A Royal Visit & A Chat

His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco was scheduled to visit the Grimaldi Château in the medieval village of Cagnes-sur-Mer.

I figured this was as close to royalty as I was going to get, so I decided to attend.  I wasn’t surprised at the fanfare of his arrival and visit, with police and undercover security in place, but was surprised that I actually got to chat with him at the buffet table. When I said in French that I was “American like his mother,” he looked equally surprised and immediately responded, “Oh, Hi!”

The conversation then led to where I was from and how I like living in France, followed by a comment he made to the nearby mayor saying, “Louis, elle est americaine” to which the Mayor responded to me, “Tous mes hommages, Madame.” The Prince and I continued to chat for a few minutes more about the village and if I have family here, etc.

I was nervous at first (didn’t even mention my name), but the Prince was so charming and down-to-earth that soon the conversation felt comfortable, and I wish I had had more time to talk.  How wonderful it would be to have a chance to interview him!

Did I mention that he was very charming (and also taller than I had expected)!

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