A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago

A POTENTIAL FELLOW LEGACY ADMIT WITH LUCY IN THE AMHERST CLASS OF 2024? Keeping up with this website's interest in all things Monegasque comes the long-awaited confirmation that the "enigmatic" Prince Albert who "has shown no public inclination to produce a royal heir" has, in fact, become a babydaddy. Great NYT lede, and more:

In what is either a fairy tale come true or a true confession of an expensive indiscretion, Prince Albert II of Monaco on Wednesday officially recognized paternity of a boy born to a French-Togolese woman nearly two years ago, automatically conferring on the boy the eventual rights to a thick slice of his billion-dollar fortune. . . .

Prince Albert's revelation does not plunge his family into scandal. His sister, Princess Stephanie, has had three children with men to whom she was not married, and his grandmother was the daughter of Prince Louis II of Monaco and a North African laundry worker. Prince Louis did not formally recognize his daughter until she was 13, and she did not become an heir to the throne until she was 21.

Alexandre could yet become an heir to the throne if the family, which has changed the rules on succession twice in the last century, decides it is in its interests. For now, he is simply in line to become very, very rich.

Ms. Coste, 33, was born to a merchant in Togo and came to France to study when she was 17. She was a flight attendant for Air France when Prince Albert, a passenger, asked for her phone number. The love affair that ensued lasted several years until, according to her, Prince Albert's father intervened. She says Alexandre was conceived when she and the prince briefly reunited to celebrate her 31st birthday.

By the way, I know what I said about 'Monegasque' as a cool proper adjective, but 'Togolese' isn't half-bad either.