Monaco's Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene expecting baby - BBC News BBC News Monaco's Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene expecting baby 30 May 2014 Image copyright AFP Image caption Prince Albert and Princess Charlene married in 2011 Monaco's Prince Albert II and his South African wife Princess Charlene have announced they are expecting their first child. In a short statement, the couple - who married in July 2011 - expressed their "immense joy" at the news. The statement said the birth was expected before the end of the year, but gave no further details. The new baby will replace Princess Caroline - Prince Albert's older sister - as heir to the throne. Prince Albert already has two children from previous relationships - 22-year-old daughter Jazmin and 10-year-old son Alexandre. Olympic swimmer The tiny principality of Monaco, which covers about 2sq km (less than one square mile), is the world's smallest independent state after the Vatican City. Prince Albert is the son of the late Prince Rainier III and actress Grace Kelly. Princess Grace died after a car crash in 1982, and Prince Rainier died in 2005.

Prince Albert II has been Monaco's ruler since the death of his father. Image copyright Reuters Image caption Prince Albert and Princess Charlene had a lavish wedding ceremony He met Charlene Wittstock when he was presiding over a swimming race in 2000. She then went on represent South Africa in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. They officially made their debut as a couple at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, Italy. Since their marriage, her official title is Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco. Prince Albert & Charlene Wittstock Married In Civil Ceremony (PHOTOS) | The Huffington Post Prince Albert & Charlene Wittstock Married In Civil Ceremony (PHOTOS) 07/01/2011 12:31 pm ET | Updated Aug 31, 2011 740 Text By JENNY BARCHFIELD, Associated Press MONACO (AP) — After waiting for nearly 30 years, the glitzy principality of Monaco has a new princess. Charlene Wittstock, a one-time Olympic swimmer from South Africa, married Prince Albert II in an intimate civil ceremony Friday.

Wittstock succeeds Grace Kelly, the Hollywood beauty who wed Albert's late father, Prince Rainier III, in 1956 and had three children with him before dying in a car crash in 1982. Dressed in a dusty blue jacket and matching palazzo pants made by Chanel, her blond hair pulled back, 33-year-old Wittstock seemed to be channeling a bit of Princess Grace's legendary elegance. The couple took their vows in a ceremony before several dozen guests in the palace's sumptuous, red silk-walled throne room, where Grace and Rainier also married. "Oui," both responded in voices so soft as to be barely audible, when asked if they took each other as their spouse. The marriage became official — and Monaco finally had its princess — when the president of Monaco's Council of State, Philippe Narmino, who officiated the ceremony, pronounced "I declare you united by the bonds of marriage." Take a look at photos and scroll down to keep reading. 1 (Getty photo) Share this slide: "A new page in the history of the principality has opened today," Albert told his subjects in a florid, post-ceremony address.

"I know that (Princess Charlene's) spontaneity and generosity will come into full bloom ... to the great joy of the principality and its inhabitants." Many of Monaco's 7,618 citizens braved the scorching sun to watch the ceremony live on two giant screens set up in front of the palace, some of them decked out for the occasion in suits or formal gowns and heels. Cheers erupted from the crowd when, after the 15-minute-long ceremony, the newlyweds emerged from a window to wave at their subjects. The couple's brief, embarrassed peck on the mouth garnered even more enthusiastic applause. "It's a gift that they've given us," said Henri Doria, a retired 73-year-old, as he watched the ceremony. "We've waited to long for him to marry and now he's given us this lovely bride, who will hopefully give us children, heirs. That's would be the most beautiful gift of all." Long regarded as one of Europe's most eligible bachelors and reputed for his string of romances with some of the world's most beautiful women, 53-year-old Albert long eschewed marriage.

His reticence to settle down was known to have exasperated his father and made many here despair of him ever tying the knot. Albert's prolonged bachelorhood even sparked persistent rumors he was gay, though those were largely quashed after he acknowledged having fathered two children out of wedlock — a now-teenage daughter with a California woman and a little boy with a stewardess of Togolese origin. Rumors that a third illegitimate child may have recently surfaced have overshadowed the wedding. News reports emerged earlier this week suggested that Wittstock learned of the child and allegedly tried to break off the engagement and return home to South Africa days before the wedding. The palace unequivocally denied the reports, which a top aide to Albert dismissed as "ugly rumors" born out of jealousy and spite. Still, the tensions were evident when Wittstock talked in a rare TV interview before the wedding about wanting to have her own children. "I love children and have always wanted to have children of my own," she told BFM television, sitting next to Albert with a close-lipped, tense smile.

"We'll see in the next couple of months or years." Wittstock was born in Zimbabwe but moved to neighboring South Africa when she was 12, and under the tutelage of her mother, a swim coach, competed for that country at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Like his now wife, Albert is a former Olympic athlete. A member of the International Olympic Committee since 1985, he competed in five Winter Olympics as part of Monaco's bobsled team. Albert met Wittstock during a 2000 swimming competition in Monaco. Wittstock then began appearing regularly at social events and moved to Monaco, known for its lax tax laws and high-stakes casinos, in 2006. Locals say she has since maintained a low profile and is rarely seen out and about the principality. "She seems like a very calm, very clear-headed young woman, but honestly we don't know that much about her yet," said Abeda Testa, a 56-year-old housewife dressed in screaming pink for Friday's festivities. "Now is when we'll start to really get to know her." After the ceremony, the couple joined their subjects on the palace square for a cocktail.

Monaco's mayor presented the newlyweds with two gifts from the people of Monaco, a painting by Russia's Wassily Kandinsky and a bronze by French sculptor Antoine Bourdelle. A concert by French composer Jean Michel Jarre and a laser light show were to cap the evening. Perhaps in a bid to focus media attention on Saturday's religious ceremony and star-studded gala dinner and away from the lower-key civil proceedings, palace minders hemmed journalists into holding areas and kept from interacting with residents, who were sipping Champagne and snacking on trays piled with finger foods. The guest list for Saturday's festivities reads like a who's who of Europe's rich and famous. Billionaire businessmen, assorted royalty including the kings of Spain, Sweden, Lesotho and Belgium, heads of state, celebrated opera singers, top models and race car divers will converge on the palace for Saturday's Catholic ceremony and the gala dinner to follow.

