Prince Albert of Monaco has become the first European royal to confirm their attendance at King Charles’ coronation later this year.
Monaco’s crown prince, 64, spoke fondly of the British King ahead of his 6 May coronation, calling him ‘a very educated man and someone with a great sense of humour’.
Speaking to PEOPLE, Albert confirmed he and his wife Princess Charlene would attend, adding: ‘I’m certain that it’s going to be an incredible ceremony and a very moving one.’
The event will be amongst the highest profile attended by Charlene since her recent illness, which saw her spending 11 months away from the Mediterranean principality in her native South Africa, undergoing treatment for an unspecified condition.
Prince Albert described King Charles as ‘a very educated man and someone with a great sense of humour’
Albert added: ‘We’ve maintained contact since His Majesty became King, but I haven’t talked to him personally since the Queen’s funeral.’
The prince, who is looking forward to attending the king’s coronation, added: ‘I’m certain His Majesty will add his own ‘personal touches’ to the ceremonies, but what those will be, I’m sure I don’t know.’
Prince Albert went onto reveal that himself and his wife Princess Charlene, will definitely be at the ceremony to watch the king’s crowning, however their 8-year-old twins Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella might be ‘too young’.
News of the couple’s attendance comes after Prince Albert praised his wife, Princess Charlene, for ‘turning it around in an incredible way’ after a long-running health battle.
Prince Albert went onto reveal that himself and his wife Princess Charlene will definitely be at the ceremony to watch the king’s crowning
Speaking in December, the 64-year-old royal told People he was ‘really proud of my wife,’ adding: ‘Charlene’s doing really well.’
He continued: ‘As you know, last year was a very tough year for her – and the beginning of this year.’
Albert added that after being admitted to a Swiss treatment facility for exhaustion and keeping out of the limelight, Charlene, 44, has been ‘active in any number of different events.’
He highlighted a number of events where the former Olympic swimmer had been visible at lately, including a recent outing to the Monaco branch of the Red Cross.
Prince Albert (right) said he has ‘maintained contact’ with His Majesty (left) but he hasn’t spoken to him since the Queen’s funeral
‘She’s really enjoying doing things together and with the kids, so this year is ending on a very, a very high note. We’re truly thrilled about how things are,’ Albert said.
King Charles has been Britain’s monarch since early September, when his beloved mother the Queen passed away at Balmoral.
Charlene and Albert both attended the funeral, and were among a number of European royals who did so.
Whilst he became King immediately on the death of Her Majesty, Charles’s coronation will not be until May.
Charlene and Albert both attended the funeral, and were among a number of European royals who did so (pictured together at the event)
The crowning of the King inside Westminster Abbey is set to be a historic occasion featuring regalia and highly symbolic ceremonies that have not been seen for 70 years.
The Queen’s Coronation took place nearly 70 years before, on June 2, 1953, but she actually became monarch in February the previous year, following the death of her father George VI.
Charles will be crowned alongside Camilla, the Queen Consort.
The occasion is expected to be a smaller affair than the late Queen’s ceremony.
A Buckingham Palace statement said in October: ‘The coronation will reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry.’
It added: ‘The coronation is a solemn religious service, together with an occasion for celebration and pageantry.
‘The ceremony has retained a similar structure for over a thousand years, and this year’s coronation is expected to include the same core elements while recognising the spirit of our times.
‘For the last 900 years, the ceremony has taken place at Westminster Abbey, London. Since 1066, the service has almost always been conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury.’
In contrast to the Queen’s Coronation, the Mail on Sunday previously revealed that the service will last for just over an hour, rather than more than three.
The guest list may also be slashed from 8,000 to 2,000 and discussions have been held about having a more relaxed dress code.
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