Monaco's prince admits to fathering son with air hostess

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

Albert's lawyer, Thierry Lacoste, said that Albert wanted to face up to his responsibilities and hoped his young son, now almost two years old, could live out of the media spotlight.

"Prince Albert II asks the press to adopt responsible behaviour, similar to what it has adopted in similar circumstances for other public figures, and to respect his private life and that of the underage child," a statement from the Paris lawyer said.

It also said Albert regretted that the media went public with the story just weeks after the death of his father Prince Rainier in April.

French magazine Paris Match ran a cover story in early May alleging that Albert had fathered a son with Nicole Coste, a former Air France flight attendant.

Ms Coste was quoted as saying she met Albert on a flight in July 1997, leading to a relationship and the birth of a child in August 2003. The baby is named Alexandre.

The interview was illustrated with pictures of the smiling prince holding and feeding a young boy.

Ms Coste said she went public because: "I want Alexandre to grow up normally with a father."

Albert, who is 47 and a bachelor, is the only son of Prince Rainier III and film star Grace Kelly. He took over the royal powers in the tiny Riviera principality shortly before the death of his father in April, and he will formally ascend to the throne on July 12.

The statement from Albert's lawyer said he didn't want to comment on the reports until the end of the official mourning period, which ended yesterday.

Albert caused consternation to his father because of his refusal to wed. He told an interviewer once he was not opposed to marriage, but didn't "want to make a mistake."

Article 10 of Monaco's constitution specifies that only "direct and legitimate" descendants can assume the throne which would exclude Alexandre.