CNN: Prince Rainier of Monaco has died

[VolcanoJen]

Breaking on CNN... will post link shortly.

ON EDIT:

Reuters link:

Monaco's Prince Rainier Has Died: Palace

PARIS (Reuters) - Monaco's Prince Rainier III has died after a battle with lung, heart and kidney problems, his palace in Monaco said on Wednesday. He was 81.

Rainier had ruled the tiny Mediterranean principality since 1949. He will be succeeded by 47-year-old Prince Albert, who took over his father's royal duties last week as hopes faded that Rainier would recover.

[Azathoth]

1. Damn, bad timing

I feel sorry for the guy. He's going to be lucky if his funeral even gets a footnote during the massive Pope-a-thon.

[VolcanoJen]

2. Actually, CNN has begun a Princess Grace-A-Thon.

Lots of pictures of the long-deceased Princess, little about the quite recently deceased Prince...

on edit: I really don't mean to diminish the death of Prince Rainier; in fact, I'm a little sad, even though I have no earthly idea why. They've been an interesting family, I suppose, and the whole thing did have the most romantic beginnings.

By the way, CNN switched over to International to cover the Prince's death. The Atlanta/New York anchors are likely too wrapped up in Pope Media Blitz to switch gears now.

[NYC]

6. That's because she was from Philadelphia. The rest

of the world must be paying more attention to the Prince.

[Radio_Lady]

13. Who will succeed Prince Rainier?

What is the order of succession in Monaco?

[Scooter24]

17. The current list...

HSH Prince Albert
HSH Princess Caroline
Andrea Casiraghi
Pierre Casiraghi
Charlotte Casiraghi
HRH Princess Alexandra
HSH Princess Stephanie

The list will change unless Albert is to marry and provide a child, at which that child will assume the throne upon his death. If no child is produced, then the throne goes to Caroline then to Andrea, Caroline's oldest son.

[non sociopath skin]

20. That's about 50% of the population of Monaco, isn't it?

The Skin :)

[Scooter24]

22. haha

Could be...the other 30,000 are probably tourists anyways. :)

[KitSileya]

32. Just out of curiousity....

I recognize the HRH for Princess Alexandra, but what does HSH stand for? Her/his something highness? Probably something obvious, I know, but I am in the final minutes of a very long workday, and my brain has turned to mush.

And rest in peace, Prince Rainier.

KitSileya

[fertilizeonarbusto]

33. "His/Her Serene Highness"

I always thought that was a nice title.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

34. Don't hold your breath until Albert marries

I've heard it for years he's on my team ;-). That's why the law was recently changed and women can now inherit...

[Jilly Beans]

46. lol

[donheld]

51. So now a Queen reigns in Monaco?

:bounce:

[dflprincess]

47. Actually, it's kind of convenient

Everyone who is anyone is already in Europe for the Pope's funeral, so when that's over they can all just head over to Monaco for the prince's.

[lala_rawraw]

3. What on earth...

This is like 2 weeks of death, non-stop. Ah, maybe the fundies were left behind after all:D

[BikeWriter]

11. Terrible news. :-(

[lala_rawraw]

19. I know... too much death reported for...

The wealthy and too little of the heroic and courageous.

[LizW]

29. He has been very sick for some time

But it does seem like a lot of people are just giving up on this world, doesn't it?

[Behind the Aegis]

4. How sad.

He was never the same after Princess Grace died. He really did live for her. May he RIP.

[Maple]

5. Ahhh the romantic couple of their day

He the dashing prince, and she the elegant American princess...the whole thing was considered quite daring, and there were tons of pictures and commentary.

[kskiska]

39. Grace barely knew him when they got engaged

They'd only met a few times. Then the fun started. She had to undergo a medical exam, and there were prickly negotiations regarding her financial holdings. She also had to pay a tidy sum to the prince for the privilege of marrying him. This didn't sit well with her parents.

I think she may have had cause for regrets. In the beginning she assumed she could, at some point, continue to act in movies, but when opportunities arose, the Palace set up obstacles. Whatever roles were offered were considered "unseemly" for a princess.

[CatWoman]

57. It's amazing how folks get caught up in the Hollywood "spin"

isn't it?

I read about this too.

