On June 23, 2011, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and his lovely fiancée, Miss Charlene Wittstock, attended the St. Jean Mass and religious parade in Monaco this afternoon. To view photos please click the link here.
Source: Daylife
Photo courtesy of: AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau
With nine days to go before Charlene Wittstock and H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco tie the knot in two lavish ceremonies in Monaco, the couple spoke to the press (actually a month ago)… again. This the article/interview from the Monaco Times… in English. Click here to read.
Finally, the New York Times, has an article about the upcoming wedding and the future princess of Monaco. Journalist, Elaine Sciolino, initially requested an interview with Miss Wittstock, but was immediately turned down by the Palais Princier de Monaco representatives. So, instead Ms. Sciolino spoke to Jenny Crwys-Williams, a radio host from South Africa’s Talk Radio 702. It was Ms. Crwys-Williams who interviewed Miss Wittstock, at length, when she was in South Africa for the Midmar Mile race earlier this year:
I thought she was one of the most anxious people I have ever met…She was absolutely terrified of saying the wrong thing and falling foul of the terrible women in the palace.
Ms. Sciolino also reports about the negativity directed towards Miss Wittstock by the tabloid press and others. Amazingly, Ms. Sciolino has even managed to find the rare documentary, Albert: L’Autre Prince, where the future princess gave one of the most cringeworthy interviews in royal history (you know the infamous interview where she was asked if she was Catholic or Protestant whereupon Miss Wittstock replied, “Je suis Christian!” And, at that point every royal watcher gave themselves a face palm and shook their heads. Yeah, that interview.) 🙂
Since then, the soon-to-be princess has been given serious training when it comes to speaking to the media.
Anyway…
The New York Times article is an interesting read, though not exactly a groundbreaking piece of journalism (meaning Ms. Sciolino won’t be winning a Pulitzer Prize anytime soon.) Furthermore, the contents of the article are incredibly repetitive especially for those who are seasoned royal watchers. Click here to read.
To watch the infamous Albert: L’Autre Prince interview click the link here.
Photo courtesy of: Palais.mc
Well, it is only eleven days until the mega wedding of the millennium in the principality of Monaco, and every newspaper in and around the country is a buzz with gossip about the latest details.
In the newspaper, Monaco-Matin, there is a nice article about the massive fireworks show that will take place after the reception at the Salle Garnier Opera. The not-so-environmentally friendly fireworks show will be a:
…symphony… a shower of gold, large murals in pyrotechnical mirror on the Mediterranean.’ Theme is: love, of course, the show is called, ‘Speak to Me of Love.’
Meanwhile all the gorgeous flowers, which include Peonies and Roses, have been ordered — duh — and will soon be arranged. Christian Carlesi-Sorasio is a member of the florist team (a team made up of 14 professional florists from Monaco) whose own grandfather “… had made the floral decorations of the marriage of Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly.”
Mr. Carlesi-Sorasio also explains some of the details of the floral arrangements that will be showcased (if that is the right word to use) in the Palais Princier de Monaco courtyard and at the Salle Garnier Opera. Per Monaco-Matin:
Each place will not be decorated in the same way. They are completely different. Many factors come into play: the volume of parts, but also the brightness now. For the evening, we have provided some surprises.
He remains quiet about the intricate details of the ceremony on July 2. But, for the religious ceremony he will say that sobriety is required. Garlands of flowers will highlight the architecture of the palais. The dominant color is obviously white. Peonies, Avalanche Roses, green and white Hydrangeas, Casablanca Lilies will accompany a white flower that is typical of South Africa as a nod to the bride. A total of 12,000 flowers will be used over the princely wedding. However, the secret remains intact on the bridal bouquet…
In special edition of the French magazine, Point du Vue, the engaged couple are featured, again. Inside there is a nice article and other stuff. Here is a brief synopsis:
For the past few weeks, Charlene Wittstock has taken up residence at Roc-Agel, the private residence of the Grimaldi family, which sits high above the principality. This retreat is welcome for her which gives her privacy. Only family and close friends are allowed at Roc-Agel, a large place located in a mountainous area, safe from prying photographers.
It is in this house where Princess Grace liked to spend her weekends. The princess once said, ‘Roc-Agel is a mixture of several things. This is initially a Provence-style, but we have added a lot of ideas. It’s a house of relaxation, without protocol, where one can indulge in what he or she likes to do..’ Princess Grace spent of her free time at the house where she let her creativity in the arts flow. Prince Rainier isolated himself in his sculpture studio.
