When one thinks of racing in Monaco, the image of Formula One cars roaring around the narrow streets of the Riviera hotspot is probably the first thing that comes to mind. The tiny principality's ruler opted for a rather more old fashioned mode of transport when he helped kick off an altogether different grand prix in his homeland this week, though.
Prince Albert, who is well-known for his sporting prowess, was left with mud on his face after speeding around an earthen track on a horse-drawn chariot. But if the broad grin on his face afterwards was anything to go by, the 48-year-old sovereign was only too happy to get dirty if it meant a chance to indulge his penchant for high-speed thrills.
Both he and his younger sister Princess Stephanie were looking pristine a few days earlier when they hosted a charity gala in the Monte Carlo Sporting Centre, however. The two siblings were joined by a who's-who of the principality's glamorous residents when they staged a fundraiser for Fight Aids Monaco.
And it seems the Grimaldi family, along with their country's 32,000 other residents, will soon have a little more room to stretch their legs. Following his promises to help the territory keep growing, both literally and metaphorically, Albert has invited bids from construction firms for a new man-made peninsula that will jut into the sea. "The stakes are very high," he said. "It is about preparing our principality's future by solving the current shortage of real estate space and spaces devoted to the public."
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
