Prince Of The Environment Chills His Palace

te change has been a much talked about subjectfinance figures so Monaco can do more at the
in royal circles since Prince Charles started to useUnited Nations and on environmental issues. If he
his position to push it up the agenda.looks down from his palace and sees the wealth
But a new royal has entered the debate, andsurrounding him he might be tempted to tap into
Monaco's Prince Albert recently joined Princeit for environmental causes as he believes in it in
Charles at his innovative Poundbury village insuch a genuine and sincere way. There have been
Dorset.press reports of some of his staff leaving, and if
The significance that it was Charles' 58th birthdaytrue it can only be hoped that it wasn't over fiscal
wasn't overlooked by a Monaco travel guide,matters. From the European royal families on
'Since Albert came to power he has made theenvironment issues we would view Charles as the
environment his number one priority. And just asking, and hopefully Albert will be the prince!'.
Prince Charles has become known for his viewsMonte Carlo Map
on everything from architecture to climatePrince Albert's father, Prince Rainier, was Europe's
change, so has Prince Albert. Of course Albert'slongest reigning Monarch until his death in April
position isn't as important as Charles' as future2005. Known affectionately as the 'builder prince'
King of England, but where he can he tries tohe transformed Monaco into the world's favourite
champion the environmental cause'.tax haven and ensured the Monaco Grand Prix
In April 2006 Prince Albert made a trip to thebecame one of the best known annual sporting
North Pole to highlight the issue of global warming,events. The Principality Albert succeeded to was a
and since then has taken part in other initiativescountry known throughout the world for money
to try and push the environment up the politicaland glamour, and the Monte Carlo casino only
agenda of fellow world leaders, including involvingadded to its legendary status.
Monaco more at the United Nations and for theAlbert has continued in his father's footsteps with
first time calculating the tax haven's GDP, whicha plan to develop an island off Monte Carlo, and
will allow Monaco to commit money towardslike his father with the reclaimed land in Fontvieille
developing countries.the Monaco map will change again.
'As soon as he came to power he signed MonacoIn keeping with his stance on the environment, it
up to the Kyoto Treaty designed to cut theis thought that a successful bid to build the island
world's greenhouse emissions', add 'and he haswill need to be seen to be environmentally
established his own foundation to promote betterfriendly, with the possibility of lower rise buildings
understanding of the issues of the rise in seathan some parts of Monaco have endured to
levels and quality of water'.create more living space.
With the threat of rising sea levels, it's easy toMonte Carlo has long been associated with
see that Monaco could be affected as it sits onglamour, heightened throughout the world in 1956
the shores of the Mediterranean. The world'swhen Prince Albert's father married his mother,
second smallest country, and the best known taxUS actress Grace Kelly.
haven, Monaco has in the past increased her sizeSpeculation was rife earlier this year that Prince
by reclaiming land from the sea, resulting in areaAlbert would be announcing his own engagement
where the district of Fontvieille now stands, andto South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock.
one of the best known Monaco hotels, the'Things have gone quiet recently on the Charlene
Columbus, is situated.front', comment YourMonaco, 'Monaco is all about
But there is a danger that by championing theglitz and glamour and perhaps a surprise
environmental cause that Prince Albert could turnannouncement will be made soon. But it's possible
off his people before he turns off the warming ofthat Albert is more interested in environmental
the planet.affairs than affairs of the heart'.
'Monaco is home to the world's wealthy', say theMonaco has been making the news recently as
travel guide, 'And it's a place of fun. The MonacoMonaco real estate prices have escalated, and are
Grand Prix, the casino and the fact that it's theon a level with London and New York.
most sought after tax haven in Europe might notEven the cheapest studios are edging towards
sit comfortably with heavy politics. Happily thethe million Euro level according to Monaco
environment is an issue that has moved from theproperty specialists Tribune Properties at
fringe to mainstream, and is something that'Increasing taxes elsewhere in Europe, especially in
nearly everyone is concerned about. Luckily forthe UK, have seen inquiries increase significantly
Prince Albert he has identified himself with anover the last twelve months,' they say, 'and it's
issue that is just as important to the tax exilesnot the weather in Monaco that's drawing buyers,
and business people who bring their money tobut the income tax free status of being a
Monaco as it is to everyone else. In the pastresident, and the security that goes with living in
Prince Charles has been slightly ridiculed with hisMonaco. There's one policeman for every one
views on the environment and organic farming,hundred residents and has to be the safest
but now with hindsight a lot of people think hecountry to live in Europe'.
was ahead of his time.'The 2007 Monaco Grand Prix, the possibility of a
Referring to Monaco's tax haven status addroyal engagement and Prince Albert's continuing
'Prince Albert needs to be careful not to kill thecampaign for the environment make the year
goose that lays the golden egg. Monaco is to startahead an exciting one for residents and visitors to
asking businesses in strict confidentiality forMonaco alike.