Household names on the guest list include Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld and Giorgio Armani — the perma-tanned Italian designer behind Saturday's wedding gown — as well as supermodel Naomi Campbell, American soprano Renee Fleming, former James Bond actor Sir Roger Moore and gold medal winning Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci. Alain Ducasse — the world famous French chef who like many in his tax bracket has taken Monegasque citizenship — is serving up a three-course gala dinner based on the tastes and smells of the Mediterranean. Besides the Champagne and South African wines, everything at the dinner will be sourced in a 10-kilometer (6-mile) radius around the hive of high rises, Art Deco casinos and five-star hotels that is Monaco. The main course will be line fished out of the waters off Monaco the morning of, and the vegetables will be harvested hours before they hit the plate, Ducasse has said. Ducasse is also helping prepare a Sunday brunch that will cap the wedding festivities before the newlyweds head off to South Africa for an IOC meeting. They'll take their honeymoon in August.

More: Former Olympic swimmer Princess Charlene of Monaco gets back in the pool | Daily Mail Online comments Ex-Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock, who retired in 2007, got back in the water for a charity swim today. The Princess of Monaco, 35, was seen swimming with children in Saint Geours de Maremne in southwestern France. The Monégasque princess wore her blonde highlighted hair scraped back as she paddled through the pool and taught the group of enthusiastic children how to swim during the Live to Swim day. Princess Charlene of Monaco paddles during the swimming event in Saint Geours de Maremne Charlene proved the best possible coach a the event organised by the club Inshore Rescue Capbreton. Its aim was to raise awareness of water safety and saw 150 children participate. Her own charity, The Princess Charlene Foundation, aims to help women and children on five of the world's seven continents. One of the focus points is also reinforcing the awareness of water safety. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share 'Some of my present and future projects for my foundation are underlining the importance and reinforcing the awareness of water safety,' writes Charlene on her foundation's website.

'We are all aware of horrible stories about small children drowning because they could not swim. Princess Charlene looks stunning as she walks on the beach during the swimming event in Capbreton Princess Charlene of Monaco speaks with a girl during a swimming event for her foundation in France Princess Charlene is dressed in a wetsuit as she speaks with children and they prepare to swim 'Teaching them how to swim could save their lives, and the importance and awareness will help them to feel more comfortable and confident in all aquatic areas as well.' She represented South Africa at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, with her team finishing fifth in the Women's 4x100 m Medley. She retired from competitive swimming in 2007. Her commitment to the sport, though, seems unwavering. Princess Charlene of Monaco jokes with children learning to swim on the French beach event Princess Charlene of Monaco swims in the ocean Water babe Charlene Charlene plays about with the young children at the beach segment of the day's event Princess Charlene of Monaco and the children all put their goggles on Ex-Olympian Princess Charlene retired from competitive swimming in 2007.

Now she teaches children to swim Teaching children to swim could save their lives, and the importance and awareness will help their confidence Ensuring her home-town of Durban, South Africa, becomes the premier city for swimming in the country, the princess is reportedly set to donate a 'large amount' to the its swimming future. This could make it the top sport in the city, ahead even of rugby and football. Last month Charlene's husband Prince Albert, 55, showed off his sporting abilities as he played volleyball on a beach. Princess Charlene of Monaco swims with a child as she guides the group through water awareness Charlene and her swimming partner make sure kids are being safe and having fun in the water The group get briefed on the day's activities as they listen while kitted out in their uniform The princess finally put rumours to bed over the 'turbulent' start to her marriage last month in a rare interview. She said the tears streaming down her cheeks at her wedding to Albert in 2011 were not the result of a series of rows over his womanising ways, but in fact tears of happiness.

She described this speculation, as well as rumours she attempted to escape in the days leading up to her wedding, as 'categorical lies'. Princess Charlene pictured with her husband Prince Albert II of Monaco in July Princess Charlene of Monaco competes in stand up paddle board race | Daily Mail Online Share this article Share More than 80 competitors took part in the 14km race, and Princess Charlene - who was accompanied by her brother Gareth Wittistock - completed the course in two hours 52 minutes. The royal represented South Africa at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 in the 3 x 100m medley relay, the same year she met Prince Albert at a swimming competition in Monaco. She retired from competitive swimming in 2007, but Princess Charlene has lost none of her prowess in the water Prince Albert, 58, officially launched the race, which spanned the waters of three countries - Monaco, France and Italy She retired from competitive swimming in 2007 and set up the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation foundation in 2012. The foundation focuses on three key areas: learning to swim, water safety, and sport and education programs.

It also arranges arrange amateur sporting competitions which encourage healthy, active lifestyles, the value of friendships and team spirit. In addition to her charity work, Charlene is also mother to her 19-month-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella. Charlene looked confident in the water as she paddled her board out to sea The royal covered up in a black wetsuit and shielded her face from the sun's glare with dark glasses and a hat Last month, at the launch of the US arm of her foundation, she opened up about balancing motherhood with royal duties. 'For now, I'm a full time mom,' she said, according to People magazine. 'I don't know how long that will be for. 'But yes, it is quite a difficult situation in comparison to the normal folk. We do have responsibilities and duties, and of course my son and my daughter are born into our responsibility. 'So it's quite something for me to accept that and to educate them.' The birth of the royal twins almost two years ago was greeted with cannon fire and an excited outpouring of joy from locals, as well as sighs of relief within the Monegasque royal family.

The arrival of Prince Jaques meant that a legitimate male heir to the throne had finally arrived, putting an end to one of Europe's longest-running dynastic sagas. Although Albert has two other children Jazmin, 22, and Alexandre Coste, 11, neither are eligible to inherit the throne of Monaco because they were born out of wedlock. Read more: Wedding of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and Charlene Wittstock | Royalty Wiki | Fandom powered by Wikia Wedding of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and Charlene Wittstock 485pages on Wedding of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and Charlene Wittstock Location: Date: 1 & 2 July 2012 This article is need of a clean-up. You can help out Royalty Wiki by re-organizing parts of the article, checking grammar and spelling, and making other corrections to improve the overall quality of the article. The wedding between Albert II, Prince of Monaco , and Charlene Wittstock took place on 1 and 2 July 2011 at the Prince's Palace of Monaco .

