Prince Albert

[luvbeaches]

I also heard that these kids weren't acknowledged for so long and he waited until after his fathers death to publicly accept paternity so as not to embarrass his dad since he was the heir to the throne. Although it didn't stop Stephanie but she was way down the line of succession.

That makes sense. The poor old guy was practically pushed to the edge by Stephanie.

 

[luvbeaches]

Like any of this is new? The arisotcracy has a long history of recognized bastardry running back to Roman days. The word "fitz" means "illegitimate issue". And anyone named "Fitzroy" was originally descended from illegitimate children of kings/royalty (roi). King James I had literally dozens of illegitmate children but no legitmate issue, which lead to one of England's many wars of succession. Many aristocratic families were founded by blue bloods who were given minor titles and land to keep them from competing with their legitimate half-siblings. Some even became trusted royal ambassadors or were married into royal and/or wealthy families. And since these men are married off to secure family holdings, rarely out of love or physical attraction, it's fairly wise to assume that every royal male has a least one illegitmate child in the woodpile, if not more--and that they might genuinely favor their love-child (in terms of affection and attention) over their legal issue.

*There is also a surname prefix that designates someone is the illegitmate issue of a cleric (such as bishop/cardinal/pope), but I can't remember what it is.

Very, very interesting. Thanks for sharing...this is all new to me.

 

[Amraann]

Funny that you brought this up!!

Hubby was just saying last night how the pope (before it was designated they must be celebate) had tons of illigitamate children and would commonly be placed in positions of privalage or European Royalty by the pope.
The reason the church designated the celibacy rule is because of this and that for a very long time 2 powerful families were the only ones that the pope was chosen from.

I don't think Albert gets any credit.. The article I read indicated he never paid any attention to this girl and it was not until recently that the mother obtained a blood test and proved it. Also it was said in the article that the girl may not use the Grimaldi name. Which I think is just awful.