As you know the wedding invitations for the upcoming princely nuptials in Monaco between H.S.H. Prince Albert II and Miss Charlene Wittstock were sent out a month or so ago.
Currently, several royals including T.R.H.s Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Crown Princess Maxima of the Netherlands, T.R.H.s Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, and Sheikha Mozah of Qatar have confirmed their attendance. Moreover, several politicians have also confirmed; unfortunately, one prominent head of state will not attend.
It was announced this afternoon that the President of Switzerland, Micheline Calmy-Rey, declined to attend the princely wedding.
According to the Swiss newspaper, Swiss Info, the “…Ambassador to France and Monaco will attend in her place.”
To read the rest of the article in its entirety please click the link: Article
On his last day in lovely Ireland, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco along with his fiancée, Charlene Wittstock, spent the latter part of the day with his cousins in Newport, County Mayo in Ireland.
According to the Irish Times:
The couple met Irish cousins in Newport House, and an honorary cousin for the day – one Minister of State for Tourism Michael Ring who had been instrumental in securing the Mayo visit. Afterwards they walked over the Newport river to the Gráinne Uaile pub, where both reportedly partook of pints of Guinness.
The prince’s fiancee didn’t seem put out by the weather. “It’s wet and raining, but it’s beautiful,” Charlene Wittstock said. André Connolly, a pupil at Cuilmore National School in Newport, was ecstatic as he helped form a guard of honour for the couple’s cup of tea in Newport House.
Overall, the state visit to Ireland seemed to be a success; however, there is one journalist, Gerry O’Carroll, from the newspaper The Herald who believes Prince Albert’s visit is simply, well, unnecessary. Mr. O’Carroll notes:
As much as the people of Ireland admire the Prince’s late mother Grace Kelly, I think the timing of his visit is inappropriate.
For, while pomp and ceremony may brighten up our gloomy political and economic landscape, it’s something we can’t afford at this time.
Here we are, a country on its knees and in receivership to the IMF and ECB, and we’re facing another two State visits in the next month — from Queen Elizabeth and US President Barack Obama.
The costs are going to be enormous and it will put a huge strain on the resources of the Justice Department and An Garda Siochana.
But we can justify the costs of the other two big visits.
Queen Elizabeth’s will be historic and healing, the final glue to cement the Good Friday Agreement and a major act of reconciliation between our two nations.
The visit of the most powerful man on earth, President Obama, is of extraordinary importance, culturally and financially, and is likely to pay dividends.
I can’t say the same about Prince Albert and his fiancée.
The closest Ireland benefits from Monaco is that it is home to expat millionaires who use the wealthy state as a tax haven, including Michael Smurfit. (The Herald)
I must say that Mr. O’Carroll does have a valid point; however, I do believe this past state visit will see some benefits in the future… if that makes any sense.
Anyway…
To read another article about the visit to Prince Albert’s visit to his mother’s ancestral home please click the link: Article
To view a photo gallery from the state visit to Ireland please click the link: photos and with the relatives.
And, finally an article about Charlene which you can read here.
Source and photo courtesy of: Irish Times by Maxwells
