Prince Rainier Current Events 1 : Nov.2002 - Apr.2005

[michelle]

Rainier is 81 years old.

Here are some pics of him when he was younger and with his young family:

 

[kittencrews]

Article from Yahoo... http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050325/en_afp/monacoroyalrainier_050325130458

Video from yahoo.... shows clips from the 700th Anniversary and Grace and Rainier's wedding, and of course Grace's funeral... it makes me sad... javascript: rs("videoWin","<A href="http://rds.yahoo.com/S=53720273/K=rainier/v=2/SID=e/l=NVER/R=1/SIG=16qme34f4/EXP=1111843809/*-http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/stream//search/av_ap_wl//monaco_prince_rainier/14652306/*http://news.yahoo.com//p/v?u=/ap_av/20050322/av_ap_wl/56549f6b192f14216c3fcfd92617cb81&cid=452&f=53746348",650,450">http://rds.yahoo.com/S=53720273/K=rainier/v=2/SID=e/l=NVER/R=1/SIG=16qme34f4/EXP=1111843809/*-http%3A//us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/ap/stream//search/av_ap_wl//monaco_prince_rainier/14652306/*http://news.yahoo.com//p/v?u=/ap_av/20050322/av_ap_wl/56549f6b192f14216c3fcfd92617cb81&cid=452&f=53746348",650,450);

 

[kittencrews]

article from Hello... on wednesday... http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2005/03/23/princealbert/

 

[Josefine]

Rainier is 81 years old.

Here are some pics of him when he was younger and with his young family:

he must be older then his 20's here

how old was he when he married grace

 

[michelle]

I think he has always been looking a little older than he was when he was young. When he married Grace he was about 32.

Here're some more photos of him. He definetly is a family-man...

 

[michelle]

http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=14992


My alltime favourite

 

[LadyMacAlpine]

The first link is a fact box on Rainier http://aolsvc.news.aol.com/news/article.adp?id=20050325063309990007&cid=119

Second is another site of information and photo's which Julia wrote she would try to scan. http://worldroots.com/brigitte/royal/royal12b.htm
Direct link to Rainier http://worldroots.com/brigitte/royal/royal12a.htm

I hope all the links work I am experianceing trouble uploading anything to the Forum.

 

[nina86lila]

pray..........

I can post pics of rainier but I would say that all my prayers go to this Big man !
I hope the doctors can save him for he can see their last grandchildren grow up !
Last years I lost my grandfather? it's horrible So I imagine the sadness of all member of grimaldi family..... I pray for them and prince Rainier this marvellous man !

 

[michelle]

Pictures of today:

Stephanie and Ernst driving to the hospital.

 

[kittencrews]

MONACOS PRINCE RAINIER CLINGING TO LIFE: 59 minutes ago
Europe AP

MONACO - [size=-1]Prince Rainier was clinging to life Friday in an intensive care unit, with his doctors unable to say whether the 81-year-old ruler of Monaco would survive heart, kidney and breathing problems. [/size]

Rainier's health "remained worrying," three of his doctors said in a statement. "Because of the fragility of his cardiac, respiratory and kidney functions, the vital prognosis remains reserved."

The statement indicated that specialists were withholding a prognosis, meaning they are unsure he will recover.

Dr. Jean-Charles Piette, chief of internal medicine at La Pitie Salpetriere hospital in Paris, was asked to examine Rainier, the statement said. He and other specialists decided the prince must continue his current course of treatment.

Piette examined Rainier on Thursday night, said palace spokesman Armand Deus.

Rainier was hospitalized more than two weeks ago with a chest infection. His health suddenly worsened on Tuesday, and he was brought to the intensive care unit of Monaco's seaside Cardio-Thoracic Center.

Boyan Christophorov, a professor of internal medicine at Paris V University, said the phrasing of Rainier's medical bulletin suggested that his doctors seriously fear for the prince's life. "The terms of these releases are carefully weighed. That the patient's vital prognostic is 'reserved' means that his life is seriously threatened," Christophorov told the Associated Press.

