European court rejects Prince Albert’s privacy claim in win for magazine that wrote about son

STRASBOURG, France – A French magazine that published a tell-all story about the out-of-wedlock son of Prince Albert II of Monaco has won a free press case in Europe’s top human rights court.

In May 2005 Albert tried unsuccessfully to block Paris-Match’s story in which Nicole Coste, a French-Togolese flight attendant, sought acknowledgement of paternity for their son. The story also ran in the German magazine Bunte.

The prince sued both publications. He won 50,000 euros in France; the German case was dismissed on the grounds that the public’s right to know about a potential heir took precedence over Albert’s private life. In July 2005, Albert recognized the child, who cannot inherit Monaco’s throne.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled Tuesday against France.

Albert and wife Princess Charlene had twins last year.

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