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 Read more…

A Prayer for Monaco: via Catholic.org

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

Albert, you’ve got some ‘splaining to do.

The Sovereign Prince of Monaco recently announced that he will not be going ahead with plans to expand the principality.

The Prince, who promotes the green life and even drives an electric car, had expressed concerns about the principality’s expansion into the sea and the environmental implications. He was, however, once an enthusiastic backer of the idea of “reclaiming” land from the sea as a way to increase prosperity for Monaco. The principality cannot possibly expand anywhere else except into the Mediterranean, so it seemed like the thing to do.

Now with the world’s economic chaos on top of environmental concerns, the deal’s off.

“Basically, it has all been a big waste of time and money. Albert has a lot of explaining to do,” complained a lawyer associated with a French construction group that had spent £5m on engineering studies.

They’re a little cranky.

While he’s not irritating developers, Prince Albert is frustrating his subjects with a serious lack of wedding action. Charlene Wittstock, his companion of the last couple of years, has been reported to have immersed herself in learning the French language in order to prepare for a future role as a Sovereign Princess. Don’t hold your breath, though.

Speaking of Europe, here’s a link to the “Victory in Europe” series featured at the Times. Because I feel like it.

This article – based on The Times Online’s report on Monaco expansion.

The Institut de Francais has a new student: Charlene Wittstock.

The world’s most exclusive French language school – and the most intense – is training Ms. Wittstock for what many say is her future role as a Princess of Monaco. Nestled in Villefranche-sur-Mer, she has been studying the language for eight hours a day, five days a week. The course will last for one month and can be repeated if necessary.

Ms. Wittstock’s engagement to Monaco’s Sovereign Prince Albert II is said to be imminent, and the announcement is awaited with baited breath by royal watchers everywhere.

Prince Albert, along with his sisters Caroline and Stephanie, speak French flawlessly along with a number of other languages. Any potential Princess consort would have to know French fluently to truly be on par with the rest of the royals and to be a representative of the principality.

The instructors have praised Ms. Wittstock for her ear and say it is “only a matter of time” before she masters French completely.

From Time

HSH Prince Albert of Monaco’s official website has had a major overhaul. Due to the interest in the principality and the technology of this day and age, it was only a matter of time before the site was given a makeover. It’s been unveiled to the sound of applause. I absolutely love it!

Monaco’s Princely family now has an official website on par with the royal families of Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and of course, our very own British Royal Family. Click here for the official site Palais de S.A.S. le Prince de Monaco.

Charlene Wittstock, a visual combination of Stella McCartney and Marie-Chantal of Greece, has been charming the Monegasques ever since her first appearance with Prince Albert at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Charlene, a South African-born Olympic swimmer, is rumored to be the most acceptable choice as a possible new Princess of Monaco. Several factors are in her favor, one of which is her blonde and blue-eyed similarity to the late Princess Grace. Another is her love of sport, something she shares wholeheartedly with Albert. Also, the acceptance of Charlene into the royal family has been publicly signaled by her appearances with Albert at high-profile events. Being photographed with Albert’s sister, Princess Caroline, doesn’t hurt either.

Everyone had been holding their breath awaiting the announcement of an engagement on Monaco’s National Day on November 19th, 2007. No such luck, but that didn’t dampen the expectations of a wedding in the least. Royal watchers everywhere are fervently hoping that Albert and Charlene will marry and at last produce a legitimate heir to the Grimaldi throne.

Albert already has two illegitimate children by two different women – a girl named Jazmin Grace, now fifteen years old, and a son named Alexandre, who is five. Neither can claim the throne of Monaco, so the importance of Albert settling down and producing a legitimate heir is paramount to royal watchers who are looking to beat the clock.

However, because of a revision of the Monegasque constitution on April 2, 2002, no one need panic. Princess Caroline would take the throne should Albert predecease her, and her eldest son, Andrea Casiraghi, would eventually succeed her as the Sovereign Prince.

The lanky, blond Andrea, who most resembles his late father Stefano, would be a top choice for the glamorous jet-set of Monaco. Then there’s his sister Charlotte, beloved for her sultry features and her elegant yet simple fashion sense. The youngest, Pierre, is the wild child whose curly locks make women everywhere weak at the knees. Were this branch of the family to assume the reigns of the 700-year-old dynasty, the press would go mad with joy I should imagine. Unfortunately, the intrusion would be stepped up further into their lives, and then the adroit dodging they have learned at the knee of Caroline would be put to the test.

Would Caroline and, eventually, Andrea Casiraghi be preferable as rulers of Monaco, or do you want Albert to marry and have his own heirs? One part of me, being a traditional type of girl, wants Albert and Charlene to get married and have children. The other part of me wants to see Princess Caroline rule and pass the baton to Andrea.

By Mandy