It has been described as Monaco's "biggest party in 55 years" since the wedding of Albert's father, Rainier III to Grace Kelly . Prince Albert and Wittstock first met in 2000 at a swimming competition in Monaco in which she was participating. They announced their engagement on 23 June 2010. Contents Edit Prince Albert II is the current Sovereign Prince of Monaco , having succeeded his father Rainier III in April 2005. Charlene Wittstock was born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) but moved to South Africa with her family when she was 12. She has represented South Africa in swimming, and participated in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. She met Prince Albert at the 2000 Marenostrum International Swimming Meet in Monaco, which he presided over. She retired from swimming in 2007. Prince Albert was also an athlete, competing in bobsleigh in five Olympics. The couple were first seen together in 2006. Speculation was rife that they were getting married in 2009, and they finally announced their engagement on 23 June 2010.

During the week before the wedding, the palace was forced to deny reports that Wittstock had been getting cold feet. French weekly L'Express reported that Wittstock tried to leave Monaco on Tuesday, 28 June, after rumours surfaced that Albert had fathered a third illegitimate child. The report claimed Monaco police intercepted her at Nice Côte d'Azur Airport and confiscated her passport, and that it took "intense convincing" by Albert and palace officials for her to stay. The palace called the stories "ugly rumours" born out of jealousy. Background Edit A two-day public holiday for the celebrations has been declared. Commentators have said that the wedding is important for Monaco to survive as a tax haven. Monegasque authorities believe the event will increase tourism. Wedding Details See Wedding Dress of Charlene Wittstock The wedding dress of Wittstock was designed by Giorgio Armani. Lexus was the official car supplier for the wedding. The bride and groom traveled in a Lexus hybrid car to Sainte-Dévote Chapel, where Princess Charlene laid her bridal bouquet to Saint Devota, the patron saint of Monaco, in accordance with Monegasque tradition.

Ceremonies Edit Festivities kicked off on the night of 30 June with a concert at the Stade Louis II by American rock band the Eagles. The concert was attended by 15,000 Monegasques and the couple. The civil ceremony took place on Friday 1 July 2011 in the Throne Room of the Prince's Palace . The ceremony was conducted by Philippe Narmino, Director of Judicial Services and president of the Council of State. Wittstock wore a silken blue jacket with ankle-length pants by Chanel. After the confirmation by Narmino, the newlywed couple signed the marriage register with a specially created pen made by Montblanc in gold and precious stones and adorned with their monogram . In connection with the civil ceremony, Wittstock received the formal style Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco. The 20-minute ceremony was also attended by Prince Albert's sisters Caroline, Princess of Hanover and Princess Stéphanie of Monaco , as well as the best man Christopher Levine and the maid of honour Donatella Knecht de Massy, who acted as witnesses for the groom and bride respectively.

After the ceremony, the couple appeared on the balcony of the Salon des Glaces to salute the crowds. They waved and kissed each other shyly, prompting another round of cheers from the crowd. The couple were also joined by Princesses Caroline and Stéphanie with their children as well as Charlene's parents and brothers. They joined other Monegasques in the Palace Square for a specially prepared buffet with Mediterranean and South African dishes by Chefs from South Africa and Monaco, headlined by multiple Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse. A free concert was performed by French composer Jean-Michel Jarre and his group at 22:00 hours on the Port Hercules, with an attendance of 100,000. It included a diplay of lights, lasers and fireworks. The new couple appeared on stage with the Princess adorned in a bespoke necklace made of 18K rose gold set with diamonds and pearls designed by acclaimed jewellery house Tabbah. Religious Edit The religious ceremony took place the following day in the courtyard of the palace. Unlike other recent royal weddings and the wedding of Rainier and Grace, the religious ceremony was not held in a cathedral.

The ceremony was conducted by the Archbishop of Monaco, Bernard Barsi. The palace gates were open so that up to 3,500 visitors can follow the ceremony on giant screens in the palace square. Screens will also be set up throughout the tiny principality. The couple then left for Sainte-Dévote Chapel to place the bride's bouquet, during which they were greeted by the public along the procession route. Part of the ceremony was in Afrikaans, a language of Dutch origin, which is spoken in Charlene's home country of South Africa. The dinner reception took place on the terraces of the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, followed by fireworks and the opening of the Opéra Ball. The Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Opéra Choir performed under the direction of Lawrence Foster. Other performers included Andrea Bocelli, Renée Fleming, Pumeza Matshikiza accompanied by French guitarist Eric Sempe and percussionist Patrick Mendez, Juan Diego Flórez, Lisa Larsson, Wiebke Lehmkuhl, Kenneth Tarver, and Alexander Vinogradov.

Guests Monaco’s royals say ‘we do’ — again - today > news - The Royals - TODAY.com Monaco’s royals say ‘we do’ — again Religious ceremony follows civil marriage for Prince Albert II Below: Advertise Valery Hache / AFP - Getty Images Prince Albert II of Monaco kisses Princess Charlene of Monaco during their religious wedding at the Main Courtyard of the Prince's Palace. updated 7/3/2011 11:11:27 AM ET 2011-07-03T15:11:27 + - MONACO — Monaco's Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene promised each other love and fidelity in an extravagant religious wedding Saturday attended by international celebrities and royalty, bringing new allure to the tiny principality known for its luxurious casinos and as stomping ground for the rich and famous. The Catholic service followed an intimate civil ceremony Friday, which saw Charlene officially transformed from commoner into royalty. The marriage of the 53-year-old prince and the 33-year-old Charlene Wittstock, a one-time Olympic swimmer from South Africa who is now known as Princess Charlene, ended a three-decade wait for a new princess.

