Albert II, Prince of Monaco

Albert II (Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi; born 14 March 1958) is Prince of Monaco, reigning since 2005.

Born at the Prince's Palace of Monaco, Albert is the second child and only son of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace. He attended the Lycée Albert Premier before studying political science at Amherst College. He is an Olympian, having competed in bobsleigh at multiple Winter Olympic Games from 1988 until his retirement in 2002. Albert was appointed regent in March 2005 after his father fell ill, and became sovereign prince upon his father's death a week later. Since his accession, he has been outspoken in the field of environmentalism and an advocate of ocean conservation and the adoption of renewable energy sources to address global climate change, and founded the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation in 2006 to raise funds and initiate action for such causes and broader ecological preservation.

With assets valued in 2010 at US$1 billion, Albert owns shares in the Société des Bains de Mer, which operates Monaco's casino and other entertainment properties in the Principality. In July 2011, Albert married South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock. He is the father of Gabriella and Jacques, the latter his heir presumptive. Prior to his marriage, he had a daughter and a son, Jazmin and Alexandre, both from different unions. Albert recognizes four children, although he has been the subject of multiple paternity claims.