Prince Albert of Monaco takes a solo trip to the US to plant a tree in Philadelphia while Charlene stays at home (and he might have popped to New York to visit son Alexandre too!)

Prince Albert of Monaco visited a Philadelphia park to plant a tree after his foundation gave a grant to a green charity in Pennsylvania.

The billionaire monarch, 65, flew to Pennsylvania to meet with Orlando Rendon, the commissioner of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation.

He was without his wife Princess Charlene, 45, who has not been photographed in Monaco for the past month.

While in Philadelphia, Albert and Orlando were featured at the Golden Shovel Tree Planting Ceremony in honor of the $130,000 grant awarded by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation to further the Philly Tree Plant’s initiatives to combating climate change.

The US appearance comes just days after Albert’s son Alexandre revealed he lives in New York, less than two hours’ drive from Philadelphia.

Speaking to Tatler, 20-year-old Alexandre added that he and his father are “very close.”

Alexandre, a student at Royal Holloway in London, is the son of Albert and Nicole Coste, 52, a former Air France stewardess from Togo.

Although he is Albert’s eldest son, he is not in the line of succession to the Monégasque throne, as his parents were not married when he was born.

His father acknowledged his paternity as a child, and despite growing up out of the spotlight, he has increasingly entered the royal circle in recent years.

Alexandre said he often spends time with his half-sister Jasmin Grimaldi, 31, whose mother is American waitress Tamara Rotolo, and his twin siblings Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, eight, whom Albert shares with his wife Princess Charlene.

The 20-year-old also revealed how he and Jasmin watch Grace Kelly films together to feel close to the grandmother who died before he was born, adding that Dial M for Murder is his favourite.

“We talk about her a lot because of the things we’re doing at the moment – ​​especially Jazmin, because she’s kind of following in our grandmother’s footsteps in Hollywood. We always talk about that and how she wants to continue her legacy.”

Alexandre, Jazmin and his half-brothers from his mother’s first marriage also have a text group.

“We’re all really close… We actually have a texting group. We argue about who is better: Erling Haaland or Mbappé. My sister is more Team Mbappe, but it’s more Haaland on the boys’ side. I like both.’

“The little ones (referring to Jacques and Gabriella, 10) are too young to have a phone, so it will take a few years,” he laughs.

She added that his godmother and aunt Princess Stephanie is “very nice.”

‘She’s very funny, very down to earth.

‘I’m very close to her. Over the past few years we have had dinner and lunch together to celebrate my birthday with my cousins. She has been there for me as a godmother and aunt.’

After growing up in Knightsbridge, the aristocrat is now set to move to New York for post-graduate training, where he plans to attend NYU or Fordham. He currently lives at the Four Seasons hotel while looking for apartments.

A mysterious woman he met in Monaco also accompanies him to New York. While keeping her name hidden, Alexandre told the society bible that things are “going very well.”

Alexandre has previously blasted his title as “illegitimate” and revealed he is “very close” to his father and half-siblings.

In August, the student gave a tell-all interview to the French magazine Point de Vue where he described father Prince Albert of Monaco, 65, as “benevolent” and said he considers himself “lucky.”

Since 2022, at the encouragement of his father, he has started using the surname Grimaldi (although he also kept his mother’s, with the hyphen Grimaldi-Coste).

‘My father’s name is Grimaldi. It makes sense that I bear his name. I would be called Dochomel if my father had been Mr. Dochomel!’ he told the magazine.’

He also hit back at being called “illegitimate” and complained that online trolls are questioning his legitimacy.

“When I was born, neither of my parents had another marriage, and they did not commit adultery. The use of that word (illegal) is offensive! I hope no one believes the lies on the internet. A person bears his father’s name if he has been recognized since birth. As a baby I received voluntary recognition from my father. Not from a judge or the press who forced him to do it,” he added.

The royal has been spending time with the Monegasque side of his family and was recently photographed at the wedding of his cousin, Louis Ducruet.

Meanwhile, Princess Stephanie, his aunt, is also his godmother.

And despite his good looks, he said he has no plans to take up modeling, following in the footsteps of his grandmother Grace Kelly.

‘My father is a prince and head of state. Personally, I can’t imagine marching on a stage.’

“On the other hand, if a prestigious brand asks me to be its ambassador and its image suits me, why not?”