The last wedding of a ruling prince in Monaco was in 1956, when Hollywood star Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III. Saturday's ceremony was attended by guests including former James Bond actor Sir Roger Moore, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and bohemian designer Roberto Cavalli, of Italy. Thousands of Monegasque citizens cheered the proceedings while watching on large screens set up outside the palace, where both ceremonies were held. Charlene swept along the red carpet leading into the palace on her father's arm. In her sumptuous boat neck gown by Giorgio Armani Prive, her hair pulled back in a swirling French twist and with only the lightest touch of makeup, she seemed to channel some of Grace's effortless elegance. PhotoBlog: Flashback: Prince Rainier III marries Grace Kelly Throughout the ceremony, which lasted an hour and a half, both bride and groom wore demure expressions, their eyes mostly downcast. Only as they took their vows and exchanged rings did the solemn facade crack: As they slipped on the 18 carat white gold Cartier rings onto each other's fingers, Albert — in a white military uniform — shot her a wink, and Charlene cracked a broad, sincere smile.

A new princess wears something blue to wed With photographers shouting for the attention of the A-list guests as they streamed into the palace, the wedding had something of the flavor of a star-studded red carpet at the film festival in neighboring Cannes. British actor Roger Moore, a longtime Monaco resident and a former James Bond, lent a touch of secret agent glamour. The carpet might as well have been a catwalk for British model Naomi Campbell and Czech supermodel Karolina Kurkova — or for Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld, who cut a mean figure in his skintight suit. Stories from Kylie Jenner's Lip Kit Is Ruining Lives (According to the Internet, Anyway) Royal guests included the kings of Sweden and Belgium and Denmark's crown princess. Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the world's Ismaili Muslims, and Empress Farah Pahlavi, wife of Iran's deposed shah, chatted with former French first lady Bernadette Chirac inside the palace.

Monaco's bride seeking to make her own mark The last guest to enter according to protocol, Sarkozy, elicited extensive applause and hoots of approval in what was likely the warmest welcome the French leader, whose popularity ratings hover at record lows, has received in a long time. The most enthusiastic welcome was reserved for the bride and members of the Grimaldi family, one of Europe's oldest dynasties. Albert's sisters, Princesses Stephanie and Caroline, both looked fetching in their short taupe dresses, Caroline's steely blue eyes hidden behind the oversized brim of her hat. Her daughter, Charlotte Casiraghi, was breathtaking in a pink off-the-shoulder cocktail dress by Chanel. Monaco palace rejects ‘ugly rumors’ about wedding Bruno Bebert / AP Fans watch the wedding ceremony between Charlene Wittstock and Prince Albert II of Monaco on a giant screen outside the Monaco palace on Friday, July 1, 2011. While Charlene — whose name is now officially written with an accent to give it a more French resonance — wore a blue ensemble of her own design to Friday's civil ceremony, she opted for one of her longtime favorite designers, Armani, for Saturday's wedding gown.

The "petites mains" or seamstresses of his haute couture atelier put more than 2,500 hours of work into the dress, a strong-lined, made-to-measure concoction of more than 130 meters (about 140 yards) of different silks, 40,000 Swarovski crystals and 20,000 mother of pearl beads. The 5 meter- (6 yard-) long train — which dwarfed the demure little train at the summer's other royal wedding, that of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton — proved difficult to negotiate. At one point, Charlene got stuck and Albert had to tug at the long silk flourish to free her. The ceremony, officiated by Monseigneur Bernard Barsi, Archbishop of Monaco, included moving performances by U.S. soprano Renee Fleming and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, as well as a tradition "click song" by South Africa's Pumeza Matshikiza — a nod to the princess' roots. After the ceremony, about 450 select guests tucked into a multi-course gala prepared by celebrated French-born chef Alain Ducasse.

Advertise Filet of golden mullet and a vegetable medley "arranged to portray a landscape typical of the coast of the Riviera," according to a statement, was the main event at the three-course meal, where everything besides the South African wines and Champagnes were sourced from within a 10-kilometer (6-mile) radius of Monaco. Ducasse, who like many in his tax bracket has taken citizenship in Monaco, is the first chef to earn three Michelin stars in three different cities, including three for his Louis XV restaurant in the principality. Charlene was born in Zimbabwe, but moved to neighboring South Africa as a child, and under the tutelage of her mother, a swim coach, competed for that country at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Albert — also a former Olympic athlete, having competed in five Winter Olympics as part of Monaco's bobsled team — has been a member of the International Olympic Committee since 1985. Albert and Charlene met during a 2000 swimming competition in Monaco. She then began appearing regularly at social events and moved to Monaco in 2006.

Residents say Charlene has since maintained a low profile and is rarely seen out and about in the principality. The couple's civil wedding on Friday was held in the palace's sumptuous throne room where Rainier and Grace married. The actress died in a car crash nearly 30 years ago, and Monaco had been without a princess ever since. More about the Royals Prince William's job saving people from 'edge of death' may end Known as a notorious ladies man, Albert long eschewed marriage, and many in Monaco had resigned themselves to forever having a bachelor prince. The constitution was even modified to ensure the continuity of the Grimaldi line, in case Albert never produced an heir. The prince has acknowledged having fathered two children out of wedlock, but only his legitimate offspring would be able to succeed him. Rumors have swirled in recent days that a third illegitimate child had surfaced — prompting Charlene to allegedly try to call off the wedding and return to South Africa days before the festivities. The palace has denied the reports, dismissing them as "ugly rumors" prompted by spite and jealousy.

Charlene has told interviewers she would like to have children, and Archbishop Barsi asked those at Saturday's ceremony to pray for the fecundity of the princely union. "We just witnessed an important moment of love," guest Michel-Yves Mourou said after leaving the palace. "I'm still under the spell of it. I'm happy for my prince and princess." Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. People.com Related slideshows Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco depart from the Monaco palace after their religious wedding ceremony in Monaco on July 2, 2011. (Pool / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation The newlyweds smile as they leave the palace, July 2. The Roman-Catholic ceremony follows the civil wedding which was held in the Throne Room of the Prince's Palace of Monaco on July 1. (Andreas Rentz / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise Princess Stephanie's daughter, Camille Gottlieb, right, speaks during the wedding mass of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene, July 2.

