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During his life the head of the Grimaldi clan immersed himself in his work with quiet dignity, continuing to attract big business to the principality while aiming to rely less on the income from tourism and the casino. He maintained a favourable relationship with neighbouring France - despite criticism at times from the government in Paris - and over the past 20 years increased the size of his kingdom from 150 hectares to 181 through various land reclamation schemes.
The patriarch, who often said he would like to spend the later years of his life in the country as a gentleman farmer, referred to the sea as one of his “great obsessions” and counted the environment as a subject close to his heart. “It’s what I’m most concerned about,” he said. “The environment is my top priority. If I think it will suffer, I won’t let them put up so much as a telephone box.”
If the environment headed his list of priorities, another passion was one shared by his entire family – the circus. The head of state was a jury member for one of his favourite events of the year, the Monte Carlo International Circus Festival. This three-ring extravaganza was often made even more special by the enthusiasm with which it was greeted by some little ones in the royal box –Rainier’s grandchildren.
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