I think she held it against him that he effectively killed her acting career.

[Piperay]

7. R-I-P

Prince Rainier.

[Bossy Monkey]

8. Here's the AP...

Apr 6, 2:49 AM EDT

Monaco's Prince Rainier Dies at Age 81
MONACO (AP) -- Prince Rainier III, whose marriage to American film star Grace Kelly brought elegance and glamour to one of Europe's oldest dynasties, died Wednesday at the hospital treating him for heart, kidney and breathing problems. He was 81.

Rainier's royal palace announced his death nearly a full month after he was first admitted with a lung infection to a heart and chest clinic that overlooks Monaco's glittering, yacht-filled harbor.

He had been Europe's longest-reigning monarch.

Rainier, who assumed the throne on May 9, 1949, also endured the tragedy of his famous wife's death and relentless scandals - including international criticism of the principality's tax laws - that plagued the final two decades of his rule.

(more)
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OBIT_RAINIER?SITE=SCCOL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Scooter24]

9. My mother was born in Monte Carlo...

and always had the upmost respect for the royal family. Some of my fondest childhood memories were here as well. It is sad to see him die. My prayers are with all the family and people of Monaco.

[TankLV]

10. Royalty - BAH HUMBUG! Who gives a flying fuck?!

We've got our own king/dictator wannabe to worry about.

I could care less if these leeches off the public teat would all die in the same instant - the world would be a lot better off without ANY of them!

[Scooter24]

14. How insulting....

the royal family are extremely popular in Monaco. The wealth and growth of Monaco can be somewhat attributed to the royals and their policies.

[TankLV]

52. So - you are a royalist supporter?

I don't give a fuck how popular any royalty is! They are ALL leeches on society!

And it IS meant to be insulting! And if YOU are insulted - good! I've done my job!

It is EXTREMELY insulting to any TRUE American that ANY royalty exists in this day and age!

[Piperay]

23. You don't have to 'give a flying fuck' but

it doesn't hurt to show some sensitivity for those who do care.

[Puglover]

27. Tank says it pretty strongly but

I have always wondered just how I'd feel if I lived in say England and these people simply by virtue of their birth are entitled so. I can't imagine that I as a working class guy would not have some strong feelings about the monarchy.

[kskiska]

40. We have people like that right here.

They're called "Bushes."

[BuddhaGirl]

41. I agree. Royalty is an anachronistic

concept and should have no place in modern society!

[PeaceProgProsp]

55. I agree.

Royalty is so antithetical to everything I believe in.

I really don't know how Sweden does it. But Britain must be the worst. To have inherited privilege be part of your world like it is there. It just must totally fuck up people's heads in ways they don't even realize.

Since Bush became president there have been so many movies about American girls who go to Europe and marry princes -- I think that's crazy. I'd never take my child to one of those movies. And if you live in the UK, that's part of your life.

[TankLV]

53. No I don't give a fuck how royalists feel - this is the 2st century for

crying out loud!

I am embarassed - & SICKENED - that ANYONE on this forum, let alone any American would be a supporter of these leeches on society by sole perrogative of the accident of their birth!

I'm a DEMOCRAT - how bout YOU?!

[Piperay]

58. Frankly

I don't give a 'flying fuck' either but the guy is dead and that is enough for me. Who supports royality (???) not me, I never said that. Royals are Euro-trash as far as I am concerned, I just don't like hammering on dead guys.

[hlthe2b]

28. Where the people have agreed to continue the monarchy, so be it.

We never agreed to have it to begin with. That is the difference. RIP, with your dear Grace, Rainier.

[edbermac]

38. Well, any guy that bonked Grace Kelly is okay in my book...

A definite babe in her day...

[PeaceProgProsp]

50. If I wanted to freep freerepublic here's what I'd do:

I'd go over there and criticize royalty and laud people who succeed by merit.

If I were a freeper and wanted to freep a liberal web site, this is what I'd do: come to DU and express sadness everytime some royal somewhere died.

Progressives should be extremely critical of royalty. I think the only royal person for whom I'll probably ever feel sadness over his or her death is the one who decides to eliminate royalty. Any royal person who lives their life experiencing inherited privilege without being critical of it and without doing everything they could to end it is a failied human being, in my opinion.