Princess Charlene's dress was created by Italian designer by Giorgio Armani. (Bruno Bebert / Pool / EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation Michael Kenneth Wittstock, left, escorts his daughter Princess Charlene on the red carpet at the Place du Palais for the religious wedding ceremony with Prince Albert II at the Palace in Monaco, July 2. (Benoit Tessier / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation Princess Charlene on her father Mike Wittstock's arm, walks to the altar for the wedding ceremony, July 2. (Bruno Bebert/pool / EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise Sweden's Princess Madeleine arrives for the wedding, July 2. (Emma Foster / Pool / EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation French President Nicolas Sarkozy attends the religious ceremony of the Royal Wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco to Princess Charlene of Monaco, July 2. (Sean Gallup / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld arrives for the wedding mass of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene, July 2.

(Bruno Bebert / Pool / EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and husband Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark attend the religious ceremony of the Royal Wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco to Princess Charlene of Monaco, July 2. (Sean Gallup / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco greet people on the balcony after their civil wedding at the Prince's Palace on July 1, 2011 in Monaco. (Valery Hache / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Prince Albert II of Monaco (R) and Charlene Princess of Monaco leave the Monaco palace after the civil wedding marriage ceremony. (Lionel Cironneau / Pool via EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation Related slideshow William and Kate’s royal visit to North America Princess Caroline of Hanover (2R) and her daughter Alexandra of Hanover (L), Princess Stephanie of Monaco (R) and her daughter Camille Marie Kelly Gottlieb pose on the balcony after the civil wedding.

(Valery Hache / AFP - Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation The Mayor of Monaco, Georges Marsen, shakes hands with Princess Charlene as Prince Albert II of Monaco looks on outside the Monaco palace. (Bruno Bebert / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation Princess Charlene's parents, Lynette Wittstock (2-R), Mike Wittstock (L), and her brothers Sean-Michael Wittstock (2-L) and Gareth Wittstock (R) appear at one the palace's balconies after Princess Charlene's civil marriage ceremony with Prince Albert II of Monaco. (Bruno Bebert / Pool via EPA) Share Back to slideshow navigation Related story Low-hanging princes: The world’s eligible royals People gather to watch the wedding outside the Monaco palace on Friday, July 1. (Lionel Cironneau / Pool via AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation The night before the wedding, Prince Albert II and his then-fiance Charlene Wittstock pose with a guitar, a gift from the Eagles, who performed that evening to kick off the three-day celebration.

(Francois Mori / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise A Monegasque decorates the law courts with Monaco's flags and flowers to prepare for the wedding. (Eric Gaillard / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation A lingerie shop window in Monaco displays a picture of Prince Albert II and Charlene. (Lionel Cironneau / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation Editor's note: This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing. Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away. This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing. Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away. This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing. Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away. This image contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing. Click to view the image, or use the buttons above to navigate away. Related Advertise >>> and prince albert of monaco got married, but as celebrations continue many cannot help thinking of his late mother grace kelly . >> one of the great of all-time.

grace kelly born in pennsylvania lived most of her life in a palace and while she only starred in a handful of films, she is forever a star. >> give up, john. admit who you are. >> reporter: she was the all- american beauty . the golden girl from philadelphia who went from hollywood royalty to real-life princess. grace kelly . the classic cool blond whose elegance and flawless style captivated the world and stole the heart of a prince. >> in this life, in this world, we never see perfection, but we all feel we found it in grace kelly . >> you can see my apartment from here all the way up on 63rd street. >> reporter: that perfection made her a film actress where she smoldered on screen with cary grant . at the height of her career she found love. romance >> reporter: the prince of monaco started courting the actress and soon a fairy tale came true. >> prince rainier and his film star wife have become man and wife. >> reporter: a gorgeous wedding in a dress that continues to inspire and draws comparisons to kate middleton 's gown.

>> not just about the clothes she wore, it's really about her innate, shining, lovely personality. >> reporter: for kelly , the french riviera became her home and her playground. she resided in a 15th century palace, hosted dignitaries and raised a family. she and prince rainier had three children, princess carlline, princess stephanie and prince albert . it was a charmed life that came to a sudden and tragic end. in 1982 , while driving wig her daughter stephanie, kelly lost control of the car, which plunged down a mountain side. kelly was just 52 years old. to this day, monaco mourns her death. for her children, the years since have been surrounded by romance and scandal. caroline, who has three children harks been married twice. stephanie has three children out of wedlock. as for prince albert , he has been linked to several beautiful women, had two children out of wedlock, but has remained a bachelor, until now. 53-year-old prince albert is marrying charlene wittstock a former olympic swimmer from south africa .

>> he married -- marrying someone who is about 20 years younger than him. so it's a little bit of a repeat from 1956 . >> reporter: and now, half a century after a ceremony to remember, monaco and the monarchy celebrate another royal wedding . romeo and juliet ." >> as for the newest princess, back in 2000 , when competing at the olympic games in sydney they met. 11 years later, they are husband and wife. >> thank you very much. Monaco celebrates Prince Albert's lavish wedding gala - BBC News BBC News Monaco celebrates Prince Albert's lavish wedding gala 3 July 2011 Read more about sharing. Close share panel Prince Albert II of Monaco has married South African former swimmer Charlene Wittstock in a religious ceremony, after Friday's civil wedding. Some 3,500 guests, including royalty and celebrities, attended the event at the Place du Palais. This was followed by a lavish dinner prepared by a celebrity chef. Prince Albert II, 53, and Princess Charlene, 33, were married in a civil ceremony staged in the principality on Friday.