At a service Thursday evening at Monaco's Sainte Devote church, the Rev. Fabrice Gallo asked worshippers to pray for Rainier, and priests at Good Friday services in Monaco requested more prayers for Rainier, Deus said.

"Every hour we turn on the news, hoping to hear something positive," said Nathalie Ponsenard, a Monaco nursery school teacher. She pointed to the flag atop the hilltop royal palace.

"While it's still up, we know he's still alive," she said.

Some residents braced themselves for bad news.

"He's done so much for us, even for the young people," said Melanie Poisson, a 17-year-old high school student. "He's been prince for my whole life. It's hard to imagine Monaco without him."

The prince has been in and out of the hospital recently. He has a history of heart problems and has lately been plagued by recurring ailments linked to his respiratory tract. Doctors often use respirators, and dialysis machines, to lighten the workload of the body while it heals from an infection. However, respiratory infections in the elderly can be deadly.

The prince, who assumed the throne in 1949, is beloved in Monaco for having transformed a Mediterranean state smaller than New York's Central Park into a modern and elegant enclave for the rich. Rainier's movie-star wife, Grace Kelly, died in a car crash in 1982.

Rainier's heir, Crown Prince Albert, 47, and his two daughters, Princess Caroline, 48, and Princess Stephanie, 40, have been at his bedside since he was taken to intensive care.

Monaco changed its succession law in 2002 so that Albert can assume the throne even though he is unmarried with no children and has no descendants. Under the revised law, power eventually could be passed from Albert to his siblings, who both have children.

 

[semisquare]

this is so sad.. esp since this is being play out in the view of the whole world. i cant image losing my dad- it was hard enough to lose my mom. my heart goes out to them and hope they will be even more close to one another

 

[hrhcp]

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2005/03/25/rainier-health050325.html

Prince Rainier's health 'worrying': doctors

Last Updated Fri, 25 Mar 2005 08:48:17 EST

MONACO - Monaco's Prince Rainier II remains in "worrying" condition as doctors on Friday refused to speculate on whether the 81-year-old would ever recover from heart and kidney problems.

The longtime ruler who married American movie star Grace Kelly is hooked up to a respirator after suffering heart and kidney failure.

In a health bulletin issued Friday, three of his doctors reserved judgment on his health, which they said "remained worrying."

"Because of the fragility of his cardiac, respiratory and kidney functions, the vital prognosis remains reserved," said the statement.

The chief of internal medicine at La Pitie Salpetriere hospital in Paris has been asked to study Rainier's case.

Monaco's ruler was hospitalized two weeks ago with a chest infection. He was transferred to the intensive care unit of Monaco's seaside Cardio-Thoracic Centre when his health worsened on Tuesday.

His children, Princess Caroline, Prince Albert and Princess Stephanie rushed to his side.

Rainier succeeded his grandfather in 1949 to become the 31st ruler of the principality, a constitutional monarchy with a population of slightly more than 32,000.

The prince, whose 1956 marriage to Kelly captivated the world, has been head of state longer than any other ruler in the world except Thailand's King Rama IX.

 

[monaco70s]

Been looking through the news and haven't found nothing new, except that the Palace sent out a communique today in which it says that his condition is serious.

One article mentioned that the Monaco doctors have already asked the Parisinian doctors for help, this is really worrying me now...the same happened with Princess Grace.

Michelle & everyone thanks for posting all of those pictures, even though he's still with us thankfully looking at them made me sad

 

[monaco70s]

BTW Julia and ghostly 11 good idea making some avatars! I'll later change mine today to support the family.

 

[Piewi]

that´s really bad. I´m worried for him too
Thanks for the info monaco 70s.
thanks for the pics for everyone, he is a loving father and grandpa. Michelle this pic is my favourite too. I think that he has a special relationship with Stefanie, they are always togheder. Thanks for all the info for everyone
Great avatars, I love them ghostly11 and I also like the candle avatar, (or "hope avatar"), My prays go to him and for his family. I hope he don´t suffer.

