Hello-Hello, welcome back to the ‘real world,’ it truly feels like summer now, the fireworks and celebration of freedom yesterday make it seem more seasonal.
Today’s post might be considered ‘old news,’ and many readers may have already read about it, so do accept our apology if it is somewhat stale information! Of course, we are talking about this weekend’s wedding in Monaco. Festivities really began with an Eagles concert last Thursday night, below we see Prince Albert II and Charlene with the band.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
As a refresher for those not quite as obsessed not entirely up to speed on how things work, there were two ceremonies for the former Charlene Wittstock and Prince Albert, the first was Friday’s civil ceremony, below we see the couple at that event. The bride wore a powder blue pantsuit she is said to have co-designed with Karl Lagerfeld, the Grand Pooh-bah of Chanel.
Getty Image via The Daily Mail
Crowds watched the ceremony on giant screens set up outside the Palace.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
The religious ceremony was held Saturday and the (now) Princess Charlene was stunning. Here we see her father escorting her in to the courtyard of the Palace in Monaco, where the mass was celebrated.
Bauer-Griffin
The dress was created by Giorgio Armani, the bride is a longtime customer of the house.
Bauer-Griffin
Here is another angle better showing the dress and train.
WENN via Clebitchy
Princess Caroline’s daughter, Charlotte Casiraghi, was pretty in pink at the Catholic Mass.
Eric Gaillard/Reuters
We see her again with her Albert’s sisters, Princesses Stephanie and Caroline of Monaco.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
For the evening’s festivities there was another gorgeous gown for the bride.
via The Daily Mail
That night there was a formal dinner, and Princess Charlene changed into another gown, also designed by Armani, with ruffled tiers of sparkling white fabric.
The weekend was filled with functions mandating very serious party frocks, and even a tiara or two. Some refer to Princess Caroline’s children as the next generation of royals, here we see Pierre Casiraghi, Charlotte Casiraghi and Andrea Casiraghi on their way into the formal dinner Saturday night.
EPA via The Daily Mail
As one might expect, there was royalty everywhere.
Below left, Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel, on the right we see Princess Mary of Denmark with Prince Philippe of Belgium.
Prince Louis Alphonse of Bourbon and Princess Marie Marguerite are seen on the left, and on the right Prince Laurent of Belgium.
Italy’s Prince Carlo of Bourbon-Two Sicilies is shown lower left, on the right we see Thailand’s Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana.
Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Grand Duchess Maria-Teresa of Luxembourg are seen lower left, on the right we show Princess Sophia and Prince Alois of Liechtenstein.
There were also fireworks.
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
But perhaps not the kind everyone expected.
Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images
It seems there may be some truth to the unfortunate rumors surrounding the wedding, allegations involving more illegitimate children fathered by Prince Albert, one hypothetically born in the last 2 years. (Ms. Wittstock moved to Monaco to be closer to Prince Albert several years ago.) From the London Telegraph:
“But sources cited by the French press on Sunday said the former Charlene Wittstock, 33, had even tried to take refuge in her country’s embassy in Paris in an attempt to get out of the wedding.
Instead senior Palace officials confiscated her passport and then persuaded her to take part in the weekend’s nuptials.”
The story was originally reported last week by a French newspaper and largely ignored by ‘mainstream media’. But “palace confirmation” of some aspects of the story have moved the rumors onto more prominent pages of newspapers, many the kind of publications that don’t generally traffic in such discussion.
More from the story in The Telegraph:
“The sources said that when Charlene visited Paris in May to try on her white-silk Armani wedding dress she “took refuge” in the South African embassy.
Later that month she also tried to escape during the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix, they alleged. Then, last week, she allegedly had her passport confiscated en route to Nice airport via the helicopter service which runs between regularly between Monaco and France.
Senior police officials were reported to have confirmed the passport confiscation to Le Figaro newspaper last week.”
Both the bride and the Palace denied the rumors last week. The tears shed by the Princess consort (technically her title) during Saturday’s mass only served to heighten the tone and tenor of the conversation, the internet fed the fire. There are numerous video clips of the bride’s tears making their way around the internet and I watched one. As someone who wept with joy (so much I had difficulty mopping up during the ceremony!) during her wedding, these do not look like happy tears.
Monaco Television/Reuters
On the other hand, I don’t know the bride and have no idea if she was filled with joy or sorrow. Either way, she did make a beautiful bride, and it was a lovely wedding; we hope the rumors are found to be false and the marriage is a happy one.
Until next, may your day be summery and bright. 🙂
ADDITIONAL PHOTO CREDITS:
- Gerard Julien/AFP/Getty Images
- Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
- Sean Gallup/Getty Images
- Emma Foster/Pool/Reuters
The Preppy Princess 