Prince Albert of Monaco talks Harry & Meghan

Prince Albert of Monaco talks Harry & Meghan

For some random reason, Prince Albert of Monaco has decided to talk quite extensively (for a fellow royal) to People Magazine about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. I have no idea why Albert decided to talk about them, but he did. And since there is nothing else to talk about with Meghan right now, let’s talk about this.

From People:

“A prince falling in love with an actress — the story may sound familiar. And that’s because it has happened before. Just ask Prince Albert of Monaco, whose late mother Princess Grace was a famous movie star and Oscar-winning actress before marrying Prince Rainier in one of the most celebrated fairytale weddings of all time. Though he didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps (Albert is married to Princess Charlene, a former Olympic swimmer), he’s no stranger to the media spotlight himself. And when it comes to Prince Harry’s romance with American actress Meghan Markle, he thinks the couple ‘are doing a pretty good job so far.’

“Bringing anyone into royal circles, navigating the press and mastering protocol, ‘is a pretty tough act,’ he tells PEOPLE. ‘Especially in the British royal family, which is scrutinized by the press as no one’s been.’ The couple ‘seem to be having a good deal of success so far,’ he says, but ‘sooner or later, she’s going to have to face the full onslaught.’

“Albert’s own life — especially his romance and 2011 wedding to Charlene — were subject to intense press coverage. ‘I can’t imagine how that will be on them, on her,’ he says. ‘Being an actress, in a way, gets you a little prepared but nothing really can prepare you for the constant pace of it. Particularly now that the pace has changed so much. It’s hard for anyone to handle. It was difficult for Charlene to handle,’ he admits. ‘I can’t imagine the difference now with the increased pace of news and social media.’

“But as of yet, Albert says the couple seems to be taking the scrutiny in stride. ‘They seem to be doing okay for now,’ he says. ‘The only kind of advice I can offer is the British expression: ‘Keep calm and carry on.”

“Albert says he and his sisters, Princess Caroline and Princess Stephanie, benefitted from having an actress as a mother when it came to preparing to deal with the press attention they’d face throughout their lives. ‘Mom said being an actress did prepare you a little,’ recalls Albert. ‘It familiarized you a little with the press. But the press was a little more respectful in those days. The press, mostly the photographers, seems to have changed.’

“‘Mom taught us that you have to do all you can to protect your private life,’ he continues. ‘But you also have to face the press at some points. When we went on family holidays together, we would take an hour on the first morning and give that to the photographers. We let them have that hour and in return they would let us go on with our lives during the vacation.’

“This method, he says, could prove useful to Harry and Meghan. ‘Giving them a little time seemed to work then. Maybe it still will.'”

[People]

I have so many questions. Has Albert met Harry and Meghan? Did they give him permission to talk about them and their relationship? Will Albert be uninvited from the wedding because he talked about them publicly for no reason? Did People prompt Albert to talk about this, or did Albert voluntarily give this up himself? Does Albert follow tabloid gossip, and is he laughing at all the BS as much as I am, OR does Albert believe all the tabloid nonsense as fact? Does he hit up gossip sites over his morning coffee? I’m so curious!

Here is a photo of Prince Albert at Wimbledon on July 16 seated in the Royal Box next to Princess Michael of Kent. He was there the same day William and Kate were.

PS. Hello Magazine says Meghan flew to London with her mother ahead of her birthday on August 4.


24 thoughts on “Prince Albert of Monaco talks Harry & Meghan

    1. Right? It’s so random that Albert is talking about Harry and Meghan this much.

  1. He probably was asked because his mother was an American actress turned princess too. He has given interviews to People before, so not too surprised about this. They probably didn’t expect a long answer like this though.

    1. Oh absolutely People asked him. I just think it’s funny imagining Albert reading gossip mags and calling up People to chat about Harry and Meghan. Although, I do think it’s odd that he spoke so much about them. He could have not answered the question or dodged it or made his answer more about his mother than Harry and Meghan.

  2. If there isn’t an engagement soon, like on the birthday she shares with the Queen Mum, then I think the relationship will peter out. I’m not sure Harry can sustain a long-term long distance relationship. And the biological clock is ticking…

    I thought the most interesting royal news was the DM article on the shake-up in the royal households. I think the Queen’s private secretary is leaving because she did not, or could not enforce his wish for less soul baring and more work.

