Why “Prince of Monaco” and not King?
This is very difficult to answer,because the history of Monaco is so convoluted.Here’s a shortened answer: Monaco and France have close political ties;Monaco officially became part of the French Alpes-Maritimes departement March 4,1793.Monaco had been a principality since the 1100’s and was able to stay as a separate principality,but just barely. During the French Revolution,when the Monarchy was abolished,Monaco had actually reverted to French control( in the 1790’s),but through the machinations of Honore V,the principality was able to regain it’s independence from France and Sardinia,and Italy(countries that had invested money in Monaco,which was then a very poor country).Monaco can again revert back into French control if the Grimaldis produce no heirs;luckily Caroline is considered an heir and her children are all in the line of succession.There was a time,very recently,that only male Grimaldis could rule,but the Grimaldi family hammered out a new agreement with France. The Vatican
