should Prince Albert inherit the crown and then die without fathering a legitimate heir. In 2002, changes were made to the Constitution of Monaco which eliminated that concern. The Constitution of Monaco, first adopted in 1911 and heavily revised by Prince Rainier III on December 17, 1962, outlines three branches of government, including several administrative offices and a number of councils, who share advisory and legislative power with the Prince. ...

    
    The 2002 changes make the succession law more restrictive than previous versions. Under the old rules, the reigning Prince could adopt an heir who would succeed him if the Prince died without biological children. Prince Albert could have then adopted one of his nephews, or even someone unrelated, and made the person his heir. That option no longer exists. Now, if Prince Albert II fails to marry and father a legitimate heir, the crown will automatically pass to one of his sisters or one of their children--regardless of any illegitimate children he has fathered.

    Legitimation

    With the 2002 changes, for a biological descendent to be added to the line of succession and potentially succeed to the throne now, his or her parents must have been legally married at some point. Thus, someone born to unmarried parents, like Princess Stephanie's youngest child Camille Gottlieb, cannot inherit the crown of Monaco as they are considered illegitimate. Camille Marie Kelly Gottlieb (born July 15, 1998) is the third child of HSH Princess Stéphanie of Monaco. ...

    
    Such a person can succeed, however, if their parents subsequently marry. One example is Louis Ducruet. He was born out of wedlock. But because Princess Stéphanie later married Louis' father, Daniel Ducruet, Louis is now considered legitimate. Therefore he is in line and can potentially assume the throne. Louis Robert Paul Ducruet was born in Monaco on 26 November 1992, the son of Princess Stéphanie of Monaco and Daniel Ducruet, a former Palace bodyguard. ... Daniel Ducruet (born November 27, 1964) was the husband of Princess Stéphanie from 1995 until 1996. ...

    
    Similarly, Louis' sister Camille Gottlieb would be legitimized and could join the line of succession if her father is confirmed to be Jean-Raymond Gottlieb and he married Princess Stéphanie. However, this scenario appears unlikely as Princess Stéphanie ended her relationship with Gottlieb some time ago. Camille Marie Kelly Gottlieb (born July 15, 1998) is the third child of HSH Princess Stéphanie of Monaco. ... Jean Raymond Gottlieb (b. ...

    
    Although this rule, called Legitimation, has become the norm in the case of ordinary inheritances (for example, the property of commoners) it appears that Monaco is the only monarchy to apply it for succession to the throne. Legitimation is the act of providing legitimacy to a child born out of wedlock. ... Inheritance is the practice of passing on property, titles, debts, and obligations upon the death of an individual. ... Places where monarchies maintain rule appear in blue. ...

    Future succession

    Under the 2002 succession rules, if Prince Albert II dies without legitimate offspring, the throne will pass to his sister, Princess Caroline. If Princess Caroline were to receive the throne in this manner, her eldest son Andrea would become the heir apparent. At such time, he would receive the traditional titles of the heir to Monaco's throne-becoming HSH Hereditary Prince Andrea of Monaco, Marquis of Baux). Andrea would also then assume the dynastic Grimaldi surname. Contrasting with heir presumptive, an heir apparent is one who cannot be prevented from inheriting by the birth of any other person. ... Marquis of Baux (French: Marquis des Baux) is one of the Prince of Monacos many hereditary titles, and one which is usually also given to the reigning Princes eldest son. ... // For other uses, see Dynasty (disambiguation). ... The Grimaldi family (House of Grimaldi) is the royal family of the Principality of Monaco. ... A family name, or surname, is that part of a persons name that indicates to what family he or she belongs. ...

    
    After the succession of Prince Albert, his aunt Princess Antoinette and her descendants lost their places in the line of succession. Similarly, upon the succession of any future legitimate child of Prince Albert, Princesses Caroline and Stéphanie and their children will cease to be in the line of succession. Nevertheless, if the line of succession through Albert II should fail at some future time, Princesses Antoinette, Caroline, and Stéphanie and/or their descendants would be eligible for selection by the Crown Council. Princess Antoinette, Baroness of Massy (born Antoinette Louise Alberte Suzanne Grimaldi) (born 28 December 1920) is a member of the princely family of Monaco and the elder sister of the late Prince Rainier III. Her parents were Count Pierre de Polignac and Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois. ... The Crown Council of Monaco is a seven-member administrative body which meets at least twice annually to advise the Prince of Monaco on various domestic and international affairs. ...

    See also

    • Constitution of Monaco
    • List of rulers of Monaco

    External link

    • Constitution de la Principauté including succession rules (in French)