Earlier in the week, the palace denied reports in the French press that Ms Wittstock was having second thoughts about the wedding. Princess' tears On Saturday, Prince Albert II, and now Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene each said "Oui" (Yes) at the service led by the Archbishop of Monaco, Bernard Barsi. The archbishop held the couple's hands together, before declaring: "What God has joined, men must not divide." Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene then exchanged rings in white gold and platinum. After the ceremony, the couple walked to a chapel dedicated to Monaco's patron saint, St Devote, where Princess Charlene placed her bouquet - as the local tradition required. The princess then burst into tears as a young choir sang. The guest-list at the religious ceremony included the kings of Spain, Sweden, Lesotho and Belgium, the presidents of France, Iceland, Ireland, Lebanon, Malta, Germany and Hungary, France's richest man, celebrated opera singers, top models and racing car drivers. Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld and supermodel Naomi Campbell, also attended. The UK was represented by Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II.

All the ingredients for the lavish celebratory meal, created by Alain Ducasse - himself a Monaco citizen - were said to have come from within a 10km (6-mile) radius of Monaco. More than 1,000 journalists from around the world were accredited to cover the festivities in the principality, whose citizens number just 7,618. Princess Charlene represented South Africa in the swimming competitions at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. The tiny principality, which covers about 2 sq km (less than one square mile), is the world's smallest independent state after the Vatican City. Prince Albert II has been the ruler of Monaco since the death of his father, Prince Rainier III, in 2005. Friday's event was clouded by press reports suggesting that Ms Wittstock had come close to returning to South Africa, after learning secrets about Prince Albert's private life. The royal family dismissed the claims, as well as suggestions she had only turned back after royal aides persuaded her to stay as "jealous rumours".

Monaco's Prince Albert weds South African Charlene Wittstock - BBC News BBC News Monaco's Prince Albert weds South African Charlene Wittstock 1 July 2011 Close share panel Media captionCrowds cheered as the royal couple appeared on the balcony Prince Albert II of Monaco and South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock have got married in a civil ceremony in the tiny principality. The wedding took place at the royal palace by the Mediterranean, where a more elaborate religious ceremony is to be held on Saturday. Up to 3,500 guests are to attend lavish celebrations in Monaco afterwards. Ms Wittstock, 33, who swam in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, is now Her Serene Highness, Princess Charlene. Earlier in the week the palace denied reports in the French press that Ms Wittstock was having second thoughts about the wedding. Prince Albert II, 53, has been the ruler of Monaco since the death of his father, Prince Rainier III, in 2005. The guest list includes heads of state and royalty, from French President Nicolas Sarkozy to the heir to the Spanish throne, as well as fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld and supermodel Naomi Campbell.

Charlene Wittstock's wedding dress was designed by Giorgio Armani. Rumours denied Thousands of Monegasques crowded the plaza outside the palace for the civil wedding. Inside, Philippe Narmino, the president of Monaco's Council of State, declared the couple "united by bonds of marriage". The event was clouded by press reports suggesting that Ms Wittstock had come close to returning to South Africa, after learning secrets about Prince Albert's private life. Image caption The civil ceremony took place in this lavish room at the palace The royal family dismissed the claims, as well as suggestions she had only turned back after royal aides persuaded her to stay. "These rumours have no other goal than to severely damage the reputation of the monarch and thereby that of Miss Wittstock and severely undermine this happy event," said the palace. Ryk Neethling, a fellow South African Olympic swimmer said: "I just spoke to her assistant and whatever the story is, it's not true. "I called her and asked if everything is okay, and they said everything is fine." Glamorous past Charlene Wittstock was born in Zimbabwe's second city of Bulawayo, moving to South Africa with her family at the age of 12.

She represented South Africa at the Commonwealth Games before competing in Sydney as part of the women's medley relay team that finished fifth in the final. Prince Albert was also an athlete, competing in bobsleigh in five Olympics. The Prince and Ms Wittstock made their relationship public by appearing together at the Turin Winter Olympics of 2006, after meeting in 2000 at a swimming event in Monaco. She ended her swimming career in 2007 and has travelled widely for charity events with her fiance. The tiny principality, which covers about 2 sq km (less than one square mile), is the world's smallest independent state after the Vatican City. It has seen glamorous weddings in the past. In 1956 the Hollywood beauty Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier. The wedding ushered in an unprecedented era of glamour that ended with her death in a car crash in 1982. Charlene Wittstock Charlene Wittstock Charlene Wittstock Charlene Wittstock Charlene Wittstock achieved many things in her life - including the status of Olympic athlete - but what really makes her unusual is becoming a royal princess through her marriage to Prince Albert of Monaco in 2011.

The future Princess of Monaco Charlene Lynette Wittstock was born on January 25, 1978 in Bulawayo, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe When she was aged 12, her family emigrated to South Africa, where she grew up in the east rand town of Benoni. Charlene (right) on June 15, 2011 at Farrarmere Primary school in Benon. In 1997 Charlene won the 100 and 200 backstroke events at the South African Championships in Germiston , silver in the 50 and 100 freestyle - and the award as Best FeMale Swimmer of the Tournament. She swam for South Africa at the 2000 Olympics, and at the 2002 FINA Short Course World Championships, where she placed sixth in the 200 m backstroke, and at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games. A shoulder injury shortened her career and although she tried to return for the 2008 Olympics, she did not qualify. She developed a passion for swimming at a very early age.

In 2000, her team came in fifth at the Sydney Olympic Games. That same year, she won the gold medal for the 200m backstroke event at the "Marenostrum" international swimming meeting in Monaco. This is when she met Prince Albert for the first time; he was presiding over the international competition. In 2002, she won three gold medals at the swimming World Cup (50m and 100m crawl, 4x100m relay) and the silver medal during the Manchester Commonwealth Games (4x100m medley relay). In 2007, she ceased competing after qualifying for the Beijing Olympics. At a swimming competition in Monaco in 2000 Wittstock met Prince Albert II, and they later began a romantic relationship. In June 2010 Wittstock and Prince Albert II became engaged, and were married in Monaco on 1-2 July 2011 (civil and religious ceremony). At that time Wittstock became Her Serene Highness, The Princess of Monaco. Today Charlene has a continued interest in swimming - even competing in the Midmar Mile.

