A man has been charged after the cousin of Prince Albert II of Monaco, Antoine de Massy, was found dead.
The 29-year-old’s family alerted police after Antoine didn’t appear at a family lunch on Sunday. He was later discovered in Boulevard du Larvotto, a park near the waterfront in Monaco.
Prince Albert addressed the news publicly with wife Princess Charlene the following day.
“Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene were saddened to learn of the death of Antoine de Massy, aged 29, the grandson of Princess Antoinette, the elder sister of Prince Rainier III,” a statement released on behalf of the Monaco leader read.
“A keen tennis player, he was part of a family history closely linked to the sport in the Principality.
“Their Highnesses share in the grief of his family and loved ones, and offer them their sincere condolences at this painful time.”
An investigation is underway to determine Antoine’s cause of death.
However, on the same day as Prince Albert’s announcement, police arrested a Ukrainian man after he was spotted with Antoine on security footage. The pair were seen leaving a club in the early hours of the morning.
Prosecutor Stéphane Thibault has now confirmed to Monaco-Matin newspaper that the man has been charged with involuntary manslaughter and failure to assist a person in danger.
“The suspect, a 42-year-old Ukrainian national who has resided in Monaco for thirty years, denied the charges during his police custody,” the prosecutor shared.
“He was brought before a judge but has so far declined to answer any questions. The judge has charged him with failure to assist a person in danger and manslaughter − for acts that may have been committed at different times − and placed him in pretrial detention.”
Local media reported that Antoine was a US-educated entrepreneur, developing a tech start-up in Monaco with a partner. He was also a former semi-professional tennis player.
Antoine’s grandmother was Princess Antoinette, sister of the late Prince Rainier III, Prince Albert’s father. However, Princess Antoinette was exiled from the royal family after plotting to depose her brother. The deceased’s father was Baron Christian de Massy, and mother was Cécile Gelabale.
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