HSH Prince Albert II is the second child and only son of HSH Prince Rainier III and HSH Princess Grace Patricia Kelly. He was crowned the head of the House of Grimaldi and the current ruler of the Principality of Monaco following his father's death on Apr 6, 2005.

Born Mar 14, 1958, Prince Albert is single. He enrolled at Amherst College in USA 's Massachusetts , studying political science, economics, music and English literature and graduated with a BA in political science.

The Prince has shown great aptitude in many kind of sports including sailing, swimming, squash, judo, and bobsledding. In April, 2006, he reached the North Pole after a four-day dogsled expedition to draw attention to the effects of global warming on the Arctic ice cap, where he planted there Monaco's flag and the flag of the International Olympic Committee, of which he is a member. The Prince is the first ruler to reach the North Pole.

Prince Albert continues the policies initiated by previous rulers of the principality, to draw the world's attention to the need to protect the environment, especially the marine environment. He is also interested in music as well as issues concerning poverty, health and children's rights.

He established the Monaco Aide et Presence under the patronage of Princess Grace, his mother. The organisation supported the construction of a maternity ward and pathology laboratory in Nigeria that later became the main hospital in Nigeria .

In 1996, the year after he was named heir apparent, HSH Prince Albert visited Thailand, the first country in Asia he did so. This time is his first visit as the ruler of the Principality of Monaco.

The Principality of Monaco :Located in western Europe, bordered by the Mediterranean Sea on the southern coast of France , near the border with Italy . The government is a constitutional monarchy.

The principality has successfully diversified into services and small, high-value-added, non-polluting industries. Economic development was spurred in the late 19th century with a railroad linkup to France and the opening of a casino. Since then, the principality's mild climate, splendid scenery and gambling facilities have made Monaco world-famous as a tourist and recreation centre.

Monaco and Thailand have not yet established formal relations.