Yesterday, I wrote about a tip we had gotten from a South African news agency regarding Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene and HSH Prince Albert’s honeymoon. According to South African journalists, Charlene and Albert weren’t only staying in separate hotel suites during their alleged “honeymoon” – they were staying in separate HOTELS, miles away from each other. Their separate lives have already begun, and we have no idea if Charlene is going to get pregnant, provide him with an heir, or whether she’s going to pull a runner, hopefully one that will stick.

Anyway, news agencies are confirming that Charlene and Albert have prematurely ended their honeymoon on Friday – apparently, they were supposed to stay in South Africa for several more days, but Albert had to fly back to Monaco. Why, you may ask? State business, perhaps? Nope. Albert had to fly back to Monaco to give his DNA for this latest paternity suit being brought against him, this time for a one-and-a-half year old kid. According to The Mail, “Results of the DNA tests were not released during the couple’s South Africa honeymoon because Charlene could have refused to return to Monaco if they pointed towards Albert having been unfaithful.” So… wait, I’m confused. Did Albert already take the DNA test and just held off getting the results during his honeymoon, or did he refuse to take the DNA test until his honeymoon was over? I guess it doesn’t really matter either way, both options are pretty terrible.

French papers are now widely reporting the sorry state of Albert and Charlene’s not-even-two-weeks-old marriage. The French magazine VSD has a source who claims that they would separate immediately after Charlene produced a “legitimate heir” and “Once the succession of the dynasty is assured, each of them can be free again. Divorce is a tradition in the Grimaldi family.”

Meanwhile, I have to apologize, because I completely missed this crazy little interview Vogue did with Charlene on the eve of her wedding. You may remember, Vogue did a full-on profile of Charlene, published about a month before the wedding, but Vogue also caught up with Charlene just as she was allegedly trying to “escape”. Charlene told Vogue:

“I was a competitive swimmer for fifteen years. Every morning I woke up and dived into a freezing cold pool; this challenge is no more daunting,” she said, describing how she transferred her althletic approach to her preparation for the day. “I’ve made sure I get enough rest and I focus on my own space and allow myself to zone out. I’ve been doing a lot of visualization techniques to keep level-headed—as if I’m going into a swimming competition.”

Of the week’s turbulent stories, she said, “It is a shame that those rumors came at such a bad time, but I think they were timed to sabotage such a happy occasion. They are categorical lies. I won’t dignify them with any response other than to say that the photographs of me and Albert in love and getting married will speak louder than any vicious gossip and empty rumors.”

[From Vogue]

Wow. So either Charlene is prepared to go along and get along, no matter what, or she’s just kind of crazy.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

Since her passport was taken away after the THIRD time she tried to escape her wedding, Charlene Wittstock now finds herself Her Serene Highness, Princess Charlene of Monaco, forced to spend her honeymoon awaiting the paternity test on what will likely be her new husband’s third illegitimate child (that we know of), conceived during Charlene and Albert’s relationship. So Albert took Charlene to her home country, South Africa, for their honeymoon, almost like he’s tempting fate that she will again try to pull a runner, this time into the arms of her countrymen. Instead of spending their honeymoon enjoying each other, Charlene and Albert have done a series of public events, and Charlene has worn black for nearly everything, almost like she’s trying to signal that she’s in mourning. Unfortunately, we don’t have any photos from the honeymoon – you can see some here. She still looks pretty sad. And we got a tip from a South African news agency – their sources claim that Charlene and Albert aren’t even sleeping in the same room. Scratch that – they aren’t even staying in the same hotel!

It was supposed to be their fairytale honeymoon in Africa, but Princess Charlene slept alone in a bedroom 16km from her prince.

Charlene Wittstock, now Princess Charlene of Monaco, arrived in Durban this week with Prince Albert to host a wedding reception for South African friends and dignitaries who could not make it to Monaco. The reception was at the swanky Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga Rocks, north of Durban.

It was widely reported that the royal couple would be staying in the presidential suite, at R25 000 per night. However, it has been confirmed by hotel spokesperson Joanne Hayes that Princess Charlene stayed in the Buthelezi suite (R10 600 per night).

Prince Albert stayed at the Hilton Hotel in Durban. This royal marriage has seemed doomed from the start. Shortly before the wedding last week, reports surfaced that Charlene had tried three times to flee the principality and return to South Africa.