  3. Wow – I’m focused on your P.S. note…BOTH Sparkles and her mom flew to London for her birthday? I wonder if this is because of the big E-word?? Why else would her mother be going too? I don’t think she’s gone to London before, has she? This way she’d be on hand to meet Charles/Cams and possibly QEII and give a statement or interview or whatever on the engagement…

    Although, probably just wishful thinking on my part since I’ve wanted them to get engaged for the past 6 months! I really thought they would have done it before all of the summer events so Harry could have had MM with him for the balcony, ascot, etc.

    So…if her birthday is Friday, maybe the announcement would come mid-week this week or else – I’d guess – next Monday since you wouldn’t want to announce news this big on a Friday, right? Guess I’ll just have to wait and see.

    1. p.s. (sorry, editing time ran out) I guess the queen is in Scotland for her summer hols so I doubt MM and her mom would be meeting up with her…

    2. Know you’ve got me all excited Gudgeon!! I’d really love to see Harry get married and start a family, he’s so great with kids it’ll be a joy to see him with his own!

      1. The only sad thing is we probably won’t see Harry with his own kids because he’ll hide them away like William does with his kids.

    3. I’m wondering if they would wait a few weeks before announcing an engagement. Like, if they got engaged next weekend, would they wait until the summer royal holiday is over before announcing it? Because the staff are usually on holiday during August, too. So they may wait to announce it until the summer holiday is over.

      1. I kind of think that she will need to finish work on suits before anything announcements are made…so that would put it around November/December … I mean Harry oh I am sorry “the source” on the newsweek article did say the would most likely wait to get engage until the during of this year.

        1. I am more inclined to think she and her mother are meeting the Queen at some point and that it is an agree to get engaged situation with an announcement to be timed after the Invictus Games. I don’t see Harry wanting to have the crazy press attention on him in Toronto dealing with engagement chaos in September and taking it away from the athletes.

          1. But wouldn’t it be great for her to be with him at Invictus in her city? She has to start somewhere and this would seem a better place than many? It’s her turf and she would have friends around to help her.
            I think Albert is just speaking hypothetically, I doubt he’s even met Meghan. But the similarities to his Mother makes it an interesting topic.

      2. I don’t agree that Harry will be like William when it comes to any children he may have, especially, if he and Sparkles do marry. After all, she’s an actress and is used to publicity and seems to thrive on it as many theater people do. Of course, she will be out there in her mama role and Harry at her side.

        Hard to say if the engagement is coming, or not. Better hurry, if you want to have kids, though. She’s 36, yes?

        As for Prince Albert talking about this so much? I mean, yes, his mother was an actress, but a quick comment was all that was needed. Or, a nice dodge of the question.
        Strange that he chose to answer in such detail.

  4. Funny. Probably the first time Albert has been placed in the role of relationship advisor and evaluator.

    He seems to have warmed to it.

    I was surprised to hear him call Grace Kelly “mom.” Not sure why. Maybe because it sounds so American, maybe because I (idiotically) have a hard time imagining Albert and Grace together. In my mind, she’s a figure from long, long ago, not the grandmother of a couple two-year-olds.

    Silly interview, with a dash of comic charm. It struck me as Albert wanting to chat, hoping to stumble on something witty and insightful, but ending up vague and meandering. That’s the human condition. It made me like him.

    1. When Albert speaks English it is with an Eric an accent. When I have heard Carole speak it is more British (slightly) yet Stéphanie speaks with an American accent.

      I gave heard Grace was self concious about her French so she mainly spoke English with her children. I am sure they called her “Mom” not “Mum”.

      However, I did once hear Grace pronounce Albert’s name and it was the French way where you don’t pronounce the T so it sounds more like Al-bear. 🙂

  5. I think H&M are cute together, but I honestly don’t see an engagement annouced this year…BUT everything in this relationship has been a surprise, so maybe, just maybe, we’ll have a LOT to talk about soon.

  6. I don’t think it is that out of the ordinary for Albert to talk about Harry and Meghan in terms of his mother’s experience. Interestingly Grace Kelly’s wedding was the subject of much angst/power struggles and negotiations between the palace and the press/Hollywood. Grace knew how to handle the press. She sailed to Monaco and the press went along with them, she knew it was part of the role.
    Her first meeting with Prince Rainier was for a photoshoot for Paris Match. She famously hated the dress she had to wear that day, with wet hair, because it was the only suitable one she had at the time. He was late, which made her cross.

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