Monaco authorities investigate death of Antoine de Massy at age 29

Antoine de Massy, a 29-year-old member of the Monegasque princely family and a relative of Prince Albert II, was found dead in a garden in Monaco on the night of Sunday, October 25. Local authorities have launched an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death, and law enforcement officials placed one individual in police custody the following morning.

The alarm was raised when the young man failed to attend a scheduled family lunch at midday on Sunday. A concerned family member contacted Monaco's Public Security department, leading to a search that resulted in the discovery of his body hours later behind Villa Sauber, a well-known cultural landmark near Larvotto Boulevard.

The prosecutor general of Monaco confirmed that investigators reviewed security camera footage from the area, which led them to identify an individual near the scene. "We then had to modify the procedural framework in order to detain this person, place them in police custody and try to clarify the circumstances of the death," the prosecutor stated to the local newspaper Monaco-Matin.

Officials have not yet disclosed whether the detained individual is considered a suspect or a witness brought in to assist investigators with piecing together the events of that evening. The official cause of death has not been publicly released by authorities.

The Prince's Palace formally announced the tragic loss in a public statement on Monday. "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," the palace declared.

The official statement also highlighted his lifelong ties to athletics. "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," the royal couple added.

Antoine de Massy was the son of Baron Christian de Massy and Cécile Gelabale. Through his paternal grandmother, Princess Antoinette, he maintained close ties to the royal house, making him a first cousin once removed to sovereign Prince Albert II.

Tennis held a prominent place in his life from an early age, nurtured by his grandfather Alexandre-Athenase Noghès and his aunt Elizabeth-Ann de Massy, who previously managed the Monte-Carlo Country Club and the Monegasque Tennis Federation. In a past interview, Antoine recalled being introduced to the sport at age three, later pursuing intensive training in Florida and aspiring to represent Monaco internationally while admiring players like Novak Djokovic.