While the upcoming wedding of His Serene Highness Prince Albert of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock is not getting quite the attention the recent nuptials of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge did, there is still excitement in the air. Royal Wedding Wednesday The House of Grimaldi.
Royal Wedding Wednesday The House of Grimaldi
Prince Albert has two children from previous relationships. His daughter, Jazmin Grace Grimaldi was born March 4, 1992. She is currently attending Fordham University.
Princess Caroline of Hanover
Prince Albert’s older sister, Princess Caroline of Hanover, (Caroline Louise Marguerite Grimaldi, Princess of Hannover, Princess of Monaco) is just fourteen months older than Albert. The two are said to be very close.
Princess Caroline married Philippe Junot, a man 17 years her senior, on June 2, 1978, but the marriage ended on October 9, 1980.
On December 29, 1983, Princess Caroline married Stefano Casiraghi, heir to an Italian industrial fortune.
They had three children together before Stefano was killed in a speed boating accident in 1990. All three children are in line behind Princess Caroline for succession to the throne.
The House of Hanover
Princess Stéphanie
On July 15, 1998, Princess Stéphanie gave birth to her third child, Camille Marie Kelly Gottlieb. The Princess did not name the child’s father, Jean-Raymond Gottlieb~ a former palace bodyguard, as the father on the birth certificate.
Princess Stéphanie married Adans Lopez Peres on September 10, 2003, but the marriage ended in divorce on November 24, 2004.
Charlene Lynette Wittstock
Miss Charlene Wittstock will join the Grimaldi royal family on July 1, 2011. As Miss Wittstock did not grow up in the public spotlight not as much information is known about this lovely, soon to be a princess.
Charlene Lynette Wittstock was born on January 25, 1978, in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, Africa to Michael and Lynette Wittstock. She has two younger brothers, Gareth born in 1980 and Sean in 1983.
She developed an interest in swimming at a young age and won the South African Championship when she was only 18. In 2000 she participated in the Olympic Games.
Later that same year she won a 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 as he was presiding over the international competition.
Miss Wittstock is now a global ambassador for the Special Olympics and since 2010 has been associated with the Nelson Mandela Foundation. She regularly participates in fundraising events for charities such as Amfar.
Miss Wittstock and Prince Albert share a love of sports and art and seem to truly enjoy one another’s company.
This will be the first Royal ruling union where both parties were at one time members of their country’s Olympic team. Charlene of course for swimming and Prince Albert who has competed in five Olympic games on the Monaco bobsled team. Prior to this couple Princess Anne and her first husband, Capt. Mark Phillips, were also both in the Olympics, but will never rule England together.
A Perfect Match
Charlene does appear to have captured the same qualities of timeless beauty and elegance as Princess Grace.
Next week, wedding details!
Laura
These privileged royals have so much in their favour but yet their lives have been marred by so much sadness and so many problems. Their greatest legacy seems to be the lesson that money and beauty do not necessarily bring happiness.
Hopefully this wedding will bring some peace and happiness to this family.
This was amazing to read…thank you Laura for sharing it! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)
From reading your very in depth posts, it is obvious that “Money Can't Buy You Love”. The Royals may share money and good looks, but they are not always so lucky in love. I hope Albert has now finally found his true love!
Oh, I forgot…That's quite a lot of baggage to marry into also!
Hey Pretty Lady,
Sorry I haven't gotten back with you. Let me get my mom out of the hospital, back home and settled and then I'll give ya a holla'. I don't have any problem with your son goin' along with us. Does he have a problem goin' with us???
Lovely article today sweetie. Talk to you soon.
Hugs and love,
Meri
Great history and photos. Thanks for sharing.
Enjoyed today's post. Couldn't help but reflect on the fact that being “privileged” does not protect you from “real life” challenges.
Loved seeing all that history. The soon to be princess carries herself with all the poise of the late Princess Grace. I hope they reign as his parents did.
Always captivated with Grace's family & the municipality of Monaco. You always bring such beauty to your shares of royalty, Laura.
I am sending you an email.
Have a lovely week ~
TTFN ~
Marydon
You are so awesome…i loved this post…So fun and see how it all played out…Beautiful people with extraordinary lives!!! How are you doing?
I remembered some of these things from news bits of the time, and some of it was info I'd never heard. Loved seeing the photos of all the young prince and princesses grown up 🙂
Blessings,
Marcia
Beautiful post, Laura. I have to go back to read the previous ones on this fascinating family!
XO,
Jane
Great read and photos!
xo Cathy
Laura, I love these posts.
