The father of Antoine de Massy has spoken publicly for the first time about the death of his royal son, describing him as "my life". Baron Christian de Massy, who was very close to his son, made the comments in an interview with Corriere della Sera.
Antoine, Prince Albert of Monaco's second cousin, was found dead in a park in Monaco on October 25. He was 29 years old and is believed to have fallen from a height. He had been reported missing by his family after failing to attend a Sunday lunch, with his body discovered shortly afterwards.
Arrest and Investigation
Since his death, a man who was seen with Antoine just hours earlier has been arrested and charged with involuntary manslaughter. The man, reportedly Ukrainian, was later remanded in custody after refusing to answer questions, as reported by Hello!.
Prosecutor Stéphane Thibault told the newspaper Monaco-Matin that the Ukrainian man is only a suspect or witness to the events, and his legal status is still to be determined. He also said he does not rule out the possibility that the death was an accident. The investigation remains open, and a post-mortem examination is ongoing.
Father's Grief
Speaking about his son's death, Baron Christian de Massy said: "Every day, for 29 years, we were always together. When my nephew Sébastien told me that there was no hope for my only son Antoine, he was dead, I couldn't understand.
"I told him, 'But if he's lost, let's go look for him.' It absolutely wasn't an accident, nor was it suicide, nothing like that, but I can't talk about it now because there's an ongoing investigation."
Funeral and Palace Statement
Antoine's funeral is being held at the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate in Monaco, with a vigil held the previous night in the Palace's chapel. Antoine, as well as being a royal, was an enthusiastic tennis player with a dream to compete in the Olympics. He moved to Miami with his father when he was eight years old to pursue his love for the sport.
It is not known whether Prince Albert will attend the funeral. He released a statement after his second cousin's death, which read: "Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlène were saddened to learn of the death of Antoine de Massy, aged 29, the grandson of Princess Antoinette, the elder sister of Prince Rainier III.
"A keen tennis player, he was part of a family history closely linked to the sport in the Principality. Their Highnesses share in the grief of his family and loved ones and offer them their sincere condolences at this painful time."
