Monaco’s Prince Albert has revealed that an Irish university research post is to be set up to commemorate his late Hollywood actress mother Grace Kelly.

Prince Albert II of Monaco wished the Government every success tackling economic woes as he strolled through Dublin with his fiancée on a three-day State visit.

Prince Albert II of Monaco will make a two-day State visit to Ireland next week.

PRINCE Albert of Monaco is engaged to marry Charlene Wittstock, a former Olympic swimmer for South Africa, a union that will give the Mediterranean principality its first crown princess since the prince’s mother, American actress Grace Kelly, died in 1982.

Prince Albert of Monaco is engaged to marry South African former Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock, the royal palace said today.

HE may have failed to win a seat in the local elections but a Corkman has pulled off a major diplomatic coup that could have huge spin-offs for Irish tourism.

The Roman Catholic Church’s opposition to the use of condoms in the fight against Aids is regrettable, Princess Stephanie of Monaco said today on her appointment as goodwill ambassador for the UN Aids agency.

Monaco’s Prince Albert II said today he was “set up” for fatherhood by a former flight attendant who claims she had his child.

PRINCE Albert II of Monaco yesterday acknowledged having fathered an illegitimate child with a flight attendant from Togo.

Prince Albert II of Monaco is to acceed to the throne July 12, after the close of the mourning period for his father, long-time ruler Prince Rainier III, the palace announced yesterday, declaring the day a holiday.

Prince Rainier III of Monaco is to be laid to rest today beside his late wife, the American film star Grace Kelly, in the cathedral where they were married a half century ago.

Monaco plunged into mourning, with its famed casino closing its doors upon news of the death of Prince Rainier III, the long-ruling monarch hailed for modernising the tiny principality once renowned as a “sunny place for shady people”.

PRINCE Rainier III, whose glittering marriage to Irish-American film star Grace Kelly endowed a reign that spanned more than a half-century with elegance and glamour, guided Monaco’s transformation from a sleepy retreat for the wealthy into a centre of finance and tourism.

Prince Albert took over Monaco’s royal powers yesterday, assuming all but the throne in the tiny principality after a royal commission decided that his critically-ill father was too sick to perform his duties.

MONACO'S Prince Rainier, fighting for his life in hospital after his health took a dramatic turn for the worse last week, remained in a "stable" yet "worrying" condition.

PRINCE Rainier III of Monaco is conscious and his heart, lung and kidney functions have stabilised, the royal palace said yesterday, as worshippers in Monaco attended Easter Mass with a special prayer for Europe's longest-serving ruler.

The people of Monaco gathered today for Easter Mass with a special prayer planned for Prince Rainier III, facing a life-and-death battle against kidney, lung and heart failure in a hospital’s intensive care unit.

The health of Prince Rainier III of Monaco continues to worsen, a health bulletin issued by the principality’s palace said today.

GRACE PATRICIA KELLY was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to John Brendan Kelly Sr and Margaret Majer; her Irish Catholic family were new but prominent figures in Philadelphia society.