Monte Carlo - Monaco’s Prince Albert II married South African beauty Charlene Wittstock and made her his princess on Friday night, throwing open the gates of his palace to celebrate with the entire tiny Mediterranean nation.
All 7 810 adult Monegasque subjects were invited to a buffet reception at the Grimaldis’ medieval palace, overlooking the tax haven’s main marina, and the crowd cheered when the nervous-looking couple made their vows. But even the fireworks that were in place to light up the sky over Monte Carlo’s famous harbour on Friday night failed to quell rumours of a serious rift between the two.
It has been widely reported that Wittstock – who is now officially known as Her Serene Highness, Princess Charlene of Monaco – had rushed to nearby Nice airport earlier in the week after discovering more details of Albert’s long and chequered life as a bachelor.
In recent years the 53-year-old prince has been forced to admit that he is the father of two children after DNA tests proved what he had previously denied.
It was alleged Wittstock had bolted for the airport after learning of a third lovechild.
The House of Grimaldi, which has ruled the tiny country for more than 700 years, has been at pains to say that the reports are untrue and has tried, largely in vain, to get the attention of the throngs of reporters here back on the wedding.
Friday’s civil ceremony will be followed later on Saturday by a religious service at the Catholic Cathedral, where France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy, as well as the model Naomi Campbell will be among the guests.
Famously uneasy in the public glare, Wittstock has been paraded around the 2km2 principality in an attempt to show that there were no concerns about the three-day celebration, which will host 3 500 guests and is thought to have cost as much as £50m (R541m).
But to make matters worse, denials of the bolt to the airport were met with new allegations – that officials had to go as far as taking away Wittstock’s passport to prevent her boarding a plane for South Africa – on the eve of the wedding.
The throne room ceremony was transmitted to the crowds on giant screens, before the couple emerged on to a balcony, shared a brief kiss and waved to the crowd to cheers before descending to join them.
Wellwishers waved flags in the red and white of the Monaco royal house and the rainbow banner of South Africa.
On Friday night the crowd headed to the port for a braai and drinks with thousands of the wealthy foreign residents who live in the principality.
A pink beer brewed with cranberries has been produced by Monaco’s small brewery.
Entertainment was by sixtysomething electropop pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre, and a massive waterfront sound and light show. – The Independent and Sapa-AFP