MONACO - There was no change Monday in the condition of Prince Rainier of Monaco, who remains in intensive care suffering from severe heart, lung and kidney problems, the royal palace said Monday.
"The state of health of His Most Serene Highness Prince Rainier III remains unchanged. The biological parameters are all stable. Nonetheless the vital prognosis remains reserved," a statement said.
On Friday, doctors said the 81-year-old prince was in a "precarious" condition," and that "the chances of a favourable outcome remain extremely slim."
Rainier -- who has ruled the tiny Mediterranean principality since 1949 and is the world's second longest-reigning monarch after the king of Thailand -- was hospitalised on March 7 with heart and breathing difficulties, and his condition took a sudden turn for the worse nearly two weeks ago.
On Thursday the microstate's royal council decreed that the ailing monarch was no longer in a position to "exercise his duties," and said that Albert -- his only son by US film star Grace Kelly -- was taking over as regent.
Albert and his two sisters -- Princesses Caroline and Stephanie -- have been regular visitors to Rainier's bedside, as the tiny state of just 32,000 inhabitants waits anxiously for updates on its ruler's grave condition.
04/04/2005 08:59 GMT