Sorry for everyone who lost someone they love . Last year my best friend lost his father and it´s was really sad.

 

[hrhcp]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20050325.wprinc0325/BNStory/International/

Prince Rainier's condition has not
improved, palace says.
Friday, March 25, 2005. Updated 10:51 AM EST

Monaco — Prince Rainier's doctors said Friday they were unable to say whether the 81-year-old ruler of Monaco would recover from the heart, lung and kidney problems that put him in intensive care.

Prince Rainier remained hooked up to a respirator and his state of health "remained worrying," the statement said. Prince Rainier was suffering heart and kidney failure.

The statement, signed by three doctors, said the prognosis was "reserved," French medical terminology indicating that specialists are unsure whether someone will recover.

Dr. Jean-Charles Piette, the chief of internal medicine at the La Pitie Salpetriere hospital in Paris, was called to Monaco to see Prince Rainier. He and other specialists decided that the Prince must remain in the clinic for treatment.

Prince Rainier was hospitalized more than two weeks ago with a chest infection. His health suddenly worsened on Tuesday, and he was brought to the intensive care unit of Monaco's seaside Cardio-Thoracic Center. The Prince, who assumed the throne in 1949, is beloved in Monaco for having transformed a Mediterranean state smaller than New York's Central Park into a modern and elegant enclave for the rich. Prince Rainier's movie-star wife, Grace Kelly, died in a car crash in 1982.

 

[monaco70s]

Thanks for posting the article hrhcp, the one I read said the same.

 

[tricia]

From Voice of America http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-03-25-voa21.cfm

 

[Julia]

What lovely avatars, ghostly11. They are a very nice tribute to Prince Rainier. Thank you for sharing them!

The one of Rainier with little Caroline is incredibly sweet.

 

[monaco70s]

Caroline and Albert look very worried in the pic I posted above. Great avtars once again ghsotly11.

 

[monaco70s]

Thank you so much. Thanks for the update, though each one is harder and harder to read.

U're welcome, and I agree with you each update is harder and harder to read.

It's really caring that all of us are trying to keep everyone here updated and that we also consider the human side of the family and not just only gliterring/official function aspects.

 

[monaco70s]

I was gonna post that pic now but u posted it already Anyway it hurts me seeing Caroline like this.

 

[Julia]

Very sad news and photos. Thought I'd "light" a candle, too.

 

[michelle]

Thank you all so much.
I believe Stephanie wasn't strong enough to stand these moments on the balcony. What do you all think?
I feel like is becoming too much for me.....

 

[michelle]

Hi, Michelle. I was hoping to see you because I was wondering the same thing. I think maybe she volunteered to remain by her father's side while her siblings faced the public. I bet you couldn't pry Stephanie away from him for anything in the world right now. But we all know how strong she is.
Hang in there, sweetie.

Thanks for your words....I think you're right, she certainly was at his bedside. The common friend of Steph and me will be calling in a few minutes he promissed. Gonna let you know ....

 

[Lena]

Hm, there are a lot of "between-life-and-death"-stories, we have to watch these days (Prince Rainier, the pope and the story of Terri Schiavo, which you can follow everywhere) and additionally we have easter. This is all quite thought-provoking and even more I feel for their relatives. Especially for princess Stephanie. She always seemed so traumatically hurt to me through the death of her mother. I fear to lose her beloved father would be for her more than to lose a parent, who has reached the end of a very long life (I hope you don´t get me wrong...and maybe I don´t have enough experience...but I guess it´s easier to accept the death of a parent, when he/she has lived his/her life to the fullest and had the chance to be a grandparent and so on...so that the natural circle of life is closed)

 

[Beate]

I know what you're saying.. I have parents just one year younger than Rainier and I couldn't imagine losing them or seeing them suffer..On the other hand I wouldn't want them to suffer.The pictures posted above show it all. The grim faces..My heart goes out to all of them..Caroline has lost two people so close to her and Stephanie seems so close to her dad..I am sure she must be at the hospital..I am wondering if any of the grandchildren have been able to see their grand-pere..This is so sad..

