CLAIMANT TO A THRONE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11305, 2 September 1922, Page 10

CLAIMANT TO A THRONE

FORMER MEAT SALESMAN.' SUCCESSOR TO RULER. OF MONACO? A former meat salesman of Smithfield claims, to be the rightful heir’ to the throne of Monaco. He is now at Monte Carlo prosecuting his claim p'n the death of the late Prince Albert of .Monaco. • The claimant used to live in a big house in the Camden road, and was known as Mr George Frederick Grimaldi, a partner in the. firm of Grimaldi .and Martin, 92,. Smithfield Markets. . He is undoubtedly tlie eleventh Marquis Grimaldi, of the peerage ef. Genoa,, and, Mr W, R. Martin, his former partner, told a “Star” representative that he always stated that he should claim the throne of Monaco on the death of Prince Albert. _ ... Mr Martin bought his partner out in 1914, and the Marquis Grimaldi went to live,in Monte Carlo in order to be on the spot if the throne became vacant. • As soon as Prince Albert died the Marquis came forward with his claim, .which Mr Martin says has been recognised by the College of .Heralds. A MODERN ROMANCE. The story of the English Grimaldis provides one of the nioet romantic contrasts in modern history. , The Grimaldis were soldiers and statesmen, , Cardinals and Princes, in Genoa, during the Middle Ages. One of them "became Prince of Monaco, another fell by an English arrow at Crecy, where he was in command of the Genoese crossbowmen in the service of France. The Grimaldis traced their descent to the Merovingian Kings of France in the sth century, and their record includes many famous titles and dignities. Right back into the mists of history tho lines of the Grimaldis stretches. In 1685, when Genoa was captured by the French, Alexander Grimaldi, the sixth marquis, whose father had been Doge in 1671, was exiled and caine to England, where his descendants have since resided. , , FAMILY’S UPS AND DOWNS. They; have had some ups and downs. The eighth marquis lived in Rawstone .place, Clerkenwell, and never used the title. * The, ninth marquis was reduced to earning his living as a cabinetmaker, and died in Curriers row, Blackfriars, in 1868. The contention of the eleventh marquis, as it Was of his cousins, is that the Salic law was the law of Monaco, and that, under it the head of the English', Grimaldis should have succeeded to the throne.- ' -But the succession was interfered with by, the King of Sardinia, and a female heir was allowed to succeed in 178 L From this lady the late Prince Albert of, Monaco was descended.