It's not contempt that I feel towards Ranier. But I do see him as pathetic. How can one live like that and consider themselves a good person?

At the very least, he could have turned that hospital into a children's hospital and teaching university, moved into an apartment, and got a job.

[TankLV]

54. Thank you. You have said it a bit more gently than I.

Royalty has NO place in today's world.

None.

Nada.

Zip.

[Erika]

12. Maybe this will give the GOP another junket

They will enjoy the gambling as an additional perc. DeLay will be at the front of the line.

[Rhiannon12866]

15. I got this from CNN. Terrible news!

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe/04/06/rainier/index.html

[bluedonkey]

16. Very sad news

Monaco won't be the same without him...

[Spinzonner]

18. You would think someone who was royalty

would have a better sense of timing than to allow himself to be upstaged so drasticly

[leftofthedial]

any relation to Mt. Rainier?

dude will never get his just-died props

[Lindacooks]

21. That's sad. He always seemed like a gentleman.

[GalleryGod]

24. Thanks, Jen!

:donut: Good job!

[Domitan]

25. Will Prince Charles and Camilla have to postpone their wedding again?

Or will they hold Ranier's funeral until Sunday or Monday. 2 Funerals and a Wedding in a show not starring Hugh Grant.

[GOPFighter]

26. I was in Monaco last month

It's an interesting place. There was no mention of his illness the week I was there.

The Prince was very active in ocean science and hydrography, in fact he personally funded the International Hydrographic Organization headquarters in Monaco (the reason I was there).

The Prince's palace is situated on a cliff overlooking the city



Here's Monaco at night



Prince Rainier was not well known around the world, but was a legend in the hydrographic (hydro surveying, nautical charting) community. He will certainly be missed.

[LizW]

30. Did you take those photos?

How beautiful!

Those cannonball benches by the wall outside the castle are cool.

[GOPFighter]

31. Yup

Thanks for asking. Since we were in workshops all day, I decided to try some night photography with my digital camera.

I really liked Monaco. It has a small town feeling - people are very friendly.

[Isere]

35. "Goodnight sweet prince

And flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest.."

[emad]

36. Monaco's Prince Rainier dies, 81

BBC

Monaco's Prince Rainier, Europe's longest-reigning monarch, has died at the age of 81, after spending several weeks in hospital.

The prince, who had ruled the tiny Mediterranean principality since 1949, died at 0635 (0435 GMT), the royal palace said.

He had been suffering from heart, kidney and lung problems.

He will be succeeded by his 47-year-old son, Prince Albert, who took over his father's royal duties last week.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4415291.stm

Rainier? Another KGB plant from the Gelli family ....

[nickinSTL]

37. "Rainier? Another KGB plant from the Gelli family ...."

:wtf:

What ARE you talking about?

He was the son of Princess Antoinette of Monaco and Count Pierre de Polignac.

[underpants]

42. Nailed Grace Kelly

Now THAT'S a legacy

[daleo]

43. The rich and famous are so busy dying

There isn't any time to pay attention to soldiers or civilians dying in Iraq.

[thecrow]

44. Prince Rainier of Monaco Dies at Age 81

MONACO (AP) - Prince Rainier III, whose fairy-tale marriage to Hollywood star Grace Kelly brought elegance and glamour to one of Europe's oldest dynasties, died Wednesday, nearly a month after he was hospitalized with a lung infection. He was 81.

The funeral is expected to be held April 15, a palace official said. A Mass for the royal family was to be held in the palace's Palatine Chapel on Wednesday evening, the official added.

Europe's longest-reigning monarch died at 6:35 a.m. from heart, kidney and lung problems at the hospital overlooking Monaco's glittering, yacht-filled harbor, the palace said. His only son, Prince Albert, was at his side, it said.

The body of Rainier, whose family dynasty took power in 1297, was moved to his hilltop palace where it will in lie in state, the palace said.

MORE: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20050406/D89A03EG1.html

[Deep13]

45. 'Scuse me if I seem crass,

but does anyone give a rat's ass?

[VolcanoJen]

48. Kicking...

... if only to break up the Papal Monotony.

:D

[Renew Deal]

49. Shit, now I will have to miss the "Royal Wedding"

[Name removed]

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