Grace looking like a princess in a Maggy Rouff gown.
Charlene tries but doesn't quite make it.
Posted on 06/27/2011 3:15:08 PM PDT by Cincinna
Charlene Wittstock has not one, but two tough acts to follow.
As the future princess of Monaco and wife to longtime bachelor Prince Albert II, the Zimbabwe-born, South Africa-raised former Olympic swimmer is to succeed Grace Kelly, whose 1956 wedding to Prince Rainier III is still widely seen as the gold standard for royal nuptials.
And as if the blue-eyed Hollywood beauty-turned-beloved princess didn’t cast a long enough shadow, Albert’s long-awaited marriage to Wittstock comes on the heels of the royal wedding of the decade, Kate Middleton’s union with Britain’s Prince William.
It’s still the biggest thing to hit Monaco since Grace walked down the aisle in an elegant antique lace gown, ushering in a new era of high-wattage glamour into this tiny Riviera principality
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
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Princess Grace was truly beautiful and had that 1950s style (naturally!). Princess Kate is very good looking and has done a very nice job with everything, and has managed to be dignified while still looking young and popular.
But Charlotte has that real elegance that Grace Kelly also had, and I think this wedding will probably be another Monaco knock-out. Grace Kelly, as you all know, was from a very comfortable family (her father was a very well-off builder and developer in Philly) but she still had her own innate style, and her stint in movies certainly sharpened this.
Charlotte is also from the colonies, so to speak, but from a well-off family - and I believe she has a modeling background. So they’re pretty similar.
In any case, I hope this brings a whole new level of class to bridal wear, at least in the US. My sister plays weddings (she does organ and vocals) and people always want to dress like Jersey Girls.
Please remove me from your ping list.
why would you not include photos?
What is your reason?
Grace looking like a princess in a Maggy Rouff gown.
Charlene tries but doesn't quite make it.
Set in gray gold, the "Tethys" design was created by Parisian jeweler Maison
Repossi. The huge pear-shaped center stone is side-set with paveed
round diamond brilliants.
Charlene looking elegantly understated at Kate's wedding, in a
figure-hugging grey coat by Akris and a wide-brimmed, white hat.
Grace in her magnificent wedding dress. The bodice was made of antique lace, and a high cummerbund of ivory silk faille encircled the bride’s slim waist, now measuring less than 21 inches due to the strain of the wedding preparations during the preceding few months.
The full silk skirt was bell-shaped and the silk tulle veil had two lace lovebirds appliquéd at the back. According to MGM, the cathedral bridal ensemble had taken six weeks to create and involved the skills of 35 craftspeople, working under strict conditions to preserve the secrecy of the design. Helen Rose designed both the cathedral and the civil-ceremony wedding dresses.
As was the Monaguesque custom, the civil marriage of Grace and Prince Rainier took place in the Monaco palace throne room on 18 April 1956. The bride was beautiful in a beige lace and dusty rose silk suit with a fitted bodice and skirt that flared into a full hem. A close-fitting hat trimmed with silk flowers, pink silk pumps and white gloves added the final touches.
The studio also gave its star a dozen Helen Rose-designed outfits from High Society – the musical comedy that was to be the actress’s 11th and final film. She expanded her trousseau to some 40 outfits during a rapid shopping trip to New York. The colour palette included beige, delicate pastels and her favourite hue, yellow.
Well, fancy that. A journalistic lie, rewriting history.
The woman was born in the Republic of Rhodesia in 1978. That was the year before it was conquered by Soviet-backed Cuban armies and turned into a Stalinist dictatorship called Zimbabwe. She was raised in South Africa, rather than ZimWorld, because her parents had the good sense to get the heck out.
Urinalists want to pretend that Rhodesia never existed. From economics to civil liberties to racial harmony, it was apparently a paradise compared to the KGB-created laughingstock that sits in its place. Urinalists typically delete anything that would reflect why so many people moved from Mugabe-land to other countries—really fast.
OFFICIAL WEDDING NEWS
for latest updates, check Official Palace Website:
http://www.palais.mc
The Royal Wedding: an overview
The civil marriage ceremony of H.S.H. Prince Albert II and Miss Charlene Wittstock will take place on Friday 1st July 2011 at 5 pm, in the Throne Room of the Prince’s Palace.
It will be celebrated by H.E. Mr. Philippe Narmino, Director of Legal Services and President of the Council of State.
H.E. Mr. Philippe Narmino is the registrar of the Sovereign Family, as required by the statutes.
The religious marriage ceremony will take place on Saturday 2nd July 2011 at 5 pm, in the Main Courtyard of the Palace. 3,500 guests are expected to attend on the Palace Square.
Monsignor Bernard Barsi, Archbishop of Monaco, will celebrate the Mass according to the rite of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church.
The official dinner and the ball will take place in the Opera Garnier and the Casino Terraces.
The newlyweds will make a tour of the Principality after the religious ceremony
Their vehicle, which will depart from the Place du Palais, will head to Porte Neuve, then the Avenue du Port and the Boulevard Albert 1er and will stop in front of the church of Saint Devota (Patron Saint of Monaco), where the Princess will leave her bouquet.
Screens will be installed in the Principality to allow the greatest number of people to follow this event.
The Main Courtyard of the Prince’s Palace
The Main Courtyard of the Palace was chosen by H.S.H. Prince Albert II for the ceremony of his religious marriage with Miss Charlene Wittstock.
The Main Courtyard can be considered as the former central part of the 13th century fortress. It took on its current architectural appearance during the reign of Honoré II. But it was his successor, Prince Louis 1st, who decided to open the huge gate in the main façade, which opens onto the Square and the old town. Finally, during the renovation of the Palace decided upon by Prince Rainier III, the Main Courtyard was paved with three million white and coloured pebbles, forming large geometric patterns.
Saint Devota, Patron Saint of Monaco
Devota, or Devote, a young Christian woman and native of Corsica, is said to have been made a martyr by the prefect Barbarus, under the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian, on a date of around 303 or 304. Her body, which was concealed at night by the faithful, was placed in a boat to be taken to Africa.
However, a head wind drove the boat towards Monaco, and the Saint’s body was buried in a chapel in the valley known as “the Gaumates,” near the port, on the 27th of January the same year.
This legend, passed on through a medieval document, has permeated the national culture in areas as diverse as religion, folklore and popular beliefs, history, literature, the arts, painting and music, numismatics and philately.
The tradition has been perpetuated every year since 1874.
On the evening of the 26th of January, a boat is burned on a pyre in the presence of the Sovereign and the Princely Family, accompanied by Monegasque celebrities. Once the boat has been burned, fireworks are lit on Port Hercule.
On the 27th of January, Feast Day, a Mass is celebrated in the Cathedral by the Archbishop of the Diocese. Present at this ceremony are the Monegasque Government, elected assemblies and appointed bodies and many of the faithful. After the ceremony, a procession, in which the Penitents of the Venerable Brotherhood of Mercy take part, sets off for the Prince’s Palace with the reliquary chasse containing the relics, escorted by the Prince’s Riflemen.
The procession comes to a halt in front of the Place du Palais. A guard of honour and the brass band of the Prince’s Riflemen pay homage to it. The procession then heads towards the ramparts. The Archbishop of Monaco then presents the relics to the Palace, to Monaco and to the sea, asking the Saint to protect the Sovereign, the Princely Family, Monaco and its population.
Learn more at www.palais.mc
••••••••••••••••••
WEDDING DINNER
Official Royal Wedding Dinner
H