The couple attended a meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Durban and on Thursday night hosted a gala ceremony to celebrate their nuptials. However, when they met President Jacob Zuma they arrived in the same car but left in two separate vehicles. At Zuma’s residence, they met with the president for 30 minutes and then reappeared for pictures. Zuma jokingly told Prince Albert he had not paid lobola, and said while he could not attend the wedding, the private meeting had more than made up for it.

When photographers urged the royal couple to kiss, it was another of those awkward moments – Charlene turned her head away and Prince Albert ended up giving her a peck on the cheek.

Pictures of Charlene taken this week showed an unhappy woman who rarely smiled. The only time she showed real delight was when Archbishop Desmond Tutu hugged her. Charlene and Albert cut short their South African stay on Friday, citing urgent business in Monaco as their reason.

[From News 24]

They left separately, probably because they were going to different locations afterwards – Charlene was going back to her hotel to weep and self-medicate, while Albert went back to the Hilton to find more women to impregnate. Seriously, poor Charlene. I’m surprised she didn’t fall into Desmond Tutu’s arms and refuse to let go until he helped her get out of her marriage. Desmond would have too! He’s so lovely.

Photos courtesy of Fame & WENN.

Last we heard, the French papers were still doing a post-mortem on how badly everything was going for Prince Albert and Charlene Wittstock. The claims over the weekend involved: Charlene Wittstock trying to escape, physically escape, the engagement and Monaco three different times. Once, she even made it to the South African embassy in Paris, I think. The last “escape” attempt involved palace officials confiscating her passport just days before the wedding was supposed to go through. Oh, and now we might have the instigator for all of this drama: Prince Albert likely fathered yet another kid, this one while he was technically “with” Charlene. The palace official claimed that Charlene’s first “royal duty” was going to be standing by her new husband’s side for the paternity test… on her honeymoon. Ridiculous. If that didn’t take the cake, there are now new reports that Albert is doing everything he can to ensure that Charlene doesn’t try to do a runner on the marriage – suffice to say, their honeymoon isn’t going well. At least they’re in South Africa – you can see pretty photos of their honeymoon resort here. Basically, Albert seems to be telling her that if she just provides him with a legal heir, after that, she can do whatever she wants.

Prince Albert of Monaco is set to use a £4,600-a-night hotel suite to try to ‘persuade’ his new bride that their marriage can work. It follows at least three alleged attempts by Princess Charlene to escape from the principality over the past year, right up until their £55million wedding last weekend.

She is said to be dreading the results of DNA tests, which may show that Albert has fathered at least one other illegitimate child to add to the two he already has with two other women. But now the 53-year-old Prince is believed to be taking the 33-year-old former Olympic swimmer on a massively expensive honeymoon in her home country of South Africa.

Sources in Monaco say they will book into the Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga, which is on the Indian Ocean. It is less than half-an-hour’s drive from Durban, where Charlene used to train, and often enjoyed by newlyweds.

Its website reads: ‘Constructed in 1869 and originally used as a navigational beacon, a beach cottage known as the “Oyster Box” was first converted into a hotel in the 1930s.’

Albert, who is a billionaire, is believed to have booked the Presidential Suite, which is set on two floors and includes an ornate-leafed bed, its own swimming pool and a freestanding marble bath overlooking the Indian Ocean. The suite, which has its own terrace overlooking the sea and a private dining area which can seat ten, is priced at £4,600 a night.

On Thursday, the royal couple are also expected to attend an International Olympic Committee banquet in their honour at the hotel.

A senior Palace source in Monte Carlo said: ‘It’s a perfect place for a pair of newlyweds, and may well be all that Charlene needs to make her feel certain that marrying Albert was exactly the right thing to do. William took Catherine to a very expensive beach resort for their honeymoon following the British Royal Wedding, so why not Albert and Charlene?’

Results of the DNA tests are unlikely to be released during the couple’s South Africa honeymoon, and this is because Charlene could refuse to return to Monaco if they point towards Albert having been unfaithful, the source admitted.

Sources said the Monaco palace had hoped the glitzy wedding – attended by a host of celebrities and European royalty – would ‘overshadow’ new claims about secret children fathered by Albert. Instead, Charlene was in floods of tears at one point, while her husband looked on impassively.

If an ‘arrangement’ has been reached it may be that Charlene’s principal aim will be to produce a legitimate heir for Albert in return for a multi-millionaire lifestyle.

Albert has a six-year-old son named Alexandre through Togolese former air hostess Nicole Coste, and a 19-year-old daughter, Jazmin, with Tamara Rotolo, an American estate agent.

