The principality of Monaco is just weeks away from welcoming a royal baby. Last year rumours that Princess Caroline's son Andrea Casiraghi was expecting a child with his fiancée Tatiana Santo Domingo were confirmed when the heiress unveiled a sizeable baby bump. Andrea and his Colombian partner have kept their due date close to their chests, but royal watchers are on tenterhooks to mark the arrival of the child who will herald in a new generation of Grimaldis.
Until Prince Albert and his wife Charlene become parents, the baby will potentially be third-in-line to the Monegasque throne behind its dad Andrea who, despite having no title is currently second after his mother Caroline. The only way this could change is if the child is born before Andrea and Tatiana marry. Given that Princess Caroline has confirmed her eldest son also plans to wed Tatiana, the royal baby's place in the line of succession should be secure. "I am happy to announce the engagement of my son, Andrea Casiraghi to Miss Tatiana Santo Domingo," she said in a statement released by her press office. Despite clocking up seven years as Andrea's girlfriend, Tatiana exudes humility and has perfected the art of being a discreet yet supportive consort. Her low-key approach is something the Monegasque royals – Caroline in particular – appreciate.
Soon, the world will see her and the new baby participate at official events such as Monaco National Day, which takes place on November 19. Andrea's siblings Charlotte and Pierre Casiraghi are always present at such events, and will doubtless dote over their niece or nephew. His half-sister Princess Alexandra of Hanover, Caroline's child from her second marriage to Ernst August of Hanover, will no longer be the baby of the family. Reports suggest that Tatiana will give birth in Monaco although she and Andrea currently use Paris as their base. Tatiana, the granddaughter of the late Colombian mega-mogul Julio Santo Domingo, is set to inherit an estimated $6bn fortune which she will share with her younger brother Julio Mario Santo Domingo III. Despite her vast wealth she has worked hard to establish ethical fashion brand Muzungu Sisters, which she co-founded with business partner Dana Alikhani, daughter of the late Iranian businessman Hossein Alikhani.