| Extended hotter summers and the environment | | | | for finance figures so Monaco can do more at the |
| have been much talked about subjects in royal | | | | United Nations and on environmental issues. If he |
| circles since Prince Charles started to use his | | | | looks down from his palace and sees the wealth |
| position to push it up the agenda. | | | | surrounding him he might be tempted to tap into |
| Now a new royal has entered the debate, and | | | | it for environmental causes as he believes in it in |
| Monaco's Prince Albert recently joined Prince | | | | such a genuine and sincere way. There have been |
| Charles at his innovative Poundbury village in | | | | press reports of some of his staff leaving, and if |
| Dorset. | | | | true it can only be hoped that it wasn't over fiscal |
| The significance that it was Charles' 58th birthday | | | | matters. From the European royal families on |
| wasn't overlooked by a Monaco travel guide. | | | | environment issues we would view Charles as the |
| 'Since Albert came to power he has made the | | | | king, and hopefully Albert will be the prince!' |
| environment his number one priority. And just as | | | | Monaco Weather Forecast |
| Prince Charles has become known for his views | | | | Prince Albert's father, Prince Rainier, was Europe's |
| on everything from architecture to climate | | | | longest reigning Monarch until his death in April |
| change, so has Prince Albert. Of course Albert's | | | | 2005. Known affectionately as the 'builder prince' |
| position isn't as important as Charles' as future | | | | he transformed Monaco into the world's favourite |
| King of England, but where he can he tries to | | | | tax haven and ensured the Monaco Grand Prix |
| champion the environmental cause'. | | | | became one of the best known annual sporting |
| In April 2006 Prince Albert made a trip to the | | | | events. The Principality Albert succeeded to was a |
| North Pole to highlight the issue of global warming, | | | | country known throughout the world for money |
| and since then has taken part in other initiatives | | | | and glamour, and the Monte Carlo casino only |
| to try and push the environment up the political | | | | added to its legendary status. |
| agenda of fellow world leaders, including involving | | | | Albert has continued in his father's footsteps with |
| Monaco more at the United Nations and for the | | | | a plan to develop an island off Monte Carlo, and |
| first time calculating the tax haven's GDP, which | | | | like his father with the reclaimed land in Fontvieille |
| will allow Monaco to commit money towards | | | | the map of Monaco will change again. |
| developing countries. | | | | In keeping with his stance on the environment, it |
| 'As soon as he came to power he signed Monaco | | | | is thought that a successful bid to build the island |
| up to the Kyoto Protocol designed to cut the | | | | will need to be seen to be environmentally |
| world's greenhouse emissions', add the guide, 'and | | | | friendly, with the possibility of lower rise buildings |
| he has established his own foundation to promote | | | | than some parts of Monaco have endured to |
| better understanding of the issues of the rise in | | | | create more living space. |
| sea levels and quality of water'. | | | | Monte Carlo has long been associated with |
| With the threat of rising sea levels, it's easy to | | | | glamour, heightened throughout the world in 1956 |
| see that Monaco could be affected as it sits on | | | | when Prince Albert's father married his mother, |
| the shores of the Mediterranean. The world's | | | | US actress Grace Kelly. |
| second smallest country, and the best known tax | | | | Speculation was rife earlier this year that Prince |
| haven, Monaco has in the past increased her size | | | | Albert would be announcing his own engagement |
| by reclaiming land from the sea, resulting in area | | | | to South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock. |
| where the district of Fontvieille now stands, and | | | | 'Things have gone quiet recently on the Charlene |
| one of the best known hotels in Monaco, the | | | | front', comment the guide, 'Monaco is all about |
| Columbus, is situated. | | | | glitz and glamour and perhaps a surprise |
| But there is a danger that by championing the | | | | announcement will be made soon. But it's possible |
| environmental cause that Prince Albert could turn | | | | that Albert is more interested in environmental |
| off his people before he turns off the warming of | | | | affairs than affairs of the heart'. |
| the planet. | | | | Monaco has been making the news recently as |
| 'Monaco is home to the world's wealthy', say the | | | | Monte Carlo real estate prices have escalated, and |
| travel guide, 'And it's a place of fun. The Monaco | | | | are on a level with London and New York. |
| Grand Prix, the casino and the fact that it's the | | | | Even the cheapest studios are edging towards |
| most sought after tax haven in Europe might not | | | | the million Euro level according to Monaco |
| sit comfortably with heavy politics. Happily the | | | | property specialists. |
| environment is an issue that has moved from the | | | | 'Increasing taxes elsewhere in Europe, especially in |
| fringe to mainstream, and is something that | | | | the UK, have seen inquiries increase significantly |
| nearly everyone is concerned about. Luckily for | | | | over the last twelve months,' they say, 'and it's |
| Prince Albert he has identified himself with an | | | | not the weather in Monte Carlo that's drawing |
| issue that is just as important to the tax exiles | | | | buyers, but the income tax free status of being a |
| and business people who bring their money to | | | | resident, and the security that goes with living in |
| Monaco as it is to everyone else. In the past | | | | Monaco. There's one policeman for every one |
| Prince Charles has been slightly ridiculed with his | | | | hundred residents and has to be the safest |
| views on the environment and organic farming, | | | | country to live in Europe'. |
| but now with hindsight a lot of people think he | | | | This year's Monaco Grand Prix, the possibility of a |
| was ahead of his time.' | | | | royal engagement and Prince Albert's continuing |
| Referring to Monaco's tax haven status the travel | | | | campaign for the environment make the year |
| guide add 'Prince Albert needs to be careful not to | | | | ahead an exciting one for residents and visitors to |
| kill the goose that lays the golden egg. Monaco is | | | | Monaco alike. |
| to start asking businesses in strict confidentiality | | | | |