Christian Louis de Massy

Massy is a first cousin of the reigning Prince Albert II and nephew of Prince Rainier III. He was born out of wedlock, his parents marrying on 4 December 1951.[4][5] The second of three siblings, his two sisters were Elizabeth-Ann (1947–2020) and Christine Alix (1951–1989).

By 1951, Rainier was the prince of Monaco, but was unmarried and had no children. Antoinette began exploring the possibility of replacing Rainier and passing the throne to her son.[6] The Franco-Monegasque Treaty of 1918 already provided that a childless sovereign of Monaco could adopt an heir to the throne. Therefore, had Rainier then chosen to adopt Christian de Massy, that would have made Christian the heir presumptive (although he would lose his place in the order of succession to any children born of a subsequent marriage of Rainier).[7]

Regardless, once Rainier married Grace Kelly and had children, Princess Antoinette's concern over succession waned and the possibility of Christian acceding to the throne became more remote. Princess Antoinette then threw her full support behind the succession of her brother. The family presented a unified front thenceforth, with Prince Rainier III granting his sister the title of Baroness of Massy, and young Christian de Massy serving as ring bearer at the marriage of his uncle to Grace Kelly.[8]

In 2002, the constitution was adjusted to allow siblings of the reigning prince and their descendants to succeed to the throne if the sovereign lacked legitimate descendants, and Christian thereupon became 11th in line of succession to the Monegasque throne. When Albert succeeded on the death of Rainier, Antoinette was no longer the sibling of the sovereign, so she and her children lost their places in the line of succession. They and their descendants do, however, remain eligible for selection by the Crown Council to accede if the current line fails.

Christian Louis was, initially, educated at the Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland.[9] He was expelled.[9] He then became a pupil at Downside School, Somerset, UK[10] (September 1963-July 1967). He obtained a place at Cambridge University but left before completion of a degree course.

More inspired by adventure than the classroom, Christian's self-education in the real world saw him become a professional race driver in Europe, before motorcycling the entire 7400 km coast of Brazil. He returned to a motorcycle to crisscross North America from east to west, north to south in 1994. Christian Louis de Massy has lived in Spain, Zimbabwe, Argentina, Brazil, Italy, France, Hungary, Panama and the USA, in addition to his homeland of Monaco. He is claimed to speak English, French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese.[11]

Christian de Massy is presently the Economic Attaché to the Embassy of Monaco in Washington, D.C,[12] having been appointed by Prince Albert II in 2010.[13]

From March, 2009 until his current diplomatic assignment, Christian held the office of Diplomatic Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign, Economic and Financial Affairs on appointment by Albert II following nomination on 26 February 2009.[14] His diplomatic endeavors began in 2008, when he was likewise appointed Monegasque chargé d'affaires for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Prior to holding diplomatic posts, Christian de Massy opened the first foreign office of the Société des bains de mer de Monaco in Manhattan, New York in 1979. Soon after he began the first mail order company to operate in Eastern Bloc countries, "Top Trading", in Hungary before the fall of the Iron Curtain.

In 1972-1973 Christian was a driver for Formula Renault Europe Marlboro racing team.[11]

In 1987 de Massy published an autobiography ghosted by celebrity biographer Charles Higham.[15] The book was reviewed in the Tatler by Stephen Fry.[16]

Christian Louis has been married and divorced four times.

• The Grimaldis of Monaco: The Centuries of Scandal, The Years of Grace by Anne Edwards. (New York, William Morrow and Company, Inc. 1992, ISBN 0-688-08837-6

• Website of Antoine de Massy