In the glamorous realm of Monaco, a shadow of repression and surveillance looms, allegedly orchestrated by Prince Albert himself. Sources close to the Monegasque royal palace paint a picture of a ruler who employs a Gestapo-like security force to maintain his power, even at the cost of family freedom.
The principality, often viewed as a haven for the wealthy elite, is described as a tightly-controlled police state. With a sprawling network of over 1,000 surveillance cameras, Monaco reportedly has the world's highest police-to-resident ratio, with 515 officers for its 38,000 citizens. This extensive surveillance network is said to instill fear among residents and workers, who reportedly avoid criticizing the crown to escape the wrath of the feared Sûreté Publique de Monaco and its General Intelligence Division.
Journalists and insiders allege that Monaco's police force operates under the cover of darkness, with rumors of secret arrests and a vast network of informants. "Everyone who works there walks on eggshells. They are terrified that Albert's goons will make an example out of them if they offend the prince," a journalist with Monaco contacts reveals.
Prince Albert's iron grip on power was notably highlighted in his dealings with Princess Charlene. Sources claim she was forcefully returned to Monaco by Albert's agents after attempting to flee before their 2011 wedding. The princess reportedly wept through the ceremony after her passports were seized. A decade later, when Charlene raised concerns over Albert's alleged infidelities and fled to South Africa, she was reportedly confined in a medical facility in her homeland and later in a Swiss mental clinic.
In Switzerland, Charlene is said to have undergone memory-erasing shock treatments, with sources suggesting she was blackmailed with threats of being separated from her twins. The royal couple shares eight-year-old twins Gabriella and Jacques.
Albert's inner circle hasn't escaped the impact of his security apparatus either. Following the emergence of a website exposing a government corruption scandal, several of Albert's confidants, including his wealth manager and chief of staff, faced home raids by his security forces. The scandal led to resignations and ostracization within his inner circle.
The palace insider paints a grim picture of Monaco under Albert's rule: "Albert would love to have you believe that justice and the rule of law guide his nation, but the truth is far darker. The police are beholden to his whims alone... They exist to stifle dissent as well as any threat, perceived or real, that challenges his family's eight-century-long run in power."
As Interpol reportedly closes in, the image of Monaco as a serene paradise for the rich and famous is overshadowed by these startling allegations of despotism and control.
The Globe US magazine spoke to the insider.
