Monaco puts out flags as Albert prepares to wed 'reluctant' bride

Wedding bells: The couple hold hands on Their way to the concert
Peter Allen12 April 2012

Lavish celebrations were under way today in Monaco as Prince Albert prepared to marry amid claims the princess in waiting might have had second thoughts.

The palace has spent much of the week denying allegations in the French media that South African swimming champion Charlene Wittstock, 33, attempted to flee Monaco and was stopped at Nice airport. Police have confirmed there was an "incident" at the airport.

But the couple's lawyers have furiously denied a rift which was reportedly sparked by claims Prince Albert had fathered an illegitimate child, which would be his third.

Albert's two known love-children and their mothers are likely to stay away from today's 40-minute civil ceremony at the Royal Palace and the Catholic Church service tomorrow.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy will join celebrity guests including actor Roger Moore, supermodel Naomi Campbell and fashion designers Karl Lagerfeld and Giorgio Armani, who designed the bride's dress.

Organisers of the £55 million celebrations surrounding the wedding, which included a concert by the Eagles, hope that it will rival the 1956 wedding of Albert's mother, Hollywood star Grace Kelly and his father, Prince Rainier.

The palace is laying on two tons of red carpet, 3,500 guests, including about 20 heads of state, a dinner prepared by chef Alain Ducasse and a hybrid Lexus to whisk away the newly-weds. It has issued a decree encouraging residents to decorate their houses for the event.

For weeks, flags heralding the wedding in Monaco's colours of red and white have waved from Monte Carlo's casino and from private homes on Le Rocher, the steep rock from which the palace looks down over the Mediterranean.

Workers have erected TV screens and barricades for the crowds expected to celebrate the wedding over the weekend. Recent parking tickets have been forgiven and today is a public holiday.

The prince and Miss Wittstock attended last night's free concert, held at Monaco's stadium and attracted thousands of fans from the principality and neighbouring areas. Philippe Narmino, president of Monaco's Council of State who will be officiating today, said: "It's the event of my life. Me, who as a magistrate, has dealt with hundreds of divorce dossiers during 27 years, will be marrying a couple for the first time." For many years Monaco has feared that the seemingly happily single Prince Albert, 53, would leave the state without an heir.

Miss Wittstock, who was born in Zimbabwe and moved to South Africa as a child, met Albert during a 2000 swimming competition in Monaco.

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