This is a wonderful account of the Royals of Monaco. It looks to be a wonderful union of the Albert & Charlene.
It is sad of the many marriages that ended so soon, and the unfortunate fact that they may have been made for money.
Xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
HI LAURA!!
Since I just returned from Monaco and toured the Royal Palace, I AM SOOO EXCITED for this wedding!!!Shall we have a viewing party again??????I would LOVE TOO!!ANY one interested can attend!!!!Remember it is in the middle of the night!!!HAHA
unless we do it later or earlier?????Let me know if you want to come.
I hope to have my pics up soon!!!!
hugs,
jamie
Laura, I sure am enjoying the royal post you share with us in blogland! Great info with pics.
Though they have royal titles they are still so human.
God bless and may you have a great week.
d
Hi there,
I really enjoy your stories and photos on Princess Grace and her family. I enjoyed seeing the photos of her children today and seeing the grandkids, too….all beautiful and handsome! I look forward to your future post on the wedding! By the way….my middle name is Lynette, too. You don't hear it a lot. Loved your posting today. Have a happy day! xoxo Kim
What a fabulous post great job so detailed and informative Love all the pictures and can't wait for the wedding
Monaco is one of my all time favorite places in the world
xxoo
Pam
I wish there were less divorce and less dysfunction in all the families of the world, Grimaldi's included!
Thanks for coming over to my photography blog and complimenting me on city farmer & parisienne farmgirl's wedding.
I loved this post too, so informative and enlightening.
Nice to meet ya.
Julee
i love your stories with photos about royal weddings. you are my 'go-to” person…….who is after this wedding?
x
debra
Another work of royal interst! I pour over every word and imgage. Princess Grace was such a beautiful and stylish royal. She is my very favorite!
Thanks for all the research and work you put into these wonderful posts!
Hope you are having a lovely summer!
Yvonne
Great post. I loved reading all the names.
Dear Nutbird, (Gentle readers please know that this moniker is in fact the one stated, and not an angry response on my part however apropos it might be.)
While I always welcome new information and knowledge, one thing I insist upon on my blog is kindness.
I am assuming that this is your first visit to my blog and aren't aware that kindness counts here.
Given that I quoted the Monaco constitution please be assured that I am well familiar with the technicality that Prince Rainier III's mother was technically not “legititmate”.
I had talked about this in a previous post.
I so wish that you had left a way for me to politely contact you, but as I suspected, you left an anonymous comment on my blog and therefore have been deleted.
I thank you for your time and interest in my blog and welcome input always. Just please leave an email address or perhaps a blog of yours that I could visit.
Although I should mention that I tend to only visit positive and uplifting blogs.
This was a very fascinating read, Laura. Great job 🙂
I don't think that anyone will ever compare to Princess Grace – her beauty and composure is just beyond comparison. I was surprised at all of the divorces in the family as I hadn't really ever followed the family's life after Grace died.
At any rate, very interesting post.
Hope you're having a beautiful Thursday.
Love, Linda
Hi Laura that was quite a read !. I remember so many of those things happening !!Charleene seems to be a lovely person I do hope that she and Albert have some good fortune and happiness, thats quite a lot of sadness to follow thankyou fay xxx
Well they certainly look happy together. And you can't say that this family isn't attractive. My goodness! I remember all of the weddings and scandal. A lot of joy to though. Thanks for compiling all of this. It is so fun to read every week.
~Liz
That was wonderfully done! I absolutely enjoyed reading every word!
Laura, Thank you again for all the hard work you put in your posts. It is appreciated.
Laura, FABULOUS!!!!!!!! I think Charlene is beautiful! As you pointed out… like Grace! Thanks for all the information & photos I JUST ADORE YOUR ROYAL POSTS!!!! And I agree with the heavy fabrics in the living room (previous post) & wish I could slip cover my sofa & love seat. Your makeover is really refreshing. Have a great weekend.
Another Charlene… so wishing I was royal!
The picture of Pierre Casiraghi is of another man. This is Pierre Casiraghi, the second son of Princess Caroline.
http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2012/02/21/pierre-close99999942_540x405.gif
Love your blog, it is lovely
I was actually nanny to Princess Stephanie when she was pregnant with her third, Camilla, albeit for just 10 days. What I took away from that experience though, is that despite what every little girl imagines, being a princess does not guarantee happiness or love. And that I've seen how the other half lives and I don't want it. I don't want my kids to have to have a bodyguard when they go to the park with an adult to play. I don't want my kids to be granted every little thing their heart desires just because I can do it. I don't want people idolizing my kids simply because of their position in life; idolize them because they are good people.