He died of heart, lung and kidney failure at 6.35 a.m. local time (12.35 a.m. ET) Wednesday, at the hospital where he has been treated for several weeks, a Royal Palace official said.
“This is a time for grief, and all of us here feel orphans as he has molded the principality of Monaco with his outstanding personality during this 56 years of his rein,” the spokesman said in a recorded statement.
Prince Rainier was one of the longest serving monarchs in the world, of one of the smallest countries in the world.