Thailand’s King Bhumibol remains the world’s richest royal for the third year in a row, despite his country’s riots and turmoil.
Royal assets are held under Thailand’s Crown Property Bureau, which benefited from stock market and real estate gains in 2009. As a result, his fortune remains stable at $30 billion, at least for now.
The rioting that broke out in March, led by protesters demanding new elections, may irreparably damage the country’s tourism and investment markets.
Collectively the group’s fortune is down 9 per cent, or $10 billion, to $99 billion. (That is $32 billion below their 2008 sum).
Prince Albert II of Monaco, long one of Europe’s most eligible bachelors, on Wednesday finally announced a long-awaited engagement to South African champion swimmer Charlene Wittstock.
A brief statement from the palace in the 52-year-old’s tiny Mediterranean statelet confirmed the engagement, but did not put a date on the eventual wedding, which courtiers will be hoping might produce a legitimate heir.
Prince Albert is the son of deceased Prince Rainier III and the late Hollywood actress Grace Kelly and has ruled Monaco, where he is broadly well-liked by his 8,000 subjects, since succeeding his father in July 2005.
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Travel on 10th June 2008 |
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Prince Albert II, the ruler of Monaco, recently christened a new cruise ship named after himself, which will be the newest addition to the Silversea line and said to be the most luxurious expedition ship ever to sail.
A gutted expedition ship now completely redecorated and outfitted to suit the most wealthy of customers it is ready for the most rugged of adventures with the most luxurious of accommodations.
The 132-passenger Prince Albert II, which formerly sailed as the World Discoverer before Silversea bought it in September, sets sail on June 12 from London on an inaugural season of 10- to 22-day adventure cruises focusing on the polar regions.
