French magazine wins Prince Albert free press court case

A French magazine which published a tell-all story about the out-of-wedlock son of Prince Albert II of Monaco has won a free press case at the European Court of Human Rights.

In May 2005, Albert tried unsuccessfully to block Paris-Match’s story about Nicole Coste, a French-Togolese flight attendant, who sought acknowledgement of paternity for their son. The story also ran in the German magazine Bunte.

The prince sued both publications. He won €50,000 in France, while the German case was dismissed on the grounds that the public’s right to know about a potential heir took precedence over Albert’s private life.

In July 2005, Albert recognised the child, who cannot inherit Monaco’s throne.

Albert and his wife Princess Charlene had twins last year.