Monaco celebrates as Prince Albert announces plans to marry
Monaco watched with anguish as girlfriends came and went from the life of Prince Albert faster than racing cars on its celebrated Formula One circuit — so it was with a sense of relief that the 32,796 inhabitants of the tiny principality greeted the news yesterday that they are to have their first wedding of a monarch since Prince Rainier married Grace Kelly in 1956.
The palace announced that his Serene Highness is to marry Charlene Wittstock, a former South African Olympic swimmer he met ten years ago. The blonde athlete, whose career was ended by a shoulder injury, will now carry the aspirations of a nation which had almost given up hope of seeing Prince Albert, 52, produce a successor to the throne.
“It’s been 30 years since Grace died; 30 years they’ve been waiting for a first lady, a princess, a dream beauty, glam. Et voil
