- Catholic Church service will take place tomorrow
- Guests to include Nicolas Sarkozy, Roger Moore, Naomi Campell and Karl Lagerfeld
- Prince Albert's lawyer denies Charlene Wittstock had passport confiscated at Nice airport during last-minute attempt to leave principality;
A former Olympic swimmer from South Africa was officially declared Princess Charlene of Monaco today following her marriage to Prince Albert.
Dressed in a sky-blue jacket and skirt, 33-year-old Charlene Wittstock smiled radiantly as she said ‘I do’ in a civil ceremony in the Royal Palace throne room of the ancient Mediterranean principality.
Her new husband, 53-year-old Albert, looked on proudly in a dark suit and grey tie as he put sensational rumours about his personal life behind him.
Sealed with a kiss: Prince Albert and his bride Princess Charlene kiss on the palace balcony after their civil wedding service in Monaco this evening,
The French press even compared the nuptials to Britain’s Royal Wedding – while lamenting the fact that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had sadly had to decline their invitation to Monte Carlo because they were on an official trip to Canada.
Less respectful Gallic commentators were, meanwhile, suggesting that history’s first Princess Charlene might not have the same ring to it as Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.
Miss Wittstock had, in the words of Le Monde, ‘tried to escape’ last week – back home to South Africa after learning that Albert may have fathered a third love child.
As the mystery deepened, Albert’s two love children and their mothers stayed away from today’s 40 minute ceremony at the Royal Palace.
Happy couple: The newly-married couple wave to crowds that gathered below the balcony of the royal palace"
Scandal: The preparations have been dogged by claims that Prince Albert had fathered a third love child"
They are also expected to be absent from the Catholic Church ceremony tomorrow.
Instead French President Nicolas Sarkozy is set to join celebrity guests including James Bond star Roger Moore, former supermodel Naomi Campbell, and veteran fashion designers Karl Lagerfeld and Giorgio Armani.
Organisers of the £55million celebrations surrounding the wedding – which included a concert by The Eagles last night – hope that it will rival the 1956 wedding of Albert’s mother, Hollywood star Grace Kelly, and his father, Prince Rainier.
Philippe Narmino, president of Monaco’s Council of State, officiated today, and confirmed that the former Miss Wittstock was now officially a Princess.
Before the 5pm ceremony, Mr Narmino said: ‘It’s the event of my life. Me, who as a magistrate, has dealt with hundreds of divorce dossiers during 27 years, will be marrying a couple for the first time.’
Show of unity: Charlene Wittstock and Prince Albert II of Monaco attend a concert by The Eagles at Louis II Stadium last night"
Prince Albert kept a firm hold of his bride-to-be's hand after rumours swirled that she had tried to 'flee'
The couple pose with members of The Eagles, who are performing in Monaco to celebrate their wedding"
French musician and composer Jean Michel Jarre performs during a general rehearsal in Monaco, last night. Jarre will perform at a concert on the couple's wedding day"
Referring to the Paris news magazine which broke the story about Charlene’s attempted flight, and which still stands by it, Albert’s lawyer Thierry Lacoste said: ‘I heard everything about the child – white, black, who has been born, not yet born - it has to stop, it’s I don’t know what.’
He said: ‘There is no child, it’s a totally false rumour and absolutely without foundation. It’s easy to do your job as a journalist – to check that Charlene did not go to the airport. It’s clearly false, she and the prince were around all last week.’
In fact a senior detective from Monaco, who was involved in the later stages of the ‘incident’ at Nice airport, has confirmed that ‘Charlene had her passport confiscated so that the Prince’s entourage could persuade her to stay’.
Prince Albert will marry his girlfriend in this room during a civil ceremony today"
Film crews, caterers and wedding organisers take part in preparations underway at Monaco's palace inner courtyard"
Prince Albert has two love children - including Alexandre - pictured with his mother Nicole Coste"
Miss Coste was spotted in Monaco earlier this week, but was said to have been advised to stay away from the wedding to avoid ‘media exposure’.
Mr Lacoste infamously issued fierce denials before DNA tests proved Albert was the father of Alexandre and Tamara.
Despite his strong denial this time around, Mr Lacoste confirmed that he was taking no action against L’Express.
And Christophe Barbier, editor of L’Express and a close friend of French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, said the magazine had no intention of removing the story from its website, saying: ‘We stand by our information which was supplied by three different sources.’
Mr Barbier said it was important to give Charlene’s attempted return home publicity because of the ‘number of crowned heads and representatives of various states that are expected at the marriage’.
Despite such enthusiastic predictions, the guest list for the wedding – which had been shrouded in secrecy until today - revealed that many senior royals who had been expected to attend were not in fact coming.
French chef Alain Ducasse at work in the kitchen at the Hotel de Paris in Monaco where he will prepare the wedding dinner for the couple and their guests tomorrow"
Caterers wheel in fresh fruits and vegetables for the lavish nuptials "
In bloom: A worker decorates the law court with a Monaco national flag and flowers"
Miss Wittstock, who was born in Zimbabwe and moved to South Africa as a child, met Albert during a 2000 swimming competition in Monaco.
He has been an International Olympic Committee member since 1985 and competed in five Winter Olympics as part of Monaco's bobsled team.
Until now the name Charlene has been most commonly associated with Charlene Robinson, Kylie Minogue’s character in the Australian soap opera, Neighbours.
People stand under the flags of Monaco and South Africa at the Place du Casino yesterday
A tourist holds a Royal Wedding flag as she poses for photographs in front of the City Hall of Monaco"
A lingerie shop and a sweet shop create eye-catching displays to celebrate the nuptials"
No comments:
Post a Comment