Rainier moved into intensive care

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

After a marked improvement, “a recurring pulmonary infection required that the prince be transferred into an intensive care unit,” the palace said.

Rainier, who has been in and out of the hospital in past months, was admitted to a heart and chest clinic on March 7 with a bronchial-pulmonary infection.

He spent a week at the same Monaco hospital in October, where he was treated for a chest infection. He was also admitted to the clinic in February 2004 for a coronary lesion and a damaged blood vessel, and spent three weeks there the month before for what was described as general fatigue.