Despite confirmation of the DNA tests, Charlene’s father, photocopier salesman Mike Wittstock said: ‘I am so disappointed that people believe this nonsense’. Describing the joy he felt at his only daughter marrying a multi-millionaire Prince, he added: ‘It feels as if we’ve just won the World Cup.’

[From The Mail]

Poor Charlene. Do you think she would actually go through with an annulment? If she doesn’t move fast, I suspect she’s going to be stuck. If she stays and tries to stick it out, what are her options? Vanity Fair has a good piece on what she should be doing – practical stuff for the modern princess, like “make nice with the press” and “get your own team in place.”

Meanwhile, a lot of you were talking about this post from Lainey a few days ago – Lainey put up this video, below, of Charlene sobbing during the wedding.

Many people criticized Albert for looking like a jackass by not being more affectionate or concerned for his new bride as she has a kind of breakdown. I don’t know, though… I think he was just trying to get her to put on her professional face – this is a business transaction to him. I’m not saying he’s right or anything, I’m just saying that I understand his perspective – which is, she messed up a public appearance in which stoicism and professionalism are key. This poor girl – I’m feeling more and more that she was chosen as his bride because she was seen as an “empty vessel,” a piece of fluff to simply provide an heir and keep her mouth shut. With all of the stretching and reaching to find a way to compare Kate Middleton to Princess Diana, HERE is your comparison – Charlene finds herself in a remarkably similar position as Diana did. Let’s hope Charlene rallies like Diana.

Photos courtesy of Fame & WENN.

Commenters seem to be of two minds on the issue of Charlene Wittstock, now Her Serene Highness, Princess Charlene of Monaco. Some commenters feel really sorry for Charlene, because it’s beginning to look like she was forced, medieval-style, into a marriage that she was desperately trying to escape. Those commenters think Charlene’s existence must be quite desperate and depressing, especially considering her first “royal duty” seems to be awaiting a paternity test on some kid that her new husband supposedly fathered while he was technically “with” her. On the other side, there are many commenters who feel no pity for Charlene – after all, she’s a princess now, she never has to do real work again, she’s got public sympathy on her side, and she basically just has to produce an heir and then she gets to just live her life. I come down somewhere in between the two sides – I feel for her, I think she’s probably having a really bad time with it, but at the end of the day, she did make the choice to marry him. She could have found a way out, I think. Not to say that she didn’t try and try and try again to do a runner – according to new reports out of France, Charlene tried to escape THREE TIMES. Seriously, this poor girl.

The new Princess Charlene of Monaco tried to flee home to South Africa three times before her ‘arranged marriage’ to Prince Albert, it was alleged yesterday. The former Charlene Wittstock, 33, reportedly made her first escape attempt when she travelled to Paris in May to try on her wedding dress. During the visit, she ‘took refuge’ in her country’s embassy in the French capital, sources in Monaco said.

The allegations, which are surprising considering she went ahead with the wedding on Saturday, emerged in the French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche. It went on to report that later in May, Charlene made a second apparent attempt to escape during the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Then, last week, royal officials are said to have confiscated her passport en route to Nice airport via the helicopter service that runs between the Mediterranean principality and France. She was then persuaded to go on with the marriage.

‘Several sources have confirmed that an arrangement was reached between the future bride and groom,’ reported Le Journal du Dimanche.

Sources said the Monaco palace had hoped the glitzy wedding – attended by a host of celebrities and European royalty – would ‘overshadow’ new claims about secret children fathered by Albert. Instead, Charlene was in floods of tears at one point, while her 53-year-old husband looked on impassively.

Meanwhile, the reception that followed provoked ridicule with tacky features such as a giant wedding cake that towered over the couple and a mirrored dance floor. Among the guests were Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, actor Roger Moore and Topshop boss Sir Philip Green and his wife, Tina. Tomorrow the couple are due to fly to South Africa on honeymoon, presenting Charlene with her best chance yet of ‘escaping’ Monaco.

If an ‘arrangement’ has been reached, however, it may be that Charlene’s principal aim will be to produce a legitimate heir for Albert in return for a multi-millionaire lifestyle. The prince is due to undergo DNA tests because of claims that he has fathered a third, and possibly even a fourth, love child. He already has a six-year-old son named Alexandre through Togolese former air hostess Nicole Coste, and a 19-year-old daughter, Jazmin, with Tamara Rotolo, an American estate agent. Both illegitimate children were kept away from Albert’s wedding to avoid ‘media exposure’, a palace official told Le Journal du Dimanche.