On her marriage, Charlene became Princess consort of Monaco and gained the title and style of Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco; the last to hold the title was the Prince's mother, Grace Kelly. Charlene was married to the Prince in a civil ceremony on 1st July 2011 in the Throne Room at the Palace of Monaco. The religious ceremony took place on 2nd July 2011 in the Cour d'Honneur of the Palace of Monaco. She bears the title "HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco" along with all the historical titles vested to the Prince, in the feminine. On February 12, 2011, the soon-to-be Princess of Monaco, Charlene Wittstock, swam the 38th aQuelle Midmar Mile Race this morning in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Women of Influence Supporting Charlene Wittstock is also a Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics , seen here with SA Olympiuc coach Wayne Ridden, handing over a cheque to SOSA valued at €60,000 and also held a benefit breakfast in Pietermaritzburg with proceeds for SOSA.

This was the first time that Charlene had competed in the Midmar Mile (the biggest timed open water swimming event in the world) and so she decided that rather than swimming it competitively that she would swim alongside SOSA athletes. Joining Charlene was Olympic Gold medallist Roland Schoeman, Olympic silver medallist Terence Parkin and ‘the human polar bear’, Lewis Pugh. Individuals of all disabilities, those competing in the iron man and the biathlon events competed in the first race of the day at 8h30 for a straight 1 mile swim in the Midmar Dam, Pietermaritzburg, SA. First out of the water was Special Olympics South Africa athlete leader Craig Groenewald and he was closely followed by athletes without disabilities. Charlene Wittstock presented the awards for the ‘Disability category’ with SOSA athletes taking gold, silver and bronze for both males and females in the ‘Intellectually Impaired’ category. Craig Groenewald’s winning time was 21:06 whilst the ladies winner and SOSA representative to the 2011 SOWSG open water swim event, Cornelia Fowler completed the event in 27:49.

Charlene is looking forward to making this an annual event on her calendar whilst SOSA in turn plans to grow the field of 43 athletes that completed this year’s event. From poppie to princess Claire Keeton | 26 June, 2011 ELEGANT: Top, SA swimming champion Charlene Wittstock poses for a portrait for South African Sports Illustrated in November 2001. Above, actress Grace Kelly, the mother of Prince Albert II. Left, Prince Albert II and Charlene at the wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William in London The Cinderella from Benoni had the natural drive and the discipline to win her prince - and ensure the slipper fits. Charlene Wittstock has seldom put a foot wrong in her 10-year fairy tale from barefoot Olympic swimmer to enchanted princess in high-heeled slippers. Except when it came to wearing high heels. That took practice for the golden girl from Benoni. But, like Cinderella minus any wicked relatives, the slipper now fits and she's found her prince charming.

At 33, she is poised to follow in the footsteps of the late Hollywood star, Grace Kelly, when she marries Kelly's son, Prince Albert II of Monaco, at the Prince's Palace of Monaco next weekend. Mining magnate Bridgette Radebe, who is close to her, says: "Charlene can bring her uniqueness and energy to follow on the legend of Princess Grace." Wittstock's elegance, like another glamorous blonde from Benoni, Hollywood star Charlize Theron, already glitters from red carpets and the covers of glossy magazines such as Vogue. Despite her metamorphosis, Wittstock - born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and raised in Benoni and Durban - remains passionate about her family, friends, Africa and her charities. Radebe says: "Charlene has never stopped being who she is. With Charlene, what you see is what you get." And what you get includes friendliness, fun, compassion and commitment. During Radebe's visit last month, Wittstock's day was packed with official duties, so the friends only caught up in the early hours of the morning. "By the time we finished, it was something to four and we had not eaten.

We asked the chef to prepare a spicy, vegetarian pasta. Charlene is vegetarian and we asked for lots of garlic and chilli. She said: 'I'm a Durban girl.' We started chatting about South Africa, her passion - which is mentoring and the development of children in swimming - fashion and social responsibility. "She always wants to know: 'Am I doing enough?' She wants to go the extra mile in her new role." Wittstock will soon represent Monaco on the global stage. Yet she will still be an ambassador for South Africa. She sent Radebe, who is married to Justice Minister Jeff Radebe, an sms last week saying: "Oh, South African flags all over the country before the wedding. It's awesome." Wittstock's patriotism is part of her family heritage. Her father, Mike, is a loyal, no-nonsense South African. When Prince Albert II called her father last year to ask for her hand in marriage, she advised him to phone before South Africa played France in the 2010 Fifa World Cup. "The next day I asked: 'When did you call?' and he said it was five minutes before kickoff.

I asked what my father had said, and he replied: 'He said he had to get off the phone because the national anthem was coming on.' I said that I hope he got the message," Wittstock said in a recent TV interview. A tall and imposing figure, her father says Wittstock grew up a fearless tomboy who often got into scrapes. "Once she jumped off a tree onto a horse and broke her arm in three places. She was not scared of anything," her father says. In her competition days, Wittstock joked that she got into swimming because the pool was the safest place for her. Ultimately, swimming dominated her youth. Her first crush was on a local freestyle champion, Peter Williams, whose picture she used to kiss good morning, she said in an interview in 1992. Wittstock was a South African backstroke champion and represented the country at the Olympic Games in Sydney in 2000 - and through a swimming meeting in Monaco that year, she met Prince Albert II. Her former teammate, Penny Heyns, remembers Wittstock as a friendly, entertaining person "who knew somebody, without exception, wherever we were in the world".

"She has a lot more depth of character and is more perceptive than you see on the surface," says Heyns. "I can't think of any time I saw her grouchy, and she was an unselfish, considerate roommate." An injury forced Wittstock out of competitive swimming in 2007, but she still trains with her coach, who has accompanied her to Monte Carlo. He's not the only member of her close circle of family, friends and pets to move to the principality. Her mother Lynette, a gentle and supportive woman, and her brother, Gareth live in Monte Carlo. Her other brother, Sean and her father, escorting her remaining dogs, flew over for the wedding. "She has her own puppy and between her and her mom they have about six dogs," says Radebe, describing her as very pro-animal. Wittstock is traumatised by the slaughter of rhino and she and Prince Albert II are promoting environmental awareness from Monaco. Radebe says Wittstock is in her element at the family lodge in the mountains, near Marseilles, where she has time and space to herself to hike and unwind with her friends and family.

