More used to Grand Prix cars than dog sleighs, Monaco's Prince 
Albert's forthcoming trek to the North Pole has been greeted with 
surprise by many.

But the Prince is fairly accustomed to the cold, in contrast to 
the Mediterranean warmth of Monaco where he became ruler last 
July following the passing of his father Prince Rainier, who had 
ruled the tax haven for over 50 years.

Albert represented Monaco at the last five Winter Olympic Games 
in their Bobsleigh team. And he is going to face some cold and 
hostile conditions on his seven day trip to bring to the 
attention of fellow world leaders the environmental damage to the 
arctic regions that global warming is having.

Speaking at a recent news conference in Monaco, Albert explained 
his thinking behind the trip to assembled journalists.

'If in our modest way, by this action we are able to bring 
environmental problems to the forefront and force some leaders to 
take stronger actions, this expedition will have achieved its 
objectives'.

Environmentalists have welcomed Albert's expedition, and his 
image in the world's media is changing from that of a playboy 
millionaire to a responsible leader.

In 2002 47 year old Prince Albert agreed to a DNA test to show 
whether he was the father to a boy born to a former air hostess 
he had had a relationship with, and more recently has been linked 
by the press with 28 year old South African swimming champion 
Charlene Wittstock.

But one of the first actions he took after succeeding to the 
throne was to sign the Kyoto Protocol, taking Monaco outside of 
the small group of countries that had failed to ratify the 
treaty, designed to reduce the world's emissions of greenhouse 
gases.


Monaco Grand Prix

The Monaco Prince Albert inherited from his father is now the 
world's best known tax haven, and the ultimate European 
destination for luxury hotels, including the Hotel de Paris, 
frequently quoted in guides as among the top ten in the world.

Local on-line travel guide http://www.yourmonaco.com comment that 
Prince Albert's interest in the world's environment sets a 
different agenda than that of his father, who transformed the 
principality in his reign into an economically safe country for 
the world's wealthy to live and invest.

Residents of the principality enjoy a zero rated income tax.

As well as being a tax haven, Monaco hosts the best known Formula 
1 Grand Prix of the year around the streets of Monte Carlo and 
Fontvieille in May. Over recent years Monaco has also become a 
destination of choice for the super-rich in September, when it 
hosts the Monaco Yacht Show.

And while the Grand Prix and Yacht Show fill the hotels in Monte 
Carlo and Monaco each year, and on an everyday basis every second 
car seems to be an Aston Martin or Ferrari, locals hope that 
Prince Albert doesn't look too close to home when it comes to his 
concern for the environment. Cancelling the Monaco Grand Prix in 
2007 to show his concern for the environment would certainly grab 
world headlines, but might not be a popular decision among his 
subjects.

YourMonaco.com feel that there is little danger of this though – 
Albert is after all the son of Hollywood star Grace Kelly, and 
future media appearances could just as well be in celebrity 
magazines as environmental campaign ones.
 

Author Henri Boulanger writes on topics related to travel in 
Europe. For a local guide to Monaco and Monte Carlo, which 
includes the Monaco Grand Prix 2006 being held on May 28, 
a map, the weather, flights, Monaco hotels including the 
Columbus and the Hotel de Paris and Nice Airport information: 
http://www.yourmonaco.com

For hotels in Monte Carlo, visit 
http://www.yourmonaco.com/hotels