The interview was illustrated with Pictures of the smiling prince holding and feeding a young boy.Ms Coste, who lives in Paris, said she went public with the story because she wanted "Alexandre to grow up normally, with a father".The Prince wanted to face up to his responsibilities, said a statement released by Albert's lawyer, Thierry Lacoste."That's why he recognised the child and hopes that he can live out his childhood and adolescence in a calm and protected setting, in strict isolation from the media," said a statement issued by the lawyer.Albert said he was tired of fielding questions about why he was still single, and said he plans to have a family when he is ready "Allow me to go at my own pace," he said. His existence will have no effect on the functioning of the regime or on my succession."The rules of the constitution are very clear on this matter. There will be only patrimonial consequences." Under Monaco's constitution, only a child born in wedlock can succeed to the throne.The Prince said he regretted that Paris Match magazine went public with the story just weeks after the death of his father, Prince Rainier, in April. "I will watch over this and will see him often."Albert, 47, has no other children and is not married. He took over royal powers in the Riviera principality shortly before Prince Rainier III's death in April, and will formally assume the throne on 12 July.Asked if the child would have the family name Grimaldi, Albert said in the interview: "No. Monaco's new ruler, Prince Albert II, has publicly acknowledged he had an illegitimate son.
But he said the infant, whose mother is a former Air France flight attendant, will not be in line to the throne or bear his name. The grandson of the Hollywood actress Grace Kelly, named Alexandre, is now almost two years old. His mother, Nicole Coste, is originally from the African nation of Togo. "I recognised this child before a lawyer a few weeks after its birth," Prince Albert, who usually fiercely guards his privacy, said in remarks to appear in Le Monde's II magazine on Saturday."The child will therefore have a father and will lack for nothing," he said. He said there was "no comparison" between those committed to violence and the hundreds of thousands that had taken part in peaceful protest.. Some 50,000 people turned out in the rain to watch stars including Travis, Bono and James Brown perform.Earlier, police claimed to have foiled a planned blockade of Edinburgh that would have prevented delegates reaching Gleneagles.
Hundreds of officers were sent to the Sheraton Grand Hotel early yesterday where many G8 staff were staying after demonstrators blocked strategic routes into the city.Bob Geldof was caught up in the stand-off and had to be escorted by police from the Balmoral Hotel. Financial institutions sent non-essential staff home as the tension mounted.Police warned anyone without a ticket not to attend last night's The Final Push concert at Murrayfield, which is the finale of the Make Poverty History campaign. Retailers, many of them still with boarded-up shop fronts, said they had lost millions of pounds in trade. About 300 hooded extremists smashed up a Burger King after spending the night at an "eco-camp". Rail services between Stirling and Edinburgh were suspended.David Mulhern, deputy chief constable of Central Scotland Police, said 53 people were arrested in Stirling. "Five officers were taken to hospital after being struck with objects which were either thrown or used as weapons."In the centre of Edinburgh, scene of violence on Monday, Princes Street was closed as 500 protesters staged an impromptu demonstration after hearing that the Gleneagles protest had been cancelled.