But he also revealed that one of Charlene’s first duties in her new role would be to stand by Albert during another scandal related to his chequered private life.

‘The truth of the rumour is that Albert faces paternity tests following a claim by at least one former lover,’ said the source. None of Albert’s illegitimate brood will have a claim to the throne.

The official said: ‘Albert will not have an official heir until Princess Charlene bears him one.’

There was not enough time to organise DNA tests before the wedding, but the source said they would go ahead in the next few days.

The French magazine Public has attributed ‘two new illegitimate children’ to Albert. One is said to be the 18-month-old son of an Italian woman who is preparing to tell all. Others, including Voici magazine, have suggested Miss Coste could have had a second baby by Albert – an idea that gained credibility last week when the 40-year-old beauty was pictured in Monte Carlo.

[From The Mail]

So… this thing is a mess. Does any Monaco royal family scholar want to educate us – can Charlene get a divorce? If she does, will it be a huge mess? Probably. My hope is that even with the mess, she leaves Albert. But my expectation is that she’ll pop out one kid (maybe two) and then move to Paris or London or Cape Town or Johannesburg and live a completely separate life away from Albert – with her children. I can see the reasoning behind it – just a few hellish years, and then the good life, away from Albert and the house of Grimaldi.

Photos courtesy of WENN & Fame.

Here are some photos from yesterday’s church wedding for the now Princess Charlene (formerly Charlene Wittstock) and Prince Albert of Monaco. On Friday, Charlene and Albert had their civil ceremony, so there were already technically married. Yesterday’s service was just for the Catholic Church’s blessing and stuff (I don’t know the technicalities of it, nor do I care). The bride wore Armani, and I HATE it. The skirt and the bodice of the gown isn’t terrible at all, but for goodness sake WHY do this neckline on a woman with extremely broad shoulders?!? Armani made Charlene look like a linebacker. Beyond the gown, I think Charlene made a somewhat better show at the church service than at her civil ceremony, where she looked kind of drugged out (tranq’d out). But we now know why she (not so allegedly) tried to bolt – there’s probably another illegitimate kid in the mix for Prince Albert:

It may have had all the superficial trappings of a fairytale royal wedding, but as Prince Albert of Monaco tied the knot with his reluctant bride yesterday, the scandals surrounding their often tense nuptials took yet another awkward turn. Officials in the Mediterranean enclave chose the day of his glittering wedding to former Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock to announce that the Prince would have to take a paternity test for a possible third illegitimate child. A palace aide said that one of 33-year-old Princess Charlene’s first duties would therefore be to stand by her husband if there was another public scandal.

Albert, 53, already has an illegitimate six-year-old son called Alexandre through a Togolese former air hostess called Nicole Coste, and a 19-year-old daughter called Jazmin with Tamara Rotolo, an American estate agent. Both were kept away from Albert’s marriage to avoid ‘media exposure’, an official inside Monaco’s royal palace said.

The source added: ‘The truth of the rumour is that Albert faces paternity tests following a claim by at least one former lover.’

But none of Albert’s illegitimate brood will have a claim to the throne, with the official saying: ‘Even if a third or even a fourth child is confirmed Albert will not have an official heir until Princess Charlene bears him one.’

The tests will go ahead in the next few days, said the source. French magazine Public has attributed two new illegitimate children to Albert. One is said to be 18 months old and the son of an Italian woman who is preparing to tell all. Other magazines have suggested Ms Coste has had a second baby with Prince Albert – an idea that gained credibility last week when the 40-year-old was pictured in Monte Carlo. Ms Coste received a multi-million-pound settlement when a DNA test showed Albert was Alexandre’s father, while Ms Rotolo has also been supported financially by him.

Lawyers for Prince Albert have said categorically that the rumour he fathered another child is false – but they made similarly fierce denials before genetic tests proved he had fathered the other two children. The source said he hoped yesterday’s Roman Catholic ceremony in the Palace courtyard, a day after the uneasy civil service, would ‘overshadow’ the latest revelations about secret children – although that seems like wishful thinking.

There was an audible sigh of relief when bride and groom said ‘I do’, ten days after Charlene was allegedly intercepted at Nice airport as she tried to flee home to South Africa. She has looked uncomfortable, even sad, in recent appearances while Albert also looked ashen-faced during yesterday’s service, despite the apparent glamour of the event.