 

[michelle]

So the following is what Hervé( friend living in Monaco) said:
Louis, Pauline and Camille are taken over by their fathers for the next few days, though they're brought to their mother whenever necessary ( Hervé knows Daniel)
I told Hervé to tell Stephanie I'm with her( we all are). He said he didn't have the chance to speek to her until now,he'll see what happens the next days.I'm going to send her a message within the next hours He also said ( as I already considered) that the press and media is making the moments surely more difficult but as it always was in their lives the family is living with it and can cope with it. In addition to this it is important to be pointed out that the family thanks people all over the world for their care,love and support and appriciates it very much.
For any messages to be send to support the family, this is the adress:

presse@palais.mc

 

[Julia]

While things are very sad for Albert, Caroline, Stephanie and all of Rainier's grandchildren and countrymen there is at least the comforting thought that he has lived a very full life. He has been so fortunate to know all of his grandchildren and vice-versa. He has made enormous contributions to Monaco and has been someone whom his countrymen could be very proud of.

I'm sure this is a terribly hard experience for Stephanie but she is by his side and that's something she was not able to do with her mother, so in some way this is probably a very comforting thing to be able to do. To be with him in his last days will mean so much to her now and later. It will probably bring her some amount of peace as it will for all of his children and grandchildren (the time they spend with him now).

 

[Alexandria]

This is all quite thought-provoking and even more I feel for their relatives. Especially for princess Stephanie. She always seemed so traumatically hurt to me through the death of her mother. I fear to lose her beloved father would be for her more than to lose a parent, who has reached the end of a very long life (I hope you don´t get me wrong...and maybe I don´t have enough experience...but I guess it´s easier to accept the death of a parent, when he/she has lived his/her life to the fullest and had the chance to be a grandparent and so on...so that the natural circle of life is closed)

Interesting thought Lena; I had a recent personal experience that is related. Last week I attended the funeral services of my great-uncle who had lived to be just a few months short of his 90th birthday and the death came after a week of "discomfort" but not a long, drawn out illness. Having been to funerals where friends had lost their parents in their 40s and early 50s, and even to a funeral where very young children died, I was "surprised" by the amount of tears by my great-uncle's (grown) chlidren and his grandchildren. Before I had left for the funeral a colleague had said to me that it shouldn't be a sad occasion but rather a "celebration" as he had lived a long, full life; of course not being particuarly close to this great-uncle I was a bit disconnected and was able to observe in a unique way. Even more surprising was another great-uncle (the younger brother of the one who had passed away) who I was close to, who was openly sobbing and crying over his brother's casket. I came to the conclusion in the end that no matter how long his life, for my great-uncle and for my dad this passing was losing a special family connection: for my great-uncle losing one more sibling, going from a eight brothers and sisters to having now only one sister left who remembers their parents and a life so long ago. And for my dad losing one more person who had special stories about his own dad who died nearly 20 years ago.

I think no matter how old you are it'll always be hard to lose a parent. In the case of Caroline, Albert and Stephanie (or other children in a similar position) a greater sadness because he was their last living parent and now they have only each other. I think that if Grace were still alive the pain might be a little bit less because an adult/parental figure still exists even if you are an adult/parent yourself.

Also, I think particularly precarious about Ranier's passing is that Caroline, Albert and Stephanie lost Grace while they were just young adults -- in Stephanie's case still a teenager -- and they all became close and dependent on Ranier as a single parent as well as someone to set an example of royal life. When you have only one parent you naturally become much closer to them than when you have two parents to spread and share your concerns and problems with. I think it's obvious with Stephanie being the youngest has a very special and close relationship with her father.

No matter how old you are and no matter how long a life your loved one has lived, losing them is losing a tangible connection that can never be replaced.