PRINCE Albert II of Monaco, son of late Hollywood star Grace Kelly, announced his engagement yesterday to South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock, ending decades as one of Europe’s most eligible bachelors.

Bells pealed across Monaco as the tiny Riviera principality feted Prince Albert II’s rise to the throne today and bid a final symbolic farewell to his late father, Rainier III.

PRINCE Albert II was proclaimed ruler of Monaco yesterday at a solemn Mass in the tiny Riviera enclave’s cliff-top cathedral where his father was buried three months ago after a 56-year reign.

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.

BELOW a golden crown, Prince Rainier III was given a tearful farewell yesterday at a funeral in Monaco's cathedral.

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 will mix royal pomp, solemn Roman Catholic ceremonies and tight security as it hosts VIPs from around the world for today’s funeral of Prince Rainier III.

MONACO prepared to say farewell to long-time ruler Prince Rainier with a solemn funeral in the Mediterranean statelet’s cathedral, attended by a smattering of European royals and political figures.

The prince of Hanover, the sometimes rowdy husband of Monaco’s Princess Caroline, is in a “serious” condition in a hospital with an acute pancreas problem, his office at Monaco’s royal palace says.

PRINCESS Caroline of Monaco’s controversial third husband, a German prince, is reported to be in a coma in the intensive care unit of a hospital in the principality.

Princess Caroline of Monaco’s husband, the prince of Hanover, was in serious condition in a principality hospital today, a palace official said.

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.

The palace in Monaco has announced that Prince Rainier has died.

PRINCE Albert made his first official appearance since assuming Monaco’s royal powers from his critically ill father, attending mass for the late Pope John Paul yesterday.

Prince Albert made his first official appearance since assuming Monaco’s royal powers from his critically ill father, attending Mass for the late Pope John Paul today.

Ailing Prince Rainier remained in stable condition in a Monaco hospital today but his palace said the medical prognosis was still guarded.

PRINCE Rainier of Monaco’s chances of recovery are very slim, his doctors said yesterday.

Prince Rainier of Monaco’s chances of recovery are very slim, his doctors said today.

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 palace prepared for what appears the imminent death of Prince Rainier tonight by announcing that his bachelor son and heir has taken over the royal powers.

A spokesman for Monaco's Royal Palace today said Prince Albert, heir to Prince Rainier, is to take over the regency of Monaco.

Prince Rainier remained in a stable condition in a Monaco hospital today and is undergoing kidney dialysis and other treatment, his doctors reported.

Prince Rainier of Monaco remained in fragile health today, suffering from heart, kidney and lung problems, his palace said.

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.

Ailing Pope John Paul has sent a special blessing to Prince Rainier of Monaco, whose health continued to worsen today.

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

THINKING of buying a villa perched on Monaco’s craggy coastline, or opening a casino or a luxury hotel? Think again.

MONACO'S ailing Prince Rainier clung to life today, breathing through a respirator in an intensive care unit, with doctors refusing to say whether he might recover and his subjects praying that he will.

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.

The people of Monaco were preparing for the death of their beloved ruler Prince Rainier today after his doctors were unable to say whether he would recover from the heart, lung and kidney problems that put him in intensive care.

Prince Rainier’s health has not improved during treatment in the intensive care unit of a Monaco hospital, and he was still breathing through a respirator, a palace spokesman said.

HOOKED to a respirator, Prince Rainier of Monaco remained critically ill yesterday at a seaside clinic in the tiny Mediterranean enclave that he transformed into a glitzy resort for the rich.

Prince Rainier’s stamp is everywhere in the Riviera enclave of Monaco, from his hilltop palace down to the principality’s yacht-filled harbour.

Hooked to a respirator, Prince Rainier of Monaco remained critically ill today at a seaside clinic in the tiny Mediterranean enclave that he transformed into a glitzy resort for the rich.

PRINCE Rainier of Monaco was on a life support machine, suffering heart and kidney failure, in a hospital intensive care unit last night.

Monaco’s Prince Rainier is suffering cardiac and kidney trouble and is on a respirator an an intensive care unit, his palace announced tonight

Prince Rainier of Monaco, 81, in hospital with a chest infection, has been moved to an intensive care unit, the palace announced today.

MONACO’S 81-year-old ruler, Prince Rainier, is to remain under surveillance at a clinic for several days after being admitted earlier this week with a chest infection.

MONACO’S 81-year-old ruler Prince Rainier has been admitted to a hospital with a chest infection and is expected to require a few days of treatment, the royal household said yesterday.

Monaco’s 82-year-old ruler Prince Rainier has been admitted to a hospital with a chest infection and was expected to require a few days of treatment, the royal household said today.

Monaco’s Prince Rainier went back into the hospital this weekend for a heart procedure, his palace said today.