All saw Albert wink at his new bride after she had said ‘Oui’ when asked by the Archbishop of Monaco, Bernard Barsi, if she wanted to marry him.

Wearing an off-the-shoulder Armani dress, the new Princess Charlene’s gown took the designer’s team 2,500 hours to prepare, of which 700 hours was spent on the embroidery alone, using ‘kilometres’ of platinum-coated thread sewn into 130 metres of off-white silk.

The gown would have been heavy for the new Princess, as she would have had to carry the weight of 40,000 Swarovski crystals, 20,000 mother of pearl tear drops and 30,000 ‘stones in gold shades’.

The dress’s crowning glory was the five-metre long train made from 20 metres of silk tulle, which took 100 hours to make.

The groom looked smart in a cream summer uniform of Monaco’s palace guards, with his sleeves embroidered with oak and olive leave.

[From The Mail]

So, Albert probably has another kid, conceived about two and a half years ago, when he was technically WITH Charlene (they’ve allegedly been dating since 2006). Most people think that this is the little scandal that Charlene learned about last week, and that this is what made her try to do a runner. My opinion? This scandal was merely the straw that broke the camel’s back. I think Charlene realized just how terrible all of it was going to be. I know she’s a princess now and everything, but I feel really sorry for her.

Oh, and here’s the dress she wore to the reception – I think it’s Armani too. Meh. It’s cute, I guess. The neckline is much better.

More photos from the wedding:

Photos courtesy of Fame & WENN.

Well, it happened! Charlene Wittstock managed to marry Prince Albert of Monaco in a quiet civil ceremony today in Monte Carlo. Tomorrow is the big church wedding where Charlene will wear her big white dress (I believe it’s going to be Armani, right?), but today Charlene just wore a simple, pale blue suit. So, did she ever really try to do a runner? Sources continue to say that she did, and this morning, I spied this headline: “Prince Albert’s lawyer denies Charlene Wittstock had passport confiscated at Nice airport during last-minute attempt to leave principality.” Did you hear that? HE TOOK HER PASSPORT. Seriously, this poor girl. This is like an international catastrophe. If I was Charlene, you can bet I would have been calling my embassy and throwing a massive fit.

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. 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. 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.’

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. 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’.

Albert already has two children – six-year-old Alexandre, the son of Nicole Coste, a former Air France air hostess from Togo, and Jazmin, 19, whose mother is Tamara Rotola, an American estate agent. 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.

[From The Mail]

I’m starting to believe that Charlene did in fact try to do a runner, but she was somehow talked back into marrying Albert. Maybe she was promised money, or a completely separate life away from him, or God knows what. I’m also wondering if Charlene is being medicated, or if she’s self-medicating… wouldn’t you need to take a pill (or a half a dozen) to deal with marrying Albert, this dude who you clearly don’t want to be married to?

UPDATE: More photos from today’s balcony kiss. I swear, Charlene looks like she’s wincing.

Photos courtesy of WENN.

As you may remember, Prince Albert of Monaco is due to marry Charlene Wittstock this Saturday. I get that not many people are excited about it, but I love a good royal wedding, and the House of Grimaldi is fascinating to me. I recently covered Charlene Wittstock’s Vogue interview – I found her to be interesting… and perhaps a bit vapid, but I think a strong vein of superficiality probably helps royal brides. Anyway, there’s a SCANDAL involving the upcoming nuptials. According to a French newspaper, Charlene tried to pull a runner. Seriously!

A desperate Charlene Wittstock, 33, was said to have been stopped by police at Nice airport as she tried to head home to South Africa on a one-way ticket, according to a French newspaper. According to L’Express, one of France’s most influential news magazines, she had been devastated to hear a new revelation about the private life of the notoriously philandering Albert, 53.

An article headed ‘Albert-Charlene: Marriage in Peril’ on the website of L’ Express describes Miss Wittstock’s decision to head for the airport last Tuesday. It reads: ‘Shaken, Charlene Wittstock had just learned, a few hours earlier, that the private life of the man she was about to marry, and who had publicly confessed, in September 2005, to the existence of an illegitimate child with Nicole Coste, was not as exemplary as she imagined.’

In the article, which has been followed up by authoritative French newspapers including Le Figaro, L’Express claims that the French police were acting on the orders of the Royal Palace in Monaco, and managed to persuade Miss Wittstock not to leave. A member of the Pastor family, a billionaire property developing dynasty, was called in as an intermediary, the magazine claims. The report went on to say that the former Olympic swimmer and daughter of a photocopier salesman, will reluctantly stay but possibly not fulfill all her official functions as princess. It was even claimed she was ‘openly sulking’ on a trip to Paris last week.

