Albert II, Prince of Monaco of state to have reached the North Pole. Prince Albert is the Vice-Chairman of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, an American charity founded in 1982, after his mother's death, which supports emerging artists in theatre, dance, and film, as Princess Grace did in her lifetime. In 2006, Prince Albert created the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, which continues the Principality of Monaco's commitment by supporting sustainable and ethical projects around the world. The foundation focus on three main challenges: climate change and renewable energy development; combating the loss of biodiversity; and water management (improving universal access to clean water). Albert
Wedding of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and Charlene Wittstock succeeded his father Rainier III in April 2005. Charlene Wittstock was born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) but moved to South Africa with her family when she was 12. She has represented South Africa in swimming, and participated in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She met Prince Albert at the 2000 Marenostrum International Swimming Meet in Monaco, which he presided over. She retired from swimming in 2007. Prince Albert was also an athlete, competing in bobsleigh in five Olympics. The couple were first seen together in 2006. Speculation was rife that they were getting married in 2009, and they finally announced their