Her story is strikingly similar to that of Princess Charlene, who spent the majority of her year in Monaco as a guest of a foreigner.
Alice Heine, a New Orleans native, was the first American Princess of Monaco. She married Prince Albert I in Monaco 67 years prior to Grace Kelly’s marriage with Rainier III.
Despite waiting eight years to wed her prince charming, the couple grew apart and mutual infidelity ruined their relationship, forcing her to seek solace in London’s high society.
After the death of her husband, Duke of Richelieu in 1872, Princess Alice of Monaco became widowed at 22. She then met Albert I in early 1880s.
She is however didn’t walk down the aisle again until 1889 because her groom’s father Prince Charles III did not approve of the match and would not permit them to marry.
Following his father’s passing, Albert ascended to the Monegasque thrown and just seven weeks later wed his bride, who along with two children, also brought an extensive collection of jewels and a substantial dowry of $6 million.
Her forgotten story has been thrown into the spotlight again by Royal Central, following Princess Charlene’s absence from Monaco, with the mother-of-two having spent 10-months in her native South Africa while she recovered from surgery after contracting a sinus infection.
She briefly rejoined her husband Prince Albert and their twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, both seven, in early November – only to then leave Monaco to be admitted to a European treatment facility.
Alice Heine (pictured) Heine of New Orleans was the first American princess of Monaco, marrying Prince Albert I 67 years before Grace Kelly tied the knot with Rainier III
And she was also one of the first to flee the principality – despite waiting a staggering eight years to wed her prince charming (pictured) – as infidelity ruined their relationship and forced her to seek solace in London’s high society
Her forgotten story comes following Princess Charlene’s (pictured with her husband Prince Albert II) absence from Monaco, with the mother-of-two having spent 10-months in her native South Africa while she recovered from surgery after contracting a sinus infection
Prince Albert revealed last month his wife is suffering from ‘exhaustion, both emotional and physical’, while friends recently told Page Six that the mother-of-two ‘almost died’ while she was in South Africa.
The princess born Marie Alice on February 10, 1858, into a wealth family, grew up at the height of New Orleans society in Louisiana, and spent her early years enjoying the vibrant French quarter of the city.
Her mother, Amelie Marie Celeste Miltenberger, came from a wealthy family, and her father, Michel Heine, a successful banker and businessman from a well-off German banking family.
Her and her two brothers’ Paul and Isaac’s lives were changed forever when their father moved them from the US to Paris following the American Civil War.
Making good connections in the French capital, 17-year-old Alice was soon walked down the aisle to Armand, Marquis of Jumilhac and the heir to the Duke of Richelieu.
Jewish by birth, Alice converted to Catholicism for her nuptials and within a year, she had given birth to a son, also known as Armand.
A daughter, Odile, followed in 1879, the same year that Alice and her husband became Duke and Duchess of Richelieu.
Yet the new duchess’ happiness was cut short when her husband died in 1880, leaving her a widow with two children at the age of just 22, according to Royal Central.
Helped by the fortune she had inherited on her husband’s death, Alice started to establish herself in European society.
Soon she met Albert I, heir to the Monegasque throne, while in Portugal. And despite him being ten years her senior, and previously married with a son, the two were eager to get together.
Princess Alice of Monaco (pictured), whose father came from a prominent German banking family, became a widow aged 22 following the death of her first husband Duke of Richelieu, before meeting Albert I in the early 1880s
But Albert’s father Charles III refused to offer his blessing, believing she wasn’t the right fit for his son.
Yet the couple were prepared to wait, and wait they did – not marrying until eight years later, following the death of Charles on September 10, 1889.
Just a month later, Alice and Albert exchanged wedding vows in Paris on October 30, 1889, with the bride bringing an extensive collection of jewels and a substantial dowry of six million dollars.
Alice was hugely popular in Monaco, thanks to the money lining her pockets and her keen business sense.
She set about transforming the principality’s financial state and was credited with helping the economic stability of the nation.
Passionate about the arts, she also brought more theatre and ballet to her new country.
However, as the years went on, the couple realised that most of their interests were different and failed to support one another in them.
