The new Princess Charlene Wittstock looked stunning in an off-white silk Duchesse Armani Prive dress covered in 40,000 Swarovrski crystals as she wed Prince Albert II in the courtyard of the Prince’s Palace on July 2. The royal couple both answered ‘oui’ to the Archbishop of Monaco, Bernard Barsi. And it absolutely recalled the glamerous 1956 wedding of Albert’s parents Rainier III, Prince of Monaco and Princess Grace!

Celebrated French-born chef Alain Ducasse is preparing a multi-course dinner for 450 guests, including French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci and U.S. soprano Renee Fleming. He says freshly-caught fish and vegetables grown on Albert’s farm will be on the menu. A fireworks extravaganza will follow.

Princess Charlene’s gorgeous gown took Armani’s team 2,500 hours to prepare and included 20,000 mother-of-pearl tear drops and 30,000 ‘stones in gold shades’. The 33-year-old bride says she would like to have children.

Did this wedding live up to glamor of Prince William and Kate Middleton‘s royal wedding, HollywoodLifers?

–Sandra Clark

More Princess Charlene & Prince Albert!

1. Prince Albert & Princess Charlene’s First Official Kiss Was ‘Lackluster,’ Says Body Language Expert!
2. Prince Albert II Of Monaco And Charlene Whittstock Wave From The Balcony After Their Civil Ceremony!
3. Kate Moss V. Prince Albert — Who Will Have The More Star Studded Wedding Weekend?

Prince Albert II of Monaco made Charlenne Whitstock his wife and Monaco’s new princess when the two married in a civil ceremony at the prince’s palace July 1 — but is there already trouble in paradise? Based on their awkward balcony kiss, body language expert Vincent Harris sure thinks so!
“This is about as lackluster as it gets,” Vincent explains. “These are the kinds of kisses grandmothers place on the heads of their grandchildren.”

Vincent says the prince’s open eyes and the princess’ tight lips as clues neither of them were enjoying this kiss. In other words, it was very unlike the not one, but TWO, kisses Prince William and Kate Middleton shared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their April nuptials!

“If your eyes are open, you think only of looking at the object of your passion, and use your hands and arms to pull them as close as possible. We see none of that here,”  Vincent said, referring to the Monaco royals’ less-than-passionate kiss.

Perhaps the couple, who have been dating since 2005, will show a bit more enthusiasm as their wedding weekend continues. Though their civil ceremony officially made them husband and wife, it only kicked off a number of events to celebrate the couple’s union. The real wedding, which is rumored to cost over $65 million, will be a religious ceremony in the courtyard of the palace July 2.

That said, maybe the rumors of Prince Albert’s infidelity and love children are true…which would definitely help explain the couple’s lack of passion!

Alli Holt, reporting by Josh DeMilta

Congratulations to Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Whittstock! The two got married in a civil ceremony in Monaco today and celebrated by waving to the crowd on the balcony of their palace and then sharing a kiss.The civil ceremony took place in the Throne Room of the Prince’s Palace. The South African bride looked gorgeous in her sky blue suit and skirt as she officially became a Princess of Monaco.

Tomorrow a religious ceremony will be held outdoors in the main courtyard of the Palace, the Palace’s Court of Honor. Palace gates will be left open and giant TV monitors set up during the wedding service.

Prince Albert, 53 and Princess Charlene, 33, were rumored to be possibly calling off the wedding after buzz of Prince Albert’s possible love children leaked, but it seems like that was far from their mind as they kissed as husband and wife!

All of European, and some of American, society will be heading to some very lavish weddings this weekend in Europe — the question is which will they attend? Kate Moss will be marrying her rocker boyfriend Jamie Hince in a three day affair in the English countryside dubbed Mosstock, while Prince Albert will marry South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock in Monte Carlo at a weekend long ceremony that is rumored to put the royal wedding to shame. Decisions, decisions…

According to the Daily Mail, Albert’s guest list includes; “Karl Lagerfeld, Giorgio Armani, Richard Branson, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Virginia McKenna, Topshop’s Philip Green, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.” Many of these guests however, most notably Karl and Sir Philip, seem like they would also be attending Kate’s ceremony July 1. Kate has long been a muse to Karl and designed for Sir Philip’s Topshop in the past!

Albert’s civil ceremony will be July 1 and his religious ceremony July 2, meaning some guests could celebrate Kate’s nuptials before hoping on a plane, no doubt private, to Monte Carlo to attend Albert’s religious service.

As for Kate’s ceremony, guests will no doubt include Sadie Frost, model pals Frankie Rayder and Naomi Campbell (a former flame of Prince Albert) and Kanye West, Snoop Dogg and Beth Ditto, who are all rumored to be performing! Prince Albert meanwhile will kick off his festivities June 30 with a concert featuring The Eagles. Is every major musician in Europe this weekend?

The venues could not be more different however. Kate will be married at her country estate in Cotwolds while Albert will be married in the Monaco Palace. Kate, though, has the benefit of world renowned photographer Mario Testino snapping her wedding pics for a cover feature in September Vogue!

It remains to be seen who will host the more star studded affair but one thing is for certain, Charlene and Kate will not doubt be two of the most beautiful brides of recent. Kate is said to be deciding between a gown from pals John Galliano and Stella McCartney while Charlene, a Grace Kelly look-alike, will be decked out in Armani.

So HollywoodLifers, who do you think will have the most glam wedding?

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