Princess Palace: Monaco's Royal Wedding Guests

Crowds gathered outside of the Palace in Monaco for the wedding of their sovereign Prince Albert II to Rhodesian-born South African beauty Charlene Wittstock. The couple married in a civil ceremony yesterday. (See post.) This was the first princely marriage in Monaco for nearly six decades. The last was when Albert's father Rainier III married American screen star Grace Kelly in 1956.

Royal guests came to the wedding from around the world. They included King Albert and Italian-born Queen Paola of The Belgians.

Thailand's Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana also made the trip to sunny Monaco, although she looks cool as a cucumber.

Crown Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde are regal in shades of purple.

Each of Albert's nieces offered a reading during the ceremony. Here Princess Stephanie's daughter Pauline Ducruet reads as Princess Caroline's daughter Charlotte Casiraghi listens.

Charlene chose her husband's cousin-in-law Donatella Knecht de Massy as her maid of honor. Some remarked that Donatella's dress had some similarities to recent royal maid of honor Pippa Middleton (without the draped collar, of course!)

The British royal family sent their usual royal wedding delegates: the Earl and Countess of Wessex. Not a bad job if you can't get it. I'm sure a long weekend in Monte Carlo is quite enjoyable!

The Prince of Orange and his Argentinian wife Princess Maxima. She wore orange again today. I think she loves bright colors, and it goes with her husband's title and it matches her orange diamond engagement ring. And, she looks smashing in it!

Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Mette Marit of Norway look highly presentable although I don't understand her head wear. FYI Mette Marit is one of the few prince's wives who was actually born in the same country as her husband.

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark offers a contrast to Maxima. She pairs her bright colors with strong neutrals. No matchy-matchy for this Australian-born beauty. Meanwhile Prince Frederik decided against military uniform but is colorfully attired nonetheless.

Of all of the royally born princesses, Princess Madeleine of Sweden is undoubtedly the most beautiful in my opinion. I wonder if attending all of these weddings makes her sad--two years ago she called off her own engagement when she discovered her fiancee was cheating.

Prince Albert's sisters Princess Caroline (far right) and Princess Stephanie with Stepanie's children, Louis Ducruet (who resembles his father), Pauline Ducruet (who resembles Princess Grace) and Camille Kelly (who is pretty in pink).

Princess Caroline and her youngest daughter Princess Alexandra of Hanover, whose father has not been spotted in the principality for months. Alexandra will be 12 in a few weeks.

Crown Princess Victoria and her husband Prince Daniel recently celebrated their first wedding anniversary. I can't help thinking that Princess Charlene's dress today bore some striking similarities to Victoria's.

Italian Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy and his French wife Clotilde in a vivid red. Are you supposed to red at a wedding?

Louis Duke of Anjou should be the King of France according to some staunch royalists. He is one of several pretenders to the very, very defunct throne.

Grand Duchess Maria Theresa of Luxembourg could offer Princess Charlene some marital advice. Born in Cuba, she has been married to Grand Duke Henri for 30 years. They have five children and two grandsons. Maxima and Willem Alexander of The Netherlands are behind them.

Empress Farah Pahlavi, widow of the Shah of Iran, and Prince Karim Aga Khan also attended. It wouldn't be a royal wedding without Farah there.

Princess Caroline's daughter Charlotte Casiraghi arrived wearing a gorgeous pink dress unfortunately accompanied by a strange black headband/face net and giant black bow. Otherwise she and her boyfriend look fantastic.

The bride and her father followed by six Monagesque children dressed in traditional costume.

For details about the dress, visit http://exm.nr/kuL2Pf

Princess Palace

02 July 2011

Monaco's Royal Wedding Guests

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