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