Final preparations take place for the religious celebrations at the marriage of Prince Albert of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock.
By REUTERSMonaco wedding 311 R(photo credit: REUTERS)
The tiny principality of Monaco was preparing on Saturday for one of its biggest events in recent years.Prince Albert of Monaco was due to marry South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock in a religious ceremony in the palace courtyard.RELATED:Grapevine: A princely invitation Royal wedding fever hits the streets of... Modi’in UK withdraws Syria's royal wedding invitation The couple was already wed in a civil marriage on Friday.Giant screens have been place along the Avenue Albert I so that everyone can enjoy the ceremony.Guests include this French woman of South African origin who arrived from France to attend the weddingWedding guest Danielle Dourdent said, "I am here because I am of South African origin and it gives me great pleasure that the Prince of Monaco has chosen a South African like me. Even though I'm black and she is white, she still comes from my continent."In an interview broadcast on a French news channel earlier, the royal couple said that children were very much on their agenda.Crow Prince Albert said, "But we have the intention, as I have already expressed it, to have children and that is, I think it is the goal of all union between a man and a woman. So it's absolutely on our minds."Charlene Wittstock said, "Yeah. I mean I've... I love children and I've always wanted to have children of my own someday. So we'll see in the next couple of months, or years. And... yeah. We'll be the first to know."
The wedding is the first of a ruling prince in Monaco since Albert's father, Prince Rainier II, famously married Hollywood actress Grace Kelly in 1956.
