A prince who knighted Baywatch star Pamela Anderson has been exposed as a fantasist fraud who fooled hundreds of aristocrats into believing he was related to the 'highest European royalty', police say.

Stefan Cernetic claimed to have been part of the monarchy of Montenegro and Macedonia and used his status to meet diplomats, celebrities and businessmen at glittering events across the globe.

But the country hasn't had a royal family since 1918 and 56-year-old Stefan has been described by one website as a fake whose links to monarchy 'are obscure and not to be relied upon'.

Police have launched a fraud probe warning Mr Cernetic that he could face arrest after detective found a cache of bogus passports, medallions and diplomatic passports.

A senior officer told The Telegraph: 'We've seen some strange things but nothing like this.'

In 2015, Pamela Anderson, pictured right, addressed Mr Cernetic, pictured left, as 'Your Highness' as she was conferred the title of countess by the self-declared monarch

She knelt before the so-called Prince who knighted her using a silver sword

Mr Cernetic, pictured left, has uploaded dozens of pictures to his website featuring a lineup of famous faces from tennis star Novak Djokovic, pictured right, to the Archbishop of Monaco

Mr Cernetic has uploaded dozens of pictures to his website featuring a lineup of famous faces from tennis star Novak Djokovic to the Archbishop of Monaco.

It uses the address princeofmontenegroandmacedonia.eu and is adorned with royal crests, historical portraits of other monarchs and castles in Transylvania.

Other images posted on the page show Mr Cernetic partying with royalty around the world and on stage at the Vatican meeting Cardinals including Pietro Parolin - the country's secretary of state.

In 2015, Pamela Anderson even knelt before a sword-wielding Mr Cernetic and addressed him as 'Your Highness' as she was conferred the title of countess by the self-declared monarch.

Other images posted on the page show Mr Cernetic partying with royalty around the world and on stage at the Vatican, pictured left. He is seen right with Cardinal Barsi, the Archbishop of Monaco

Montenegro hasn't had a royal family since 1918 and 56-year-old Stefan, pictured, has been described by one website as a fake

He claims to divide his time between Belgrade and the Cote d'Azur with his family 'considered related to the highest European royalty and aristocracy'.

But it has emerged that he is actually an Italian who was born on the Slovenian border and now lives in Turin.

Police launched a fraud probe after a hotel owner complained that Mr Cernetic had stayed there for a week without paying before telling the owners to send the bill to the Macedonian embassy in Rome.

But consular officials had no idea who he was leading to detectives branding his life an 'elaborate pantomime'.

Mr Cernetic's website uses the address princeofmontenegroandmacedonia.eu and is adorned with royal crests, historical portraits of other monarchs and castles in Transylvania

Another page on the website details Mr Cernetic's alleged family tree

Monopoli mayor Emilio Romani, who hosted Mr Cernetic last summer, said: 'I console myself with the knowledge that I was not the only one, given that this character also met mayors throughout Europe as well as show business personalities.'

After being made a countess in 2015, former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson took to her official Instagram and shared the moment, saying simply: 'Santa Margherita, Italy Countessa de' Gigli'

At the ceremony, which took place in Genoa, Italy, the blonde bombshell could be seen in a cream wrap dress with her blonde locks styled in bouncy curls.

She knelt before the prince who laid a silver sword on her shoulder as he declared her Countess of Giglio.

The 'fake' prince, who claims to divide his time between Belgrade and the Cote d'Azur, is pictured with the head of the church in Greece, Ieronymos II of Athens

Rather than being born in the Balkans it has emerged that Mr Cernetic, pictured left and right, is actually an Italian who was born on the Slovenian border and now lives in Turin

Mr Cernetic is pictured with Formula One racing driver Arturo Merzario

The occasion was explained on her website: On Monday, October 20th, 2014 Pamela Anderson was awarded The Dame of Grand Cross of the most prestigious knighthood title of Constantine Order of Saint George by Prince Cernetic, the hereditary Prince of Montenegro for her courageous contribution to the protection of marine life and the conservation of wildlife.

The actress also explained to talk show host Ellen DeGeneres : 'The prince is a big animal fan and has loved all the work I've done with animals,' before admitting that she did think being given the title was 'very bizarre'.