The Awards ceremony, held in New York City on November 1st, included the presentation of 21 awards to emerging artists in theater, dance and film, as well as the Prince Rainier III Award, presented to Julie Andrews.

Some of the stunning tributes to Princess Grace by Montblanc, the creator of fine writing instruments, are seen below [click to enlarge]:

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene were joined by a cadre of celebrities. Attendees included:

Anne Hathaway and Carlo Giordanetti

Julie Andrews

Martha Wainwright and Rufus Wainwright

Petra Nemcova

Selita Ebanks and CEO of Montblanc North America Jan-Patrick Schmitz

** Click here to **

True to its rich heritage, the luxury Maison Montblanc prides itself on being associated with crowning emotional moments in the life of remarkable personalities around the world. The intricate writing instrument crafted for this special occasion is inspired by the architectural elements of the Palais Princier and the Principality Flag, embellished with precious stones and the monogram of the Princely Couple.

This gem of European craftsmanship embodies an unforgettable moment, full of romance and emotion. The unique fountain pen is made of solid white gold. The cap and barrel of this masterpiece is engraved with a rhomb-shaped pattern and is set with 161 rubies and 128 diamonds, reflecting this royal occasion and the colours of the Monegasque State. The largest stone to adorn the writing instrument is a ruby in rhomb cut set on the clip. The 18K gold nib is engraved with a dove, rings and crown – all meaningful symbols of this state union. As with all its creations, the Montblanc emblem adorns the top of the cap, for this occasion it is in mother-of-pearl reflecting the rarity of this piece and representing the future prosperity of the Princely Couple.

Following the wedding day, this unique writing instrument will endure in all its splendor as a memento of a special occasion in European history, and a personal treasure for the newlyweds.

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

For a live broadcast of the wedding, the Prince’s Palace has provided live streaming at their special wedding website: Mariage Princier.

The Prince’s Palace website itself is showing live streaming at Palais.mc.

For the rest of the wedding schedule, see this post. Cheers!

Monaco-Ville: Image via Wikipedia

The program:

THURSDAY June 30th

7.00pm : Journalists accredited by the Press Centre are invited to attend a special press event on the Hotel Méridien beach in Monaco.

10.00pm : The couple will offer a special concert by the Eagles for Monegasque citizens, residents, persons working in the Principality and people from neighbouring communities. This concert will take place in the Louis II Stadium, before an audience of 15,000 people expected to attend.

FRIDAY July 1st

5.00pm : The civil wedding will take place in the Throne Room of the Prince’s Palace.

The Monegasques will be able to follow the ceremony on giant screens located on Palace Square. The Square will be accessible to Monegasques and their families from 4pm onwards.

5.50pm : After the ceremony, the newly-wedded couple will appear on the balcony of the Salon des Glaces in order to salute the Monegasques.

6.00pm : The couple will then join them on Palace Square for a buffet prepared by the Fairmont Monte-Carlo, with Mediterranean and South African dishes by Chefs from South Africa and Monaco. The Mayor of Monaco will present the gift of the Monegasques to the couple.

8.00pm : The residents of the Principality will be invited to a reception on the Port.

10.00pm : A large concert will be offered by the newly-wedded couple on the Port. Jean Michel Jarre will present a unique show.

A very large audience is expected.

SATURDAY July 2nd

5.00pm : The religious wedding will take place in the Main Courtyard of the Prince’s Palace.
The gates of the Palace will remain open in order to allow around 3500 seated persons to follow the ceremony, which will be broadcast on giant screens on the Palace Square.

6.30pm : The couple will leave the Palace for the Sainte Dévote church in order for the Princess to leave her bouquet.

The public will be able to gather all along the procession route in order to congratulate the couple.

9.00pm : The official dinner will be served on the Opéra terraces, followed by fireworks and the opening of the Ball in the Opéra.

Related articles

• Monaco’s royal wedding to be 3-day extravagant affair (cbsnews.com)
• Charlene Wittstock: Meet the woman marrying Prince Albert II of Monaco (cbsnews.com)
• Charlene Wittstock: The Vogue Interview, July 2011 (Yup, it’s the Entire Interview) (royalcorrespondent.com)

Royal Updates for July 2010.

Prince Albert gets engaged to Charlene Wittstock, and Princess Victoria of Sweden marries her Daniel. What the heck would Diana be like today, had she lived? What’s up with Crown Princess Letizia of Spain? Welcome to the latest edition of RoyaltyNow! Click here to view the latest!

Image by Globovisión via Flickr

Prince Albert of Monaco has proposed to his girlfriend Charlene Wittstock.

The Palace of Monaco officially announced the engagement of HSH Prince Albert II with Ms Charlene Wittstock on June 23rd. This is the first marriage for the 52-year-old prince and for Charlene, 32.

His Highness is the son of the late Prince Rainier III and the American actress-turned-princess Grace Kelly. Albert succeeded to the throne upon Rainier’s death in July 2005.

Charlene Lynette Wittstock is of South African nationality. Born on January 25th, 1978 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, she is a former Olympic swimmer and described by the Palace’s official statement as ‘a youth worker’.

Charlene’s engagement ring is as stunning and large as that of Albert’s mother, Princess Grace:

Stylelist.com says:

Her pear-shaped engagement ring, set in unique gray gold, is the “Tethys” design created by Parisian jeweler Maison Repossi. The sparkler’s huge center stone is embellished with round diamond brilliants.

Many congratulations to them both!

Princess Charlotte Louise Juliette of Monaco (1898 – 1977), mother of Prince Rainier III ca. 1921
Rainier’s parents, Princess Charlotte and Count Pierre Polignac.

Prince Rainier married Grace Kelly, American movie star 19th April 1956

Rainier’s glamorous wife, Princess Grace

Tiny siblings Caroline and Albert out for a drive with their nanny, ca. 1961

On the balcony of their Swiss hotel with two of their children, Prince Albert and Princess Stephanie, April 1968.

Rainier at dinner with Princess Caroline (right) and Princess Stephanie, ca. 1974

The Princely couple attend the Bal Petits Lits Blancs at Powerscourt, Enniskerry, County Wicklow

Prince Rainier stands on a terrace overlooking Monaco and its harbour with an architect’s model of the city

Princess Caroline with her first husband, Philippe Junot, after their marriage in Monaco 29th June 1978

Princess Caroline of Monaco with her second husband, Stefano Casiraghi.

Princess Caroline of Monaco and Hanover, with her husband, Ernst August of Hanover attending a gala

Hereditary Prince Albert II of Monaco

Princess Caroline attends the wedding of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary

Princess Caroline and her sister, Princess Stephanie, who are the president of Amade Mondiale and Fight Aids Monaco respectively, sign the renewal of the agreement for the convention to profit Amade Burundi, Amade Mondiale and Fight Aids Monaco, at the Hotel de Paris in Monte-Carlo on April 3, 2009

Caroline with her daughters, Princess Alexandra of Hanover and Charlotte Casiraghi, at the Award Ceremony for employees at the Prince’s Palace as part of Monaco’s National Day November 19, 2008

A happy Princess Alexandra

Prince Albert with his sisters

Caroline, right, with daughter Charlotte and Tatiana Santo-Domingo, girlfriend of Caroline’s son Andrea

Aerial View Monaco

The Prince's Palace By Night

The Throne Room

Palais Cours d'Honneur/Courts of Honor

Monaco's Famous Catholic Cathedral

Remembering the Faith Legacy of Prince Rainier III & Princess Grace and Contemplating the Moral Challenges of Prince Albert II