[From The Mail]

Those were the claims – and they weren’t made in some French tabloid, either. I love the idea that in this, our modern world, where these kinds of weddings have become media spectaculars, with millions and millions of dollars spent on preparations, and after countless interviews and press releases and all of that, a would-be royal bride thinks that she can just grab her bag and a one-way ticket and get the hell out of town. If it’s true, that is. Because after these stories came out, Prince Albert and the royal courtiers denied the story outright to anyone who would listen:

Forget the story that just days before her wedding to Prince Albert of Monaco this weekend, bride-to-be Charlene Wittstock attempted to escape the impending nuptials, as French news sources have been claiming.

According to the website of the news magazine L’Express, last week Albert’s fiancée sought to return home to South Africa “only hours after learning that Albert had not been leading the exemplary life she thought.”

Only Christiane Stahl, a chief advisor to Prince Albert at the Monaco Palace, told PEOPLE on Tuesday morning that these rumors – and the printed story – are “completely, completely crazy.”

“Please believe me, none of this is true, and we think it comes from utter jealousy,” Stahl said. “Charlene never left to go to the airport, nothing like that ever happened. She was never upset and never wanted to stop the wedding.” Stahl said both Charlene and Albert were “very disappointed” when they heard the rumors but are “very calm.”

Albert’s longtime lawyer, Maitre Thierry Lacoste, also addressed the printed rumor, and told the newspaper Le Figaro, “It’s madness, everything is false. It’s been three weeks these rumors have been running.”

Lacoste said he intends to seek an injunction against L’Express. He also said, “I was with the Prince and Charlene Wittstock in Paris three days ago, and I can promise you that all is well.”

Wittstock with Maria Shriver
Last weekend, Wittstock, a former Olympic swimmer, represented Monaco at the official opening of the Athens 2011 Special Olympic Games, which was also attended by Maria Shriver, whose family started the Special Olympics.

While citing no specific reason for her reputed hasty departure – beyond that it was “‘rooted in a revelation” L’Express claimed that in her flight a distraught Wittstock was eventually stopped at the French airport, where officials were acting on a request from the royal palace.

The news magazine does remind readers that Albert publicly confessed in September 2005 to having an illegitimate child, a son, with Togolese flight attendant Nicole Coste. In 2006, he also acknowledged having fathered a daughter out of wedlock, Jazmin Grace Rotolo, born in 1992.

In its official statement, the palace said: “The Prince’s Palace firmly denies the allegations made in the press this morning on the web site Express.fr. These rumors spread a few days before the wedding ceremonies of H.S.H Prince Albert and Miss Charlene Wittstock have only one purpose to seriously damage the Sovereign’s image and by consequence that of Miss Wittstock and to cause serious prejudice to a happy event.”

[From People]

NOTHING TO SEE HERE. That’s basically what they’re saying. Who to believe? Eh… considering the story originated in a French publication with a decent reputation, I tend to think they got some (at the very least) of the story right. But given Albert’s strong condemnation and all of the threats of lawsuits… I don’t know. It could be that Charlene just realized (or was “made to realize”) that she couldn’t simply pull a runner.

Do you want to hear about the guest list for the wedding? Karl Lagerfeld, Nicholas Sarkozy, Giorgio Armani, Richard Branson, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and… Naomi Campbell. Who will probably beat the bride with a phone.

Photos courtesy of WENN & Vogue.

I had forgotten that His Serene Highness, Prince Albert of Monaco’s wedding was coming up too. It’s July first! I wonder if Americans will be interested in it? We still remember Grace Kelly, but do we care about her son? I don’t know about you bitches, but I do care. I think Albert’s fiancée, Charlene Wittstock, is lovely, and she comes across as more reticent and naturally regal than some other royal brides (sniff). To celebrate their upcoming nuptials, Charlene granted an interview to Vogue Magazine, and I was surprised to learn lots of new stuff about her. Some examples: She’s 33 years old, she’s South African (I knew that), she was an Olympic swimmer (knew that), she had a bachelorette party in NYC, and she first met Prince Albert in 2000, when they had one date, and didn’t go out again until December 2005. You can read the full Vogue piece here, and here are some highlights:

Being a royal girlfriend: “Our first public appearance was at the Torino Olympic Games in February 2006.” As unfamiliar as it was to become part of a royal entourage, she says, “Albert put me at ease. It was clear that we shared the same passions; we both became very emotional watching the athletes. Sport is the common denominator of our lives.”

