Prince settles libel case

Prince Albert of Monaco has accepted an apology and substantial damages from Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper over an article suggesting his wife Princess Charlene was reluctant to marry him, lawyers said.

The prince had launched libel action over a July 2011 article that suggested Charlene agreed to a sham marriage in exchange for payment despite her discovering he had fathered an illegitimate child with another woman; and that Albert had confiscated her passport to prevent her from fleeing Monaco so she would stay and marry him for appearance’s sake.

The prince sued the News International paper following publication of the article in July 2011 for damages of more than €360,000, but the high court heard the exact settlement has yet to be agreed. The Sunday Times will also pay Prince Albert’s legal costs.

The article — headlined “The Full Filthy Monte” — also alleged that Albert had turned a blind eye to corrupt activity and granted residence permits to foreigners for fear of having alleged secrets about his love life exposed.

The prince’s lawyer, Mark Thomson, argued that the article’s publication, two days after the couple’s wedding, had upset and embarrassed them.

Thomson said the newspaper had confirmed it would pay damages and legal fees to the couple.

The paper’s lawyer, Rupert Earle, yesterday apologised for the damage and distress caused in court.

The publisher also agreed that the paper had falsely alleged Prince Albert had “turned a blind eye to corrupt activity by his courtiers and had done nothing effective to curb the activities of mobsters and money launderers in the principality”.