Line of succession to the Monegasque Throne

The line of succession to the Monegasque Throne passes to the descendants of the reigning Prince of Monaco in accordance with male-preference primogeniture. The line of succession was most recently and notably modified by a constitutional change implemented by Princely Law 1.249 of April 2, 2002.

Rules of succession

Under the constitution of Monaco, the eldest son of the incumbent inherits the throne, or the eldest daughter if there are no sons. Should the reigning Prince die without legitimate offspring, the succession passes through the Prince's siblings and their legitimate descendants using the same male-preference rule. If a would-be successor dies or renounces the succession, the succession nevertheless passes to his or her own legitimate descendants using the same male-preference rule. The next in line of succession is known as the Hereditary Prince(ss) of Monaco.

If these rules fail to produce an heir, a council of regency takes power until the Crown Council selects a new reigning prince from among the more distant descendants of the House of Grimaldi. Only persons with Monegasque nationality are eligible.

Current line of succession

Current Monarch: Albert II

HRH Princess Caroline, the Princess of Hanover, Hereditary Princess of Monaco and Heiress Presumptive, elder sister of Albert II
Andrea Casiraghi, elder son of Princess Caroline and Stefano Casiraghi
Pierre Casiraghi, younger son of Princess Caroline and Stefano Casiraghi
Charlotte Casiraghi, daughter of Princess Caroline and Stefano Casiraghi
HRH Princess Alexandra of Hanover, daughter of Ernst August V, Prince of Hanover and Princess Caroline
HSH Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, younger sister of Albert II
Louis Ducruet, only son of Princess Stéphanie and Daniel Ducruet
Pauline Ducruet, daughter of Princess Stéphanie and Daniel Ducruet

All of the above are heirs presumptive; that is, they could be moved down the list if Albert II were to father a legitimate child. If Albert's firstborn were a daughter, she would become the first in line, but still an heiress presumptive; on the other hand, his first son would be the heir apparent, who could not be displaced by any future births.

Caroline's descendants are ahead of Stéphanie and her legitimate descendants, and will remain so even if Caroline herself died or renounced her claim to the throne.

Recent history of the line of succession

The following nine people formerly occupied the tenth through eighteenth places in the line of succession (from 2002, with the new succession rules), but lost their positions at the death of Prince Rainier III, since succession only passes to the siblings and descendants of the current Prince, and not those of his parents:

HSH Princess Antoinette, Baroness of Massy, aunt of Prince Albert II and sister of Rainier III of Monaco
Baron Christian de Massy, eldest son of Princess Antoinette and nephew of Prince Rainer III
Baron Brice de Massy, eldest son of Baron Christian de Massy and great-nephew of Prince Rainer III
Baron Antoine de Massy, younger son of Baron Christian de Massy and great-nephew of Prince Rainer III
Baroness Laetizia de Massy, daughter of Baron Christian de Massy and great-niece of Prince Rainer III
Baroness Elisabeth-Anne de Massy, daughter of Princess Antoinette and niece of Prince Rainer III
Jean-Léonard Taubert Natta, son of Baroness Elisabeth-Anne de Massy and great-nephew of Prince Rainer III
Mélanie de Lusignan, daughter of Baroness Elisabeth-Anne de Massy and great-niece of Prince Rainer III
Keith Sebastian Knecht, son of the late Baroness Christine de Massy and great-nephew of Prince Rainer III

Theoretical Alternatives

Male preference resulted in Albert becoming ruler of Monaco even though his sister Caroline is older as his father became Prince Rainier III over his older sister Antoinette; and for the same reason, Pierre Casiraghi is ahead of his older sister Charlotte. If Albert had had a brother of any age, that hypothetical brother would be the heir presumptive instead of Caroline.

Not included in the line of succession are Eric Alexandre Coste and Jazmin Grace Rotolo, who are acknowledged illegitimate children of Prince Albert II, and Camille Gottlieb, younger daughter of Princess Stéphanie. All three are considered illegitimate under Monegasque law and therefore are automatically excluded. By Monaco law, only "legitimate and direct" offspring are eligible and only a future marriage between their parents would legitimize them.

Another hypothetical considers if Jazmin and Eric Alexandre were legitimate, they would be at the top of the line as Albert's oldest direct descendants. And even though her half-brother is younger, Jazmine would then be behind Eric Alexandre due to the preference given males. However, it is very unlikely as Prince Albert II has issued a statement saying neither will be in line for the throne. While he acknowledges fathering them, they are unlikely to be legitimized.

Necessary Changes

Until 2002, the crown of Monaco could only pass to the direct descendants of the reigning prince. These old rules meant that Princess Antoinette was not in the line of succession and that Princesses Caroline and Stephanie would lose their places in line at the moment of Prince Albert's succession. This created considerable concern that the throne might fall vacant should Prince Albert inherit the crown and then die without fathering a legitimate heir. In 2002, changes were made to the Constitution of Monaco which eliminated that concern.

The 2002 changes make the succession law more restrictive than previous versions. Under the old rules, the reigning Prince could adopt an heir who would succeed him if the Prince died without biological children. Prince Albert could have then adopted one of his nephews, or even someone unrelated, and made the person his heir. That option no longer exists. Now, if Prince Albert II fails to marry and father a legitimate heir, the crown will automatically pass to one of his sisters or one of their children--regardless of any illegitimate children he has fathered.

Legitimization

With the 2002 changes, for a biological descendent to be added to the line of succession and potentially succeed to the throne now, his or her parents must have been legally married at some point. Thus, someone born to unmarried parents, like Princess Stephanie's youngest child Camille Gottlieb, cannot inherit the crown of Monaco as they are considered illegitimate.

Such a person can succeed, however, if their parents subsequently marry. One example is Louis Ducruet. He was born out of wedlock. But because Princess Stéphanie later married Louis' father, Daniel Ducruet, Louis is now considered legitimate. Therefore he is in line and can potentially assume the throne.

Similarly, Louis' sister Camille Gottlieb would be legitimized and could join the line of succession if her father is confirmed to be Jean-Raymond Gottlieb and he married Princess Stéphanie. However, this scenario appears unlikely as Princess Stéphanie ended her relationship with Gottlieb some time ago.

Although this rule, called legitimization, has become the norm in the case of ordinary inheritances (for example, the property of commoners) it appears that Monaco is the only monarchy to apply it for succession to the throne.

Future succession

Under the 2002 succession rules, if Prince Albert II dies without legitimate offspring, the throne will pass to his sister, Princess Caroline. If Princess Caroline were to receive the throne in this manner, her eldest son Andrea would become the heir apparent. At such time, he would receive the traditional titles of the heir to Monaco's throne-becoming HSH Hereditary Prince Andrea of Monaco, Marquis of Baux). Andrea would also then assume the dynastic Grimaldi surname.

After the succession of Prince Albert, his aunt Princess Antoinette and her descendants lost their places in the line of succession. Similarly, upon the succession of any future legitimate child of Prince Albert, Princesses Caroline and Stéphanie and their children will cease to be in the line of succession. Nevertheless, if the line of succession through Albert II should fail at some future time, Princesses Antoinette, Caroline, and Stéphanie and/or their descendants would be eligible for selection by the Crown Council.

External links

Constitution de la Principauté including succession rules (in French)

Lines of succession | Princes of Monaco

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