Monarchy of Monaco Monarchy of Monaco The Sovereign Prince () or Princess of Monaco () is the reigning monarch and head of state of the Principality of Monaco. All reigning princes and princesses have officially taken the name of the House of Grimaldi, although some have belonged to other families (Goyon de Matignon or Polignac) in the male line. The present reigning prince is Albert II. Monaco, along with Liechtenstein and Vatican City, is one of only three states in Europe where the monarch still plays an active role in day-to-day politics. The Prince or Princess of Monaco exercises his or her authority
Crown Council of Monaco legislative power, the Prince must consult it before signing international treaties, dissolving the National Council, naturalizing citizens, or making certain other executive decisions. At the end of March 2005, the Crown Council carried out what may have been one of its most far-reaching acts. Prince Rainier, the Sovereign since 1949, had for some weeks been seriously ill in hospital in Monaco and the Crown Council established that Rainier was temporarily incapable of ruling. (During the period of Rainier III's incapacity, his doctors in Monaco were agreed that his ill health showed little signs of improving and, agreeing with eminent Parisian