Had three children: Princess Caroline of Monaco, Prince Albert of Monaco and Princess Stephanie of Monaco.

Succeeded his grandfather Louis Grimaldi (Prince Louis II). Rainier's mother, Princess Charlotte, renounced her rights to succession so that he could come to the throne. [9 May 1949]

Underwent brain surgery after suffering an aneurysm in December 1999.

Died three days after the death of Pope John Paul II, the ruler of the world's smallest independent nation, the Vatican City. Monaco is the second smallest independent nation in the world.

Is portrayed by Ian McShane in Grace Kelly (1983) (TV)

Seventh grandchild born. [1999]

Drew up Monaco's latest constitution (1962), significantly reducing the power of the sovereign, ending autocratic rule, and placing power with the prince and a National Council of eighteen elected members.

Monegasque by nationality but is French, Italian, and Scottish by genealogy.

Had a tumor removed from his lung on February 2nd 2000.

Had his look-alike puppet in the French show "Guignols de l'info, Les" (1988).

At the time of his death he was the world's second-longest reigning monarch.

Served as a Second Lieutenant in the French army. His courage during the German counter-offensive in Alsace earned him the Croix de Guerre, the Bronze Star and the rank of Chevalier in the Legion of Honor. Although his grandfather, Prince Louis II, fought for the French during World War I, he supported the Nazi-installed Vichy government of his old army colleague, Marshall Petain, and did little when Italy invaded and occupied Monaco, setting up a fascist government. Louis's vacillation caused an enormous rift with Rainier.

In 2007, Casiraghi moved temporarily to London to complete a course of work experience as an intern at The Independent newspaper

Casiraghi is often photographed at fashion shows

At Aged 16, Casiraghi was named number ten on a list of the world`s most eligible young women

Casiraghi`s first public romance was with European aristocrat Hubertus Herring Frankensdorf. The two were spotted in 2001 at Monaco`s Grand National Prix, and in 2002 with her family on a skiing holiday in Zurs, Austria.

When she turned five, her paternal grandparents, Giancarlo and Fernanda Casiraghi, gave her a small island off Sardinia reportedly valued at US $7 million

When she was four years old, her father was killed in a boating accident.

Charlotte and her two brothers, Andrea and Pierre, were born in the Mediterranean principality of Monaco, ruled by their maternal grandfather, Prince Rainier III.

is of French, American, Irish, Italian, German, Monegasque, Spanish, Scottish, English and Dutch heritage.

She is named after her maternal great-grandmother, Princess Charlotte of Monaco.