Tag Archives: Charlene Wittstock

Charlene Wittstock’s Father Attacked and Robbed Outside of his Home

February 10, 2011 Alexandra 4 Comments

On February 4, 2011, Charlene Wittstock’s father, Mike, was attacked, beaten, and robbed in front of his home in Rynfield, South Africa.

According to the South African online newspaper, Look Local.za:

The car, a Mercedes Benz C180, belonged to one of Wittstock’s clients, who loaned it to him to go down to Durban to see his daughter.

Wittstock parked the car in his driveway after 10pm and two men approached him coming from his yard and hit him with an AK47 on his face.

According to WO Jannie van Aswegen, communication officer for Benoni SAPS, this was a planned hijacking as the two men waited for Wittstock inside his yard. After attacking him the two men forced Wittstock to lie down on the ground.

They took his personal items including his watch, a gold chain, his ring, bank cards and cell phones. Wittstock sustained a broken nose and facial injuries.

The men are still at large with the car.

I sincerely hope Mr. Wittstock is doing okay today; moreover, I hope they finally found those who did such a horrible and otherwise jackass thing to an elderly man.

Source: Look Local.co.za

Monaco Princely Family

A Commemorative Coin in Honor of the Upcoming Princely Wedding in Monaco

February 10, 2011 Alexandra

On February 10, 2011, a commemorative coin honoring the upcoming princely wedding in Monaco was released today in Paris, France.

The coin was presented by the famous fashion designer Christian Lacroix at the Monnaie de Paris; Mr. Lacroix also designed this medal which has Prince Albert and Charlene Wittstock’s name on it as well as the date of the religious ceremony on it.

It’s a nice looking coin… pointless, but nonetheless nice. I suppose.

Photo courtesy of: Getty

Monaco Princely Family

Charlene Wittstock Discusses the Upcoming Midmar Mile Race and Much More

February 10, 2011 Alexandra

In today’s South African newspaper, Benoni City Times, there is an “exclusive” interview with Miss Charlene Wittstock. The reporter had a chance to sit down with the future Princess of Monaco to talk about her charity event, the Midmar Mile, visiting her grandmother, and much more.

Besides swimming in the Midmar Mile and hosting her own charity event on Friday February 11, 2011, Miss Wittstock will also:

…go to the Nelson Mandela Photographic Exhibition, in Pietermaritzburg, on the Friday evening ahead of the race. Wittstock hopes she will also have some time to catch up with her friends in Durban. ‘I am really looking forward to a braai, seeing my friends and, if possible, even going to a Sharks’ match,’ she said.

Charlene talks about her up-coming wedding and Prince Albert. The wedding is due to take place in Monaco on July 1 and 2. ‘I am very happy about the wedding; Monaco is a beautiful country and I love everything about it,’ she said.

‘Some of the interests that the prince and I share are sports, environmental and humanitarian causes.’ With Monaco being her new home, she confessed that there is a lot that she misses about Benoni. ‘I miss my relatives, the friendly people and the Bunny Park,’ she said. Some of the foods she craves while in Europe are Ouma rusks, Mrs Balls chutney. She also misses what has become the prince’s favourite, Zambuk ointment, for cold blisters and the lips.

Many young women view her wedding as a fairytale and to this Wittstock said: “‘f any woman can find someone who truly loves her and is lucky enough to marry him, then that is a fairytale to me.’

Wittstock will return to South Africa on July 11, as the Princess of Monaco, with her prince, for the International Olympic Committee meeting.

To read the article in its entirety please click the link: Benoni City Times

Source and photos courtesy of: Look Local.co.za via Clyde Meela

Monaco Princely Family

Charlene Wittstock: Breakfast with the Future Princess of Monaco, A Charity Event: UPDATES

February 9, 2011 Alexandra

Yesterday, I reported that Miss Charlene Wittstock will be attending a charity event at the St. Johns Diocesan in South Africa. Well, unfortunately, there is not much new information; however, here is a little news regarding the event.