For those who missed RTL’s interview with Pierre de Vuyst from the program, Palace Royale, you can read the transcript in French here. I’ll translate it for you later. Actually, I won’t. 🙂
Finally, here is an updated guest-list of the royals attending the princely wedding in Monaco so far:
Sources: Monaco-Matin and Point de Vue
Photos courtesy of: Reuters/Eric Gaillard Point de Vue and Monaoc-Matin by Franck Fernandes
Recently, Euronews journalist, Isabelle Kumar, met with the future princess of Monaco, Charlene Wittstock, and her fiancé, H.S.H. Prince Albert at the Palais Princier de Monaco for a lengthy interview.
The interview is quite interesting so please click the link here to watch.
The couple also chatted with the French network, France3, for an incredibly long time. Click here to watch.
Another interview this time with Stéphane Bern and Marie Drucker. Click here to watch the video.
Also, it is rumored that the princely wedding in Monaco will air live on the Palais Princier de Monaco’s website here on July 1 and 2, 2011.
Per the French magazine, Premiere, here is the television schedule for the upcoming princely wedding in Monaco. Click here to read.
For those who do not speak French here is a translation:
French TV channels will broadcast the wedding ceremony live! The festivities will start Friday 1st July 2011 at 17h with the civil wedding of Prince Albert II, 52, and Charlene, 33, in the Throne Room of the Palace.
The next day, Saturday, July 2, 2011 at 17h still, the Archbishop of Monaco, Monsignor Bernard Barsi, will conduct their religious union in the courtyard of the Palais.
TF1
TF1 will offer a special program on Saturday, July 2 live Monaco from 16h to 19h45. Your hosts will be Jean-Claude Narcy, Sandrine Quétier, Jean-Pierre Foucault, Nikos Aliagas and Denis Brogniart. Claire Chazal offer year a wrap-up edition at 13h and JT LCI Will broadcast another special edition at 16h.
France 2
For its part, France 2 will be live from the Palais Square in Monaco on July 2. Three for hours, from 3:45 pm to 6:45 pm, Marie Drucker and Stephen Bern will host a special program with special reporters in Monaco. Together, they will have journalist and writer Jean Cars, and the journalist Philippe Harouard as special guests.
Also, thanks to a special relationship with the Prince Albert, Stéphane Bern, France 2’s lead host, will have an exclusive interview with the royal couple. Bern will also introduce viewers to the behind the scenes and preparations for this event. Finally, Mr. Bern was commissioned by Prince Albert to organize a special exhibit about the marriage entitled ‘The History of the Royal Wedding’. The exhibition will be held at the Musee Oceanographic in Monaco from July to November 2011.
Photo courtesy of: Premiere.FR
Recently, Euronews journalist, Isabelle Kumar, sat down with H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and his lovely fiancée, Charlene Wittstock, to discuss their upcoming nuptials.
Click here to watch.
Photo courtesy of: Madame Figaro
On June 9, 2011, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco made a surprise visit to Monte Carlo’s Cardio-Thoracic Centre where he spent time with a five-year-old Iraqi refugee recovering from heart surgery in Monte Carlo.
According to a press release from the UNHCR: The UN Refugee Agency:
The Monaco leader called on Basim Omar Basim last Thursday at the Cardio-Thoracic Centre, where the infant underwent a life-saving operation earlier this year under an accord between UNHCR and the Mediterranean principality’s Office of International Cooperation. The boy had had a first operation in Monaco in 2009, but needed to return for more surgery this year.
Basim was chosen for surgery when two doctors from Monaco, François Bourlon, a cardio-thoracic pediatrician, and orthopaedic surgeon Tristan Lascar, were flown to Damascus by UNHCR and the Monaco government in 2009 to examine Iraqi refugee children in need of medical treatment not available in Syria.
The boy was flown free of charge to Monaco by the Aviation Sans Frontieres charity. Funds for the medical programme were raised in 2008 by various charity groups to mark Prince Albert’s 50th birthday. UNHCR has been handling administrative and logistical aspects of the programme as well as working with the Syrian Arab Red Crescent to identify children in need of care.
Basim was born in Syria after his family fled Iraq in 2006 because his father had received several death threats and his shop was bombed. The boy was diagnosed with a genetic heart disease that required surgery in Syria when he was only one. He had a second operation in Monaco in July 2009.
“We are very pleased with this partnership,” said Philippe Leclerc, UNHCR’s representative for France and Monaco. “We hope that more medical evacuations will follow in the near future,” he added. A second refugee child is expected to arrive from Syria in September for treatment at the Cardio-Thoracic Centre.
To read the rest of the press release as well as to view a photo please click the link here.
Source: UNHCR.org
The Royal Correspondent 