Alice liked music, dance and culture, while her husband was a passionate environmentalist and oceanographer.
But she She didn’t cross the aisle until 1889 again because Prince Charles III, her groom’s father, was against the marriage and refused to allow them to. Photo by Prince Albert I
They separated eventually and began having an affair. Albert had to struggle with Isidore, his wife’s affair with Isidore von Lara.
Alice was hounded and fled Monaco, but her husband forbade her return to the Principality.
Alice and Albert received a divorce in 1902, but they never got back together. Alice’s father tried unsuccessfully to obtain a partial return of her largedowry but was turned down by the Grimaldi family.
While he ruled Monaco, Alice found peace in London, living at Claridge’s and throwing herself into the high society scene.
Even Queen Alexandra, the wife of King Edward VII was one of her close friends. She would host glamorous parties for well-off guests and she even included her husband.
After the death of her husband, on June 26th 1922, she was made Dowager Princess of Monaco.
Three years later, she died in Paris at the tender age of 67. She was buried at Père Lachaise Cemetery in the French capital and her gravestone reads ‘Alice, Princess of Monaco’.
Meanwhile, Prince Albert II revealed last month his wife Charlene had been admitted to a European treatment facility within days of her return to Monaco following a 10-month absence in her native South Africa.
He ruled out Covid, cancer and plastic surgery for his wife’s troubles at the time.
According to him, she’s suffering from exhaustion, both physical and emotional. Page Six was told by friends that she almost died while in South Africa.
Pictured with Princess Charlene upon returning to Monaco, she missed Gabriella’s seventh birthday.
The royal missed the seventh birthday of her twins Gabriella and Jacques but shared photos of the celebration on Instagram on Thursday, writing: ‘Happy birthday my babies. God, thank you for giving me such amazing children. It’s truly a blessing. I love my mom.
Speaking to Page Six, a source described as the royal’s friend said: ‘It is unfair that she is being portrayed as having some kind of mental or emotional issue.
“We are not sure why the palace downplays that she nearly died in South Africa.
According to the source, the royal suffered from a serious ear, nose, and throat infection that led to severe sinus and swallowing problems.
She added that her friend had been through many operations and she is no longer able to eat solid food for the past six months. Her body has lost almost half its weight since she was unable to drink liquids without a straw.
Elsewhere friends of Princess Charlene gave Tatler a rare insight into what the royal is really like, insisting that the former swimmer is a force to be reckoned with.
A source discredits the public’s perception of Charlene as naive and stuck in an unhappy union with Albert. She said: “I don’t think she didn’t know what she was doing when he married her.”
However, one cautioned that the seven-year-old mother of Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques was not the type to be blindly controlled or micromanaged by the Monaco royal house.
Prince Albert is missing their mother. Prince Albert continues to appear with Gabriella and Jacques, their 6-year-old twins. Charlene was presented these signs during Monaco National Day festivities on November 19.
“Charlene is not Princess Di.” One said. ‘She may come across as being extremely naïve, but nothing could be further from the truth. It is very easy for her to keep her intelligence under wraps.
Prince Albert and Gabriella have continued to be seen together. They attended the Monaco National Day Celebrations and tree-planting event. The children displayed heartbreaking signs that read, “Miss You Mommy” and “Love you Mama”.
Albert said that he has taken on more responsibility in the lives of his children as Charlene continues to struggle with her health.
After having been removed from their classrooms due to Covid, Gabriella & Jacques have started homeschooling at the palace
‘For me, it’s pretty simple – my priority is my family,’ he said in an interview this month. He added, “But I don’t want to neglect state affairs. It is my hope that everyone can understand this. If I have the opportunity to spend time with my family, it is without reservation.
‘This is an extremely important time in their life – the way they grow up helps them see the world.
«And the other parent needs to be there if the one of them is ill. Many of my acquaintances and friends have told me how they wish that they could be there to support their children at an age when they are more involved in their careers or family life. These regrets are not something I want.
Charlene was reunited with her husband, Jacques, and her twins Gabriella in Monaco this month after a 10-month absence. She had been recovering from surgery for a sinus infection that she got on a charity solo trip to South Africa.