Miss Wittstock will be hosting the charity event come this Friday February 11, 2011. As you know all the proceeds, during the breakfast charity event, will be donated to the Special Olympics (she is the patron for the Special Olympics Charity Foundation in Monaco.) Guests will be entertained by the “…international award wining group, Kwa-Zulu Natal Youth Orchestra.” The event begins at 8:30 am, and if you happen to live in the area, you can buy tickets to the charity breakfast and be in the presence of the future Princess of Monaco.

For more information please click the link: MSN ZA

Finally, as you know by now, Miss Wittstock will participate in the Midmar Mile, at the Midmar Dam in Kwazulu Natal, this weekend. Apparently, this open water race is a tough one, but I’m sure she can handle it. Here is what she had to say about the event a couple of months ago:

Taking part in the Midmar Mile will allow me to raise funds for the Special Olympics in South Africa and to support those athletes who really need the financial assistance. Being a former South African, taking part in the mile presents me with the opportunity to give back something to the South African charities.

My background as a swimmer, and current position as a future ~~royal~~ [member of a princely family] definitely presents me with a huge platform to give something back. The Special Olympics athletes are really brave and swimmers with disabilities have always been well supported at the Midmar Mile. I simply cannot wait, and this is a huge undertaking for me and its going to be great to eventually give something back by way of swimming the Mile. (Interview)

Also, Charlene’s dear friend, Olympic gold medalist Roland Schoeman, will also participate in the race to support Miss Wittstock. How nice.

Any way, good luck, Miss Wittstock! 🙂

Source: MSN ZA and Super Sport by WESSEL OOSTHUIZEN/Gallo Images

Monaco Princely Family

Charlene Wittstock, the Midmar Mile, and A Lovely Charity Event in South Africa

February 9, 2011 Alexandra

On February 11, 2011, the future Princess of Monaco, Charlene Wittstock, will attend a charity event at the St. Johns Diocesan School PMB, in South Africa, whereupon the proceeds from this event will be donated to the Special Olympics. This event is also in connection with the Midmar Mile race which she will take part in this weekend (Saturday 12 and Sunday 13th.)

More information about the Midmar Mile as well as the charity event at St. Johns Diocesan is still coming in through the newswire… so stay tuned for more information.

Source: TriBella House and Midmar Mile

Monaco Princely Family, Princely Wedding

Invitations to the Princely Wedding in Monaco: Who Will Be Invited? Who Will Turn their Invite Down?

February 8, 2011 Alexandra 10 Comments

In today’s Riviera Times, there is a slightly interesting article about the upcoming Princely wedding in Monaco.

Like the British royal wedding, there is much speculation as to whom will receive an invitation to the princely wedding come July 1 and 2, 2011 in Monaco. But, the big question (that the writer decided to ignore) is which ruling monarchs will turn down their invite, and which heir or spare will attend the princely wedding in their place.

Now, I know a lot of people are expecting every major royal house to attend HSH Prince Albert II’s wedding, but to be quite honest, I don’t believe all the monarchs will accept his invitation. Rather, I believe several heirs and many “spares” will attend.

For example, HM Queen Elizabeth II will not attend. The Queen will send The Earl and Countess of Wessex to represent her. HM King Harald and HM Queen Sonja of Norway may not attend. Instead, he will send his heir, HRH Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. It is highly unlikely that HM Queen Margrethe and HRH Prince Henrik of Denmark will attend; moreover, it is likely that the heir to the Danish throne, Crown Prince Frederik and his wife Crown Princess Mary, will trek to Monaco this summer. Or, HM Queen Margrethe II will send her second son, HRH Prince Joachim and HRH Princess Marie.

The three monarchs that may say YES to Prince Albert’s invitation HM King Carl Gustav and HM Queen Silvia of Sweden, HM King Albert and Queen Paola of Belgium as well as HM Queen Sofia of Spain minus HM King Juan Carlos of Spain. HRH Crown Princess Victoria and HRH Prince Daniel of Sweden will attend as well as HRH Crown Prince Philipe and HRH Crown Princess Mathilde of Belgium.

