Royal Profile: K. Sébastien Knecht de Massy

Keith Sébastien Knecht de Massy was born the son of Christine Alix de Massy and Charles Wayne Knecht on 24 August 1971, in Philadelphia, PA. In addition to being a 1st cousin once removed of the present reigining Monégasque Princely Family, he is also a distant cousin of the family on their maternal side as his father was a cousin of Princess Grace (I believe Sébastien's grandfather was Princess Grace's uncle on her father's side).

He is a member of his aunt Elisabeth-Anne de Massy’s organization, All-sports Country team (A.S.Co.T., Team Monaco captain of the tennis tournament. He also serves as founder and director of the board to his wife's organization, ConservationGuardians.

After obtaining his BA in business, Sébastien moved to Lima, Peru to work for Grana y Montero Petrolera. After living in Peru he moved back to Monaco and started his shipping career with the V. Ships Group. This brought him to live in London, Singapore and Paris. In 2005 Sébastien founded Madison Marine and today controls a fleet of merchant vessels.

In 2008 he co-founded Transport & Commodities which is based in Monaco and manages shipping, upstream and mining ventures.

He is a citizen of Monaco, where he resides with his wife Donatella, and four daughters: 12-year-old Christine, 11-year-old Alexia, 5-year-old Vittoria and 4-year-old Andrea.

Because he and daughters *technically* lost their place in succession with the death of Prince Rainier in 2005, she and her family are known to keep out of the main limelight. However, in more recent years, they have come to a few family events. In 2008,he, his wife, and their two older daughters (who were 6 years old and 7 years old at the time) attended the 32nd annual International Circus Festival of Monte Carlo, and they sat in the royal box with the rest of the Grimaldis. They also attended the event in 2011. In July 2011, he attended his mother's cousin's wedding ceremonies with his wife and three elder daughters. He also attended the Eagles and JM Jarre concerts (sitting in front of Princess Charlene). That November, he and his wife appeared with the family during the National Day festivities, at the church service, during the honor guard ceremony ( behind his wife, who is across and behind Princess Stephanie) and of course, on the balcony.