PARIS (AP) – Monaco’s new ruler, Prince Albert II, acknowledged having fathered an illegitimate son with an Air France flight attendant and urged respect for the toddler’s privacy, his lawyer said Wednesday.

In his first public remarks since French media broke the story weeks ago, Albert said he is the father of Alexandre, now almost 2 years old. Nicole Coste, a former flight attendant originally from the African nation of Togo, is the mother.

The prince wanted to face up to his responsibilities, according to Albert’s Paris-based lawyer, Thierry Lacoste.

“That’s why he recognized the child and hopes that he can live out his childhood and adolescence in a calm and protected setting, in strict isolation from the media,” said the statement.

Albert is the son of the late Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly.

, who exchanged Hollywood stardom for the life of a princess.

The 47-year-old prince, a sports enthusiast who has always closely guarded his privacy, took over royal powers in the tiny Riviera principality shortly before his father’s death in April. He will formally assume the throne July 12.

Albert, who also gave an interview to Le Monde newspaper, stressed that Alexandre would never rise to the throne.

“The rules of the constitution are very clear on the subject,” he was quoted as saying. The treaty says a child must be born in wedlock to assume power of the tiny Mediterranean principality.

The prince said he regretted that Paris Match magazine went public with the story just weeks after the death of his father.

Albert waited to comment on the media reports until after the official mourning period, which ended Wednesday.

“I find it saddening, shocking, that this affair – which should have remained strictly private – was made public in that way, and at that time,” he told Le Monde.

In a cover story in early May, Paris Match alleged that Albert had fathered a son with Coste.

Coste was quoted as saying she met Albert on a flight in July 1997, leading to a relationship and the birth of Alexandre in August 2003. The interview was illustrated with pictures of the smiling prince holding and feeding a young boy with curly hair.

Coste, who lives in Paris, said she went public because she wanted “Alexandre to grow up normally, with a father.”

Albert caused consternation to his father because of his refusal to wed, and the constitution was revised in 2002 to circumvent the problem posed by his bachelor status.

If he has no legitimate heirs, the next in line would be Princess Caroline, the eldest of Albert’s two sisters. She, in turn, would be succeeded by her oldest son, Andrea Albert Pierre.

Albert said he was tired of fielding questions about why he was still single and that he plans to have a family when he is ready.

“Comments like, ‘At his age, he should be married!’ have always stupefied me,” Albert said. “At what age? I looked around everywhere, and I didn’t find any age limit.”

The prince said he had long been obsessed with protecting his private life.

“And finally, I’ve had fun during this prolonged bachelorhood, which gave me a certain freedom,” he said. “But don’t worry, I will get married.”