Charlene Wittstock’s sister-in law Chantell Wittstock said that Charlene may not have returned to the palace. She also did not expect to be immediately returning to public functions. But she later retracts the statement.
Charlene was forced to leave following new allegations that Albert, an ex-swimmer for South Africa and Charlene had a child with a Brazilian woman.
French media greeted photographs taken of them reuniting earlier this month with considerable scepticism.
Albert, six year-old twins Princess Gabriella, and Prince Jacques, were waiting at Monte Carlo helipad for her. For the’reunion photos’, the entire family was joined inside Palace walls by a specially selected photographer.
Albert stated that the Monaco family reunion last week, after Charlene had spent six months living in South Africa for six months, went initially ‘pretty smoothly’ within the first few hours. However it became clear that Charlene was not well.
He stated that the Olympian had’realized’ she needed to be helped and said, ‘She was overwhelmed. She couldn’t cope with her official duties or life in general, nor family life.
Albert stated, “I think I’m going to say that several times. However, this has absolutely nothing to do our relationship.” This is what I’m trying to say. These issues are not related to our relationship. They do not relate to the marriage between husband and wife. This is a completely different type of relationship.
He continued to say that her current condition was due to’several private factors’.
Albert said, “She wasn’t sleeping well for a few days, and she wasn’t eating well.” Her weight loss made her more vulnerable to potential illnesses. She could get the flu, a cold, or God forbid COVID.
It is not a cancer-related issue or a personal relationship problem, he said.
He later confirmed Charlene has been admitted to a treatment facility for undisclosed medical issues, as she works through a period of ill health. Although the exact location has not been confirmed by multiple sources, it may be in Switzerland.
Rumours about his marital status ‘don’t bother him too much,’ the prince said.
There are no new doubts regarding the centrality of Monaco’s royal families.
MailOnline was informed by several residents who live in narrow alleyways in Monaco Ville that Charlene spent most of her time living outside of the Palace. She lived in a small two-bedroom apartment located 300 meters from an abandoned chocolate factory.
One source said that she saw her often outside of the Palace, but she’d usually go alone, or with a guard, and never with Albert. It was clear she preferred to be in her apartment, not the palace.
Princess Charlene met Prince Albert in 2000 during a swimming competition in Monaco and the pair married in 2011, before welcoming twins Gabriella and Jacques in 2014.
She was born in Rhodesia, a colonized state of Southern Africa that had never been reunified by the British.
She had a successful swimming career and went on to win three gold medals and a silver medal at the 1999 All Africa Games in Johannesburg, as well as representing South Africa at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games and winning a silver medal in the 4 × 100 m medley relay in the latter competition.
The couple’s marital status has been the subject of many headlines throughout the years. Last year, however, a third paternity suit was filed.
Charlene soon after shaved her half-head in the manner of a punk rocker, last December.
This was seen by many as the first indication of an ever-growing crisis, which could result in a divorce worth millions.
Charlene fled South Africa in a month following the revelation that Albert had filed another paternity suit last December.
Prince Albert last month revealed that his wife was admitted to an European hospital within days after her return from South Africa. This followed a 10-month absence. This October Instagram photo from South Africa shows the royal looking frail.
An anonymous Brazilian woman claimed that her 15 year-old daughter, who is not allowed to be named due to legal reasons, was born of an affair in which she met Albert in 2004.
Charlene and Albert were not engaged yet, although they knew each other for 4 years following their meeting in Monaco at a gala of swimming in 2000.
Albert was to be questioned by lawyers for his claim. However, Albert’s own counsel dismissed the matter as a hoax.
The parties have not yet commented, suggesting that some sort of settlement could be reached. This is similar to what happened with Albert and his earlier lovers.
Jazmin Grace Grildi (now 29) and Alexandre Coste (17), are the results of Albert’s affair with an American agent for estates. Alexandre Coste was 17 when Alexandre’s mother is a former Togolese airline hostess.
In return for large financial settlements, both children were taken out of Monaco’s succession line.