Monaco celebrates as prince marries Olympian

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert kiss shortly after the ceremonyThe royal family denied press reports that Ms Wittstock had had misgivings about the wedding
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Monaco is preparing for the religious ceremony to celebrate the marriage of Prince Albert II to South African former swimmer Charlene Wittstock.

The pair married in a civil ceremony in the tiny principality on Friday.

Earlier in the week, the palace denied reports in the French press that Ms Wittstock was having second thoughts about the wedding.

Some 3,500 guests, including royalty, celebrities and supermodels are due to attend Saturday’s lavish celebrations.

The Catholic ceremony will take place at the royal palace, followed by a lavish dinner prepared by a multi Michelin-starred chef.

The guest-list includes the kings of Spain, Sweden, Lesotho and Belgium, the presidents of France, Iceland, Ireland, Lebanon, Malta, Germany and Hungary, France’s richest man, celebrated opera singers, top models and racing car divers.

‘Jealous rumours’

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the heir to the Spanish throne, as well as fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld and supermodel Naomi Campbell, are all expected to attend.

All the ingredients for the lavish celebratory meal, created by Alain Ducasse – himself a Monaco citizen – will come from within a 10km (6-mile) radius of Monaco.

More than 1,000 journalists from around the world have been accredited to cover the festivities in the principality whose citizens number just 7,618.

After Friday’s ceremony, Ms Wittstock, 33, who swam in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, is now Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene.

The tiny principality, which covers about 2 sq km (less than one square mile), is the world’s smallest independent state after the Vatican City.

Prince Albert II, 53, has been the ruler of Monaco since the death of his father, Prince Rainier III, in 2005.

Friday’s event was clouded by press reports suggesting that Ms Wittstock had come close to returning to South Africa, after learning secrets about Prince Albert’s private life.

The royal family dismissed the claims, as well as suggestions she had only turned back after royal aides persuaded her to stay as “jealous rumours”.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

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