Her workouts: After an ankle fracture three years ago, Charlene, now 33, retired from professional swimming, but she still trains at least three times a week, often with her former Olympic coach. In preparation for the perpetual camera-readiness expected of her as first lady of Monaco, she has cut out weight training and increased her stretching time to give her body a leaner line.

Royal fashion failure: “Finding my fashion feet has certainly been the biggest challenge,” she says, remembering her “trial by fire” at Monaco’s 2007 Red Cross Ball. “‘I was literally a fish out of water. I thought it was all fun, fun, fun, and didn’t give my outfit any thought. I had been playing beach volleyball all day, painted my nails red, and threw on a green dress. I thought I looked great at the time, but looking back, I realize that my debut into Monaco society should have been better executed!”

Living in Monaco, not speaking French, and dealing with palace intrigues: “It was sometimes overwhelming,” she recalls of the solitude and jealousies she suffered as Prince Albert’s girlfriend. “I was trying too hard to please too many people and at times was at risk of losing my sense of myself.”

Prince Albert on Charlene: “I fell in love with her sense of humor, her simplicity, and the natural way she relates to people,” he says. “To me, Charlene never looks more beautiful than when she is natural—without makeup and her hair pulled back.”

Learning about fashion from the masters: Determined to learn from her mistakes, Charlene was advised by a coterie of palace insiders and Monaco stalwarts. “In the early days, I listened to other people about how I should dress,” she admits. “I was insecure. I felt pressure to err on the side of caution—I was terrified of meeting a head of state in an over-the-top outfit.” Now, although her tastes tend to lean toward simple clothes that flatter her athletic frame, she is far more experimental. “I’ve reached the point where I know what I like and what works. I’m starting to play with fresher, bolder, and more daring looks.” She was helped by Giorgio Armani, who will dress her for the religious part of her wedding and who notes that her casual elegance and slender figure look equally good in suits and evening gowns with necklines “that emphasize the beautiful structure of her shoulders.”

A Karl Lagerfeld story: Wittstock has also been taken under the wing of Karl Lagerfeld, who has enjoyed bringing out a play between romantic and masculine in her wardrobe, pairing a strictly cut Dior Homme jacket, for example, with a bustier and a floating chiffon skirt. “She loves clean-cut clothes with a touch of menswear, which looks very feminine on her,” he says. As Charlene explains, “Karl took me to his workshop in Paris. He said, ‘You are going to be a style icon. You bring a breath of fresh air and modern glamour to Monaco.’ Then he asked me if there was one item of clothing that I had always wanted to experiment with, and I replied, ‘A smoking jacket.’ He went back to his apartment and presented me with his own white shirt and smoking jacket from his closet.” Lagerfeld recently shot the royal couple for the Monaco Palace archives and encouraged her to select the clothes herself. “He trusts my sense of style, and as a result my confidence has grown.”

She wants to inaugurate a Monaco Fashion Week: “I want to make Monaco one of the fashion capitals of the world. It would be wonderful to team up with some of my international fashion friends, like Stella McCartney and Ralph Lauren, and get the place buzzing with energy again,” she says. “Grace Kelly forged a link between Monaco and the movie world, and I would like to create a strong bond between Monaco and the fashion community.”

What kind of princess she’ll be: “Sport has given me drive and discipline,” she says. “It also taught me to remain humble.” For the past fifteen years she has been involved in charitable endeavors centered on swimming. “I don’t want to be a princess who sits on the sidelines; I want to be present and actively involved,” she says of her new role. “It’s a life with a purpose. It was my integrity that Albert fell in love with, and it’s a quality I will never lose.”

[From Vogue]

Did you catch that? Armani is making her wedding gown – for the church ceremony. Another designer is probably making her other wedding-day looks. There will probably be some Chanel in there. Fingers crossed that Lagerfeld doesn’t put her in a look that Blake Lively wore.

You know what I thought about when Charlene was referencing the bitchy, back-stabbing palace insiders? I thought about Albert’s sister Caroline, and how she’s probably severely pissed off right now. Her son was supposed to be the heir! And now this South African swimmer chick is going to be having babies and doing all of the First Lady stuff. I’m going to try to watch the wedding, if only for Caroline’s face.

Photos courtesy of Patrick Demarchelier/Vogue.