Wittstock's African heritage has permeated the royal palace and wedding programme. She invited South African Idols winner Jason Hartman to perform at their wedding celebration, as well as local boy band the Romanz. "I thought I would give input on the music," she said in the TV interview. "My wedding is just a little bit bigger than most but, ja, my nerves are alright for now." When Radebe joined Wittstock's family for a dinner at the palace in honour of her conversion to Catholicism, she noticed that French music was no longer the sole genre. "We were sitting in these beautiful Japanese gardens after her christening ceremony, having dinner, and in the background was South African music: Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Johnny Clegg, Miriam Makeba, and then comes the South African national anthem." Wittstock's appreciation of contemporary African art shows in her beautiful apartment, says Radebe. "Lynette is an artist and Charlene is very creative, like her." Wittstock enjoys local favourites such as Mrs Ball's chutney and rooibos tea, and asks for Zambuk, her father says.

Radebe says: "She is the most inexpensive person to please." Terrence Bray from Durban is one of Wittstock's favourite designers, but for her wedding she'll be wearing a dress by Giorgio Armani. Radebe says Wittstock has an innate sense of style and understood what suited her sculpted body even before she met Armani. "She is not cluttered and knows how to carry herself." Wittstock has such grace when she accompanies Prince Albert II on formal occasions that she looks as if she were born into royalty. But at her first major appearance with him, despite being briefed on the protocol, she found the attention overwhelming. Radebe says: "She phoned me the next day and said there were hundreds of people clapping when they walked in - and sounded quite upset." Wittstock, like any celebrity on a world stage, has also had moments when her high-flying lifestyle trips her up. She once shared the royal box with the celebrated tenor Placido Domingo at the Grand Prix and did not realise who he was.

"She asked him: 'What do you do?' and when he told her he was a singer, she said she would love to meet the Three Tenors, unaware that he was one of them," says Radebe. "She does not mind not knowing everything and learning along the way." Hartman describes Wittstock as a "very genuine person who is pretty down to earth and kind and caring". The Monegasque people love her spirit of ubuntu and her fresh, natural energy. "Africa is a symbol of nature and sunshine and Charlene oozes naturalness and attracts a lot of people," says Radebe. Her vitality could be channelled into her children, potential heirs to the throne. "You are on a journey with this person (after marriage) and you would like to have little people along the way, and potential Sharky supporters," Wittstock said in the TV interview. "I would say I'm looking forward to it," she said, joking that she hoped her husband would support the Sharks, since he had become a staunch rugby fan. "He is a sports fanatic himself.

He has done triathlons, been to five Olympic games for bobsleigh and swims and runs." Radebe feels the couple are lucky to have found each other. "They are so gelled together and so similar, with their interests intertwined." The prince introduced Wittstock to Radebe and the two women connected from the moment they met. "She is very open," says Radebe. If she arrives for a visit, Wittstock will exclaim "Bridg" and fling open her arms for an embrace. Prince Albert's family have been very welcoming to Wittstock, making her feel part of the family, Radebe says. She realises she will share her husband with the country and is ready for the role of first lady, adds Radebe, who thinks the royal union will benefit South Africa by enhancing the social, economic and political union of both countries. Wittstock said in the TV interview: "I will have many duties here to fulfil and will have to dedicate my time to the Monegasque people. But I will not be forgetting South Africa." Charities are a priority for her and Wittstock is excited at being chosen as the Global Ambassador for the Special Olympics.

"I would put everything aside (for charity) and focus on that when I have time," she said. After the wedding, Wittstock and Prince Albert II will take their first international trip together, to Durban. Perhaps she'll even get to go surfing, which is one of her favourite sports. "Initially we'll go to the International Olympic Committee meeting and then relax with family and friends," she says. "I will always come back to South Africa, at least once a year." Your Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco, take a bow. Family Affairs The prince and princesses of Monaco - the children of the late Princess Grace (née Kelly) and Prince Rainier III - flouted royal protocol with unconventional relationships and scandalous antics. The Grimaldi children became famous for their wild ways, romancing with Hollywood stars, flight attendants, racing drivers, bodyguards and elephant trainers. But Prince Albert II, Princess Caroline of Hanover, and the youngest, Princess Stephanie, have long since abandoned their hedonistic days, and the prince's wedding to Charlene Wittstock next weekend symbolises a new era for the dynasty.

Wittstock, who has lived in the Mediterranean principality since 2006, will be its first crown princess since Kelly's death in 1982. In the past, the bachelor prince has been romantically linked to supermodels Claudia Schiffer and Angie Everhart, and actress Brooke Shields. After Prince Albert II ascended the throne in 2005, he acknowledged fathering a son, Alexandre, and a daughter, Jazmin Grace, out of wedlock with different women. A former Air France stewardess from Togo is the mother of his son, aged seven, and a former waitress from California is the mother of his teenage daughter. Prince Albert II and Wittstock are keen to have children, who would be legitimate heirs to the Grimaldi throne. Children born out of wedlock are not eligible for succession. The father of the youngest child of the tattooed Princess Stephanie remains a mystery. Her two older children were born during her marriage to her bodyguard. Stephanie, who was 17 when she survived the car crash that killed her mother in 1982, divorced the bodyguard. Her second marriage also ended in divorce.

Her older sister, Princess Caroline, endured tragedy when her second husband, the father of their three children, died in an accident in a speedboat race. She is now married to German Prince Ernst August of Hanover, but they are living apart after Princess Caroline and their daughter moved back to Monaco. Despite the turbulence, family friends say their children have been well raised and that the next generation of Grimaldis will be a fine reflection on the family legacy. - Claire Keeton

Question: Which country did Charlene, now Princess of Monaco, represent at swimming in the 2000 Sydney Olympics?
Answer: SOUTH AFRICA