On June 12, 2011, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and his fiancée, Charlene Wittstock, attended the final day of the Mere Nostrum International Swimming Competition in Monaco.

The couple were present during yesterday’s meet, and this afternoon they were there not only to watch, but to also hand out medals to the winners.

Finally, there is a nice article from the French newspaper, Journal du Dimanche, where the couple discuss their hopes to have a family  “… soon…”  Here is more of what they had to say:

How do you feel?  There are only three weeks until your marriage?

 Albert II: We cannot wait to get married, but we have so many things to do before.  My work continues despite our upcoming marriage. I don’t feel any particular stress upon the approach to our marriage. We are very relaxed.

Charlene Wittstock: I’m in the same state of mind that any woman feels upon her marriage. We’re committed to life, it is not something to take lightly.  Some brides stress.  Others, do not.  I feel calm…

But you are not marrying just anyone, you will soon become a princess … 

Charlene: Yes, but I won’t let that pressure take a hold of me.

What will be your role [as the future princess?] 

Charlene: My role will be defined once I am married. Although I have learned, during five years in Monaco, the proper palace protocol, the habits as well as the customs of the principality. Today, I feel ready.

Albert: I let Charlene find herself and find identity here in the principality. [Before coming/living here in the principality of Monaco] She was already very involved in humanitarian causes for the youth. Moreover, she already has an established role in the sports world.  Recently, she was appointed the Ambassador for Special Olympics, a foundation dedicated athletes with disabilities worldwide.

You are both great athletes, are you talking about sport together? 

Charlene: All the time! This is one of the many things we have in common. It is sports that has truly united us.

Miss Wittstock do you feel apart of Monaco?  

Charlene: I’m starting to get to know people from the principality.  Now, I truly feel that I have found my where I have bearings here.  Much more than in the early years. Today, I feel apart of the family here in the principality.

You are from South Africa.  Do you miss your native country? 

Charlene: South Africa is a part of me and will always be. In my heart I’ll always be South African, although today, Monaco is my new country and home.

This marriage is a way for you to give another image of Monaco? 

Albert: Although this is not its primary purpose, this marriage will help correct the image of Monaco, a country that has always suffered from stereotypes. To better know the identity of Monaco and its values, its economic, social, cultural, humanitarian, sports, environmental.  The power of attraction of Monaco will be strengthened.

Your Serene Highness, you’re close to your sisters.  What is the relationship between Caroline, Stephanie and your future wife, Charlene? 

Albert: We’re really lucky.  I not only get along very well with the Charlene’s family, but Charlene works perfectly with mine. In the end, it all came naturally.

In my family we have a great team spirit. Charlene is apart of this team has all the support from my sisters.

Charlene: I’m very comfortable with the prince’s sisters, Princesses Caroline and Stephanie. We get along well and they are strong women, great mothers.

A happy event promises to be there? 

Albert: Well when you say children and you look at me, I’m not the one carrying them.

Charlene: I love children.  We definitely want children and we hope to have a children soon.

If you would like to read the article in French you may do so here.  Or, if you want the Cliff Notes version from the Washington Post newspaper via the Associated Press simply click here.

To view photos from the Mere Nostrum International Swimming competition please click the link here. 

Source and photo courtesy of:  Daylife Reuters/Eric Gaillard

This afternoon, June 11, 2010, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and his fiancée, Charlene Wittstock, attended the Mare Norstrum International Swimming Competition in Monaco.  The event lasts until June 12, 2011 at the Stade Louis II (Prince Louis Stadium.)

To view photos from today’s event please click the links here and here (for the last link type in the words “Charlene Wittstock” and voila!)

In other news, on June 10, 2011, the future princess of Monaco attended the GYN2011 conference at the Hotel Fairmont in Monaco.  To view photos please click the link here.

Sources: City Out Monaco and Royal Monaco

Photo courtesy of:  Palais Princier de Monaco

Recently, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and his lovely fiancée, Charlene Wittstock, sat down with French journalists, Julien Migaud-Muller and Thomas Misrachi from BFMtv, to discuss their relationship and “…desire to have children…”

To watch a clip from the interview please click here.  Plus, the Thomas de Bergeyck interview here and here.

Source: Plurielles.fr

Photo courtesy of:  Madame Figaro by Karl Lagerfeld

As you know (or not) the French television network, TF1, will be airing the upcoming princely wedding in Monaco between H.S.H. Prince Albert II and Miss Charlene Wittstock for those living in France on July 1 and 2, 2011 (sorry, at this time it is unknown if the network will open up their online stream to those living outside of France.)

Recently, TF1 aired a report about all those lovely souvenirs on display, and for purchase, throughout the principality.  Anyway, the network interviewed several Monégasques as well as tourists asking their thoughts about the upcoming princely nuptials.   Click here to watch the news report.  The link may work for some, but not others, so please keep that in mind.   🙂

Finally, the American newspaper, San Francisco Examiner, ran a story this afternoon about the princely wedding’s chef extraordinaire, Alain Ducasse.  Mr. Ducasse spoke to the press on June 8, 2011, whereupon discussed his first meeting with H.S.H. Prince Albert as well as some of the food the royal, noble, and VIP guests will be feasting on during the new Prince and Princess of Monaco’s religious wedding reception at the Salle Garnier.  Here is a snippet of what he had to say:

… the veteran cook admits his blood pressure is rising ahead of next month’s royal wedding in Monaco, where he will prepare a multi-course gala dinner for Prince Albert, bride-to-be Charlene Wittstock, and their 500 A-list guests.
“I’ve done gala dinners before, but never an official meal for a head of state. It’s a first for me,” Ducasse told The Associated Press in an interview Wednesday in Paris.
Asked whether he was feeling daunted by the task, the chef nodded, although he vowed to “share my stress.
“I’m going to pass it along to those I work with,” he said, laughing. 

While being careful not to divulge exactly what’s on the menu for the three-course meal, Ducasse revealed just enough to make the mouth water.
“Prince Albert is very interested in protecting the Mediterranean, its flora and its fauna. It’s something of an obsession,” Ducasse said. “We decided to do something sustainable, local and ethical.”
“It’s going to be like the essence of the Mediterranean Sea, its tastes, its smells and its colors … fresh line-caught fish, garden vegetables and fruits for dessert,” he said.
Besides the Champagne, which comes from the eponymous region of northeast France, and a South African red wine honoring the bride’s roots, nearly all ingredients will be sourced from a 6-mile (10-kilometer) radius from Monaco — a tiny concrete hive of high-rises, Art Deco casinos and five-star hotels.
The honey will come from Monaco’s very own urban bee hives and the fish — all local species, none of them threatened with extinction — are to be line-caught hours before they’re served up, Ducasse said.
The vegetables, a sun-drenched medley of local staples including tomatoes, peppers and zucchini, are being grown at the prince’s own farm, and will never suffer the indignity of refrigeration, being harvested just hours before the dinner.
Ducasse said Prince Albert invited him to prepare the gala dinner in a mystery-cloaked meeting in the Monegasque embassy in Paris last February.
“I didn’t know what it was about, but I was hoping it was about the wedding,” said Ducasse, who was born in France but officially became a citizen of Monaco three years ago. “I told him, ‘my lord, I took the liberty of already preparing a menu, so as not to waste time.'”
The menu got the princely stamp of approval: Both Prince Albert and Wittstock, a former Olympic swimmer, sampled the meal and “they liked it, which is a relief,” Ducasse said.
He said he’ll also be in charge of preparing the post-festivities brunch on July 3, in conjunction with Monaco’s other celebrity chef, Joel Robuchon.