HM Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands may trek to Monaco along with her son, HRH Prince Willem-Alexander and HRH Crown Princess Maxima of the Netherlands. The Grand Ducal family without a doubt will attend.

The princely house of Liechtenstein will attend, again, without a doubt as well as all the non-reigning royal and princely houses throughout Europe.

Anyway, to read the article from the Riviera Times please click the link: Riviera Times Article

Meanwhile, on one of my favorite blogs, Monte-Carlo Daily Photo, the writer and photographer took some photos the other day of the Palais Princier de Monaco being prepped for the upcoming princely wedding. Click the link to view: Monte Carlo Daily Photo

Monaco Princely Family, Princely Wedding

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock’s Behind the Scenes of their Upcoming Wedding

February 7, 2011 Alexandra 4 Comments

While everyone on planet Earth is over-joyed and super excited about the British royal wedding between HRH Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton, come April 29, 2011, in Monaco the Palais Princier de Monaco PR people are working overtime to garner 1/3 of the attention from people around the world regarding the Princely wedding in Monaco.

In the Sunday edition of the French newspaper, Nice-Matin, there is a sweet and otherwise repetitive and boring article regarding the upcoming ~~Royal~~ Princely wedding between HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and Miss Charlene Wittstock. Here is what the writer had to say:

Five months until the event the preparations are advancing and the Princely Palace looks forward to the July 2 appointment very festive in the streets of Monaco!

On the evening of the Saint Devote ceremony Charlene Wittstock is was glowing. The South African will become, on July 2, The Princess of Monaco. the wife of Albert II. This will be an exceptional event in Monaco. Since the announcement of their engagement on June 23, speculations on the preparations for the union of Albert II and Charlene began in the tabloid world. During the wedding there will be 4,000 privileged spectators witnessing their religious union on July 2 on the Rock. But, there will be sections cordoned off by security services even though everyone is supposedly invited to take part in the marriage festival in Monaco. Reports note that there are even more major surprises being prepared behind palace walls.
A cocktail Reception on the Place du Palais?
The celebrations start in the afternoon on Friday 1st July. That day, the bride and groom are united civilly in the throne room of the Palais. For her marriage in 1956, after the civil ceremony, Prince Rainier III had invited his subjects on the Palace Square for a cocktail. His son, Prince Albert II, could do the same.
Outdoor Mass and red carpet?
The next day, the religious union will not take place at the Cathedral of Monaco, but instead at the Palais Princier de Monaco’s courtyard at 5pm. The Archbishop of Monaco, Monsignor Bernard Barsi, will officiate the open-air mass. There will be a canopy in the courtyard in case the weather doesn’t hold up or if the heat turns out to be too much for the guests. Several flat screen televisions will be scattered throughout the plaza. For the pomp, a red carpet be placed in the Palace Square from the barracks of the carabinieri to the door of the courtyard. It will be the same red carpet for Charlene Wittstock when she walks down the aisle on the arm of her father to the altar.
Giant screens in strategic locations?
A first round of invitations has been sent to royals, princes, heads of state and dignitaries. The names of guests, at this time, remains a secret. Again, several giant screens will be positioned at strategic locations in order to provide the “show” for all the people to simultaneously watch while in Monaco. “We want as many people as possible can attend this great celebration in the streets of the principality,” smiled Christiane Stahl, adviser to the Prince. If the Palace Square will be reserved for guests, streets and squares of Monaco will be fully open to the public for the webcast.
Lap of honor of the newlyweds?
The newlyweds might do a city tour [wave-a-thon] and then a walkabout. As is tradition, the bride will place her bouquet at the Church of Saint Devote, the patron saint of the Principality.
The royal couple may go down the Avenue de la Porte-Neuve to the Port Hercule and the church, passing the crowd on his way in a vehicle. Then the procession will head on down the Avenue d’Ostende, to the Casino, before heading back to the Palais Princier de Monaco.
The make and model of car is still unknown at this time. The couple may chose an electric since the Prince is environmental conscience. One thing is for certain this will be a popular marriage and Prince Albert II promises that this will be a huge media event.