Here's a look at the life of His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II. He was formally invested as Monaco's ruler on July 12, 2005, following the death of his father, Prince Rainier. Albert has been credited with bringing many sporting and music events to Monaco.

Personal: Birth date: March 14, 1958

Birth place: Monte Carlo, Monaco

Birth name: Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi, His Serene Highness, the Hereditary Prince of Monaco, Marquis of Baux

Father: Prince Rainier III

Mother: Princess Grace, formerly the actress Grace Kelly

Marriage: Charlene Wittstock (July 1, 2011 - present)

Children: with Nicole Coste: Eric Alexandre Stephane , August 24, 2003; with Tamara Rotolo: Jazmin Grace Rotolo, March 1992.

Education: Amherst College, BA, 1981

Military service: French Navy

Other Facts: He is interested in environmental issues, alternative energy and hybrid vehicles. Some buses in Monaco run on rapeseed oil.

An avid athlete, he has competed in five Winter Olympics (1988, 1992, 1994, 1998, 2002) in the sport of bobsledding but has not won any medals.

He has been a member of the International Olympic Committee since 1985.

Neither of his children are in line for the throne by Monaco law, "the succession passes, upon death or abdication, to the direct legitimate descent of the previous prince."

Timeline: March 31, 2005 - Monaco's Crown Council transfers the regency of the tiny kingdom to Prince Albert, the heir to the throne, saying that Prince Rainier can no longer carry out his duties as monarch.

April 6, 2005 - Prince Rainier III dies of organ failure and Prince Albert becomes Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco.

July 6, 2005 - Publicly acknowledges paternity of his son, Alexandre, born to Nicole Coste, a flight attendant from Togo.

July 12, 2005 - Part 1 of the formal investiture as Monaco's ruler is Mass at St. Nicholas Cathedral, marking the end of the mourning period for Prince Rainier.

November 17, 2005 - Part 2 of the formal investiture is the enthronement ceremony at St. Nicholas Cathedral.

April 16, 2006 - Travels to the North Pole by dogsled to highlight global warming.