Rainier III, Prince of Monaco of Monaco, the Palais Princier announced that Rainier's son, Hereditary Prince Albert, would take over the duties of his father as regent since Rainier was no longer able to exercise his royal functions. On 1 April 2005, the Palace announced that Rainier's doctors believe his chances of recovery were "slim". On 6 April, Prince Rainier died at the Cardiothoracic Center of Monaco at 6:35 AM local time at the age of 81. He was succeeded by his only son, who became Prince Albert II. He was buried on 15 April 2005, beside his wife, Princess Grace, at the Cathedral of
Rainier III, Prince of Monaco was born at Prince's Palace in Monaco, the only son of Prince Pierre of Monaco, Duke of Valentinois and his wife, the Monegasque Hereditary Princess, Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois. Rainier was the first native-born hereditary prince of Monaco since Honoré IV in 1758. Rainier's mother was the only child of Prince Louis II of Monaco and Marie Juliette Louvet; she was later legitimized through formal adoption and subsequently named heir presumptive to the throne of Monaco. Rainier's father was a half-French, half-Mexican who adopted his wife's surname, Grimaldi, upon marriage and was made a prince of Monaco by Prince Louis,