If Monaco doesn't have a direct mail heir, will it revert to France.?

Question

I know that once there was a treaty between Monaco and France that stated if ever there was not a male heir to take over the throne, the principality would revert back to France.

Would such a treaty be enforcable now, in this day and age? Will Princess Caroline's son be able to take the throne as heir under the laws of Monaco. Would the people of Monaco accept a female Princess as Ruling Princess of the nation?

Answer 1

The following is a bit long, but will explain what will happen when there is not a direct male heir:

"The change to the succession laws in 2002

A law of 2 April 2002 modified article 10. Adoption is now ruled out, and the succession passes, upon death or abdication, to the direct legitimate descent of the previous prince, failing which to his siblings and their descent, failing which to a collateral heir chosen by the Regency Council and the Crown Council in agreement (the composition of the Crown Council is set in art. 75 of the constitution and includes 7 members appointed for 3 years, 4 nominated by the Prince and 3 by the legislature; the composition of the Regency Council is determined by the House laws).

Thus the throne can now pass from Albert II to his sisters and their children. The new law, however, restricts succession to persons holding Monegasque citizenship at the time of the demise of the previous prince. A law governing Monegasque citizenship (which is no longer defined in the Constitution) was promulgated on Dec 22, 2003 (Law 1.276). A person is monegasque if (a) born of a monegasque father, or (b) born of a monegasque mother who (b1) was still monegasque at the time of birth, or (b2) is descended of a person born monegasque, or (b3) acquired monegasque citizenship in various ways (see the law itself for details).

Upon the accession of Albert II, Antoinette and her issue automatically ceased to be in the line of succession, but they remain potential heirs in the event of Rainier's line dying out completely.

At present, the order of succession (ignoring the restriction to persons who are Monegasque citizens at the time of the demise of the crown) is thus:

HRH the Princess of Hanover (Princess Caroline, b. 23 Jan 1957), widow of Stefano Casiraghi (1960-90)

Andrea Casiraghi (b. 8 Jun 1984)

Pierre Casiraghi (b. 5 Sep 1987)

Charlotte Casiraghi (b. 3 Aug 1986)

Alexandra of Hanover (b. 20 July 1999)

HSH Princess Stephanie (b. 1 Feb 1965), married June 1995 to Daniel Ducruet (b. 1964)

Louis Ducruet (b. 26 Nov 1992)

Pauline Ducruet (b. 4 May 1994)

Although Stephanie's children were born before her marriage, Monegasque civil law, like French law, provides that natural children are fully and completely legitimized by the marriage of their parents (article 227 of the Monegasque Civil Code states in part: "Les enfants nés hors mariage, autres que les enfants adultérins, sont légitimés par le mariage subséquent de leurs père et mère, lorsque ceux-ci les ont légalement reconnus avant leur mariage ou qu'ils les reconnaissent au moment de la célébration." while art. 229 states: "Les enfants légitimés par le mariage subséquent auront les mêmes droits que s'ils étaient nés de ce mariage"). They are thus apt to succeed. Stéphanie's last child Camille Marie Kelly Grimaldi (b. 15 Jul 1998) of undeclared father, is not (yet) legitimate and thus not in line.

Rainier III's sister is HSH Princess Antoinette, born Antoinette Grimaldi, who had three children, by Alexandre Noghès: Elisabeth-Ann (b. 1947), Christian (b. 1949), Christine (1951-89), They were legitimated by the marriage of their parents in 1951. They were named at birth Grimaldi, but by ordinance of November 15, 1951 their names were all changed to "de Massy" (source: Christian de Massy: Palace: my life in the royal family of Monaco. London: Bodley Head, 1986). They all had issue. They and their issue of monegasque nationality could be chosen as successors in case a reigning prince dies or abdicates without issue and without siblings having issue. However, they cannot be placed in an order of succession, since the choice of which collateral heir would be called to the throne is entirely up to the Regency Council and the Crown Council.

The House Law of 29 May 2002 provides additional regulations. The prince can abdicate. The heir (apparent or presumptive) is called Hereditary Prince. The hereditary prince can renounce his rights in writing. Marriages of members of the family must be approved by the prince; if a member marries without approval, he and his issue are excluded from the succession, unless the marriage ends without any issue before a demise of the crown. The house law also provides in detail for regencies.

http://www.heraldica.org/topics/national...

Answer 2

To sum it up, no. Princess Caroline will step up for she is the next in line. Should anything happen to her (old age), then Andrea Casiraghi, her oldest son, will be the Sovereign Prince.

Answer 3

Devlin, Monaco has had a ruling princess before and the dynasty has passed through female lines. Caroline, the Princess of Hanover, is also the Hereditary Princess of Monaco which means that if her brother dies without legitimate issue then she will become the Sovereign Princess of Monaco. Her son will not be chosen over her as she is higher in the line of succession than he is.