I completely missed the little fact that His Serene Highness, Prince Albert of Monaco, and his fiancée Charlene Wittstock were at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding. These are photos of Charlene and Albert leaving the wedding – Charlene is very pretty isn’t she? She looks a great deal like Albert’s mother, and this pale blue/grey color suits her beautifully. I hate the collar on the jacket, though. But it’s a wonderful hat!

So, I keep forgetting that there’s another big royal wedding coming up. I probably forget because the whole deal kind of weirds me out. Come July 2, His Serene Highness Price Albert, the sovereign of Monaco, will wed his fiancée Charlene Wittstock. It’s not really a fairy tale, considering Albert is 53 years old and already the father of two illegitimate children. I’m not trying to be rude or nasty by pointing out the “illegitimacy” of his children – I’m merely stating that since they were not conceived within marriage, they have zero claim to the Grimaldi throne. I’m also using those terms to underline the fact that Albert might not be some royal prize of a husband, you know? Still, he seems like a nice enough man, and maybe Charlene will make him happy. She’s South African, an Olympic swimmer and….? Sure. Why not marry Prince Albert, I guess.

Do you think Prince Albert was mad that Kate Middleton jacked his mother’s famous wedding gown design? Maybe. Or maybe he was honored. I wonder if anyone from the British royal family will attend Albert’s wedding? Doubtful. Bono isn’t even coming to Albert’s wedding! Poor Albert. Maybe Sarko will come. But you know what? I bet some crazy junk goes down at Albert’s wedding, just because I imagine Princess Caroline having some kind of meltdown because she’s no longer the de facto First Lady. Hahaha. I need a live feed of that!

Photos courtesy of Fame.

When I was writing that post about Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria’s wedding, I noticed that Prince Albert of Monaco attended the wedding, and that he brought a pretty blonde date. I didn’t think much of it, because Prince Albert seems to always have a pretty blonde on his arm, and it’s usually pretty harmless (except for all of those love children he has). The man is 52 years old and he’s never been married. His sister Caroline has already been quoted talking about how her son Andrea Casiraghi would inherit that Grimaldi throne, just because Albert had no “legitimate” heirs. Well, never say never – People Magazine is confirming that Albert is engaged to this blonde woman. She’s a South African named Charlene Wittstock, and she’s 32 years old.

One of the world’s most eligible bachelors is of the market. Prince Albert II of Monaco will marry South African former swimmer Charlene Wittstock, the Mediterranean principality’s royal palace confirmed to PEOPLE on Wednesday.

“Everyone here is extremely, extremely happy,” the palace said.

No wedding date has been for the prince, 52, and the former schoolteacher, 32. The couple first appeared in public together at the 2006 Winter Olympic opening ceremonies in Turin, and Wittstock has been living in Monaco since 2007, when she unofficially ended her training.

She has become friends with and been tutored in protocol by both his sisters, Princesses Stephanie and Caroline. “But she knows instinctively what is expected of her,” a royals source tells PEOPLE.

Last weekend, Albert and Wittstock were in Stockholm to attend the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Prince Daniel Westling, Duke of Vastergotland.

This will be a first marriage for Monaco’s monarch, who is the son of the late film star Grace Kelly and the late Rainer III, Prince of Monaco.

In 2005, Albert officially acknowledged a toddler son he’d fathered with a Togolese flight attendant. The following year, he also acknowledged a second child born out of wedlock: a daughter, now 18, in California.

[From People]

Congratulations to Albert and Charlene, for real. I guess she seems nice, and he’s always struck me as a pretty decent guy – sure, there are all of those love children, but he financially supports them and their mothers, and he seems like a solid sovereign to his people. However, I seriously doubt Caroline is happy about this, for many reasons. First, if Charlene produced a male heir, Andrea would probably never see the throne. Plus, Caroline has been acting as Monaco’s de facto First Lady for years and years now – and if Albert marries Charlene, Charlene will and should take on that role. But Caroline has on Albert’s arm for so many of Monaco’s public events. Is she pissed? I don’t know. Perhaps Albert is being good to his sister though – by many accounts, her marriage to Prince Ernst August is in tatters, so maybe Caroline is looking to take a lower profile now.

Here’s their official portrait, taken today – very pretty.

Here’s a photo of Andrea, just so you know what could have been:

Albert & Charlene in Sweden on June 19, 2010, and their official portrait in Monaco, on June 23, 2010. Andrea Casiraghi on July 4, 2009. Credit: WENN.