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Europe
Monaco: Albert II Ascends to the Throne
2005-11-20
Bells pealed across Monaco on Saturday as the tiny Riviera principality celebrated Prince Albert II’s rise to the throne and made a final, symbolic farewell to his late father, Rainier III. Princes from Europe, Africa and the Middle East flew in for the festivities marking the final phase of Albert’s ascension to the throne of Monaco’s 700-year-old dynasty. Rainier, Europe’s longest-serving monarch, ruled Monaco for 56 years until his death in April at the age of 81.

The day started with a solemn Mass at Monaco’s 19th-century cathedral and was to end with a gala evening performance at the opera, followed by fireworks above Monte Carlo’s famed casino. Wearing a royal ceremonial military uniform, Albert blinked back tears after kneeling to receive a blessing at the end of the Mass, which was led by the archbishop of Monaco, Monsignor Bernard Barsi. Hundreds of Monaco residents watched the ceremony on a giant screen outside the cliff-top palace, near the cathedral. Many waved Monaco’s red-and-white national flag.

Albert, 47, automatically took royal powers upon his father’s death and was appointed His Serene Highness in July, when he was sworn in before the people of Monaco in the first of a two-part investiture ceremony. This round of festivities coincided with Monaco’s national day and was intended as Albert’s coming-out party before foreign dignitaries and royalty. Those present included Britain’s Prince Edward, Prince Joachim of Denmark, Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco and Prince Faisal of Jordan. The only head of state to attend was Iceland President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson.

An afternoon ceremony outside the royal palace marked the symbolic transfer of power, with Albert presiding for the first time over Monaco’s national day military review. Standing at attention, Albert was presented with a royal standard — or banner — bearing his emblem, while Rainier’s standard was presented to the royal guard one last time and marched inside the palace gates. Rainier was credited with transforming the principality from a sleepy seaside resort into a center of finance and tourism. It was Rainier’s 1956 wedding to the Oscar-winning Kelly that endowed Monaco with its glamorous image.
"I'd like to speak to Prince Albert!"
"He can't come to the phone. He's in the can!"
Posted by:Pappy

#14  The cigar boxes ... (the pure wood ones) are now selling on eBay for $5.00 each or more.

Wha-what? You mean like the ones I used to store all kinds of junk and like the 30 or so I've thrown out the past couple years? I could have gotten $150 for some cheap (though good-smelling) wood boxes?

[sob]
Posted by: Jackal   2005-11-20 20:21  

#13  Atleast you have a teef, I make do with an Oster blender and cardboard over the gums.
Posted by: Shipman   2005-11-20 19:55  

#12  I was a Red Man guy all through college and early professional dayz. Count on periodontal cleaning fun...just finished another session
Posted by: Frank G   2005-11-20 19:00  

#11  My Dad used to smoke Half and Half when he varied his diet from Camels to a pipe. I'm a chain pipe smoker. My brand is Captain Black Gold. I ran out on a drive a couple years ago and bought a pack of Half and Half, thinking fond memories of Dad until I actually fired the stuff up.

That stuff's nasty.
Posted by: Fred   2005-11-20 18:45  

#10  And yes, I'm also old enough to remember all the Prince Albert jokes

me to Old Patriot, I smoked a few cans way back when men were men and women were.......
Posted by: Mr. LEVI GARRETT   2005-11-20 17:41  

#9  Careful Mr. Z, you're setting yourself up for a hit. I'd advise letting the blog know that all those items are EMPTY so has not to lure the addicted.

I guess the odd rattling sound I heard after posting that must have been a collective nic-fit from Rantburg's smokers.
Posted by: Zenster   2005-11-20 17:34  

#8  I recently bought a large box of used postage stamps from a dealer. There was a dark amber jar in the box as well. I immediately recognized it as a snuff jar from the late 1940's, early 1950's, because my grandmother dipped snuff. The jars had a cork stopper. I used to use the stoppers to fish with when she no longer needed them. Brought back a TON of memories! And yes, I'm also old enough to remember all the Prince Albert jokes, although my dad smoked Half-and-Half.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2005-11-20 17:18  

#7  my tobacciana collection of over 10,000 cigar boxes, pipe tobacco tins, chewing tobacco tins, cigarette tins, cigar history books, amber cigarette & cigar holders, unused Turkish meerschaum pipes and other smoking related ephemera.

Careful Mr. Z, you're setting yourself up for a hit. I'd advise letting the blog know that all those items are EMPTY so has not to lure the addicted.
Posted by: Shipman   2005-11-20 17:12  

#6  Is your refrigerator running?

I'd like to speak to Homer....Homer Sexual
Posted by: Bart Simpson   2005-11-20 13:20  

#5  think the wipper snappers will get it?

You mean as in:

[phone call to a tobacconist]

Caller: Do you have Prince Albert in a can?

Clerk: Yes.

Caller: For God's sake, let him out!

The crimson vest pocket tin with flip-top lid and the full size humidor can with captive levering key both feature prominently in my tobacciana collection of over 10,000 cigar boxes, pipe tobacco tins, chewing tobacco tins, cigarette tins, cigar history books, amber cigarette & cigar holders, unused Turkish meerschaum pipes and other smoking related ephemera.

The cigar boxes (wood, not cardboard) which I usually got for free or paid a whopping dollar for (the pure wood ones) are now selling on eBay for $5.00 each or more.
Posted by: Zenster   2005-11-20 12:01  

#4  Let's work on some passing lanes okay?
Posted by: Shipman   2005-11-20 11:43  

#3  "I'd like to speak to Prince Albert!"
"He can't come to the phone. He's in the can!"

think the wipper snappers will get it?
Posted by: Snese Wholutle2724   2005-11-20 07:56  

#2  "Here comes Albert."
-- Guess Who, circa 1972
Posted by: badanov   2005-11-20 06:36  

#1  Nice work, when you can get it.
Posted by: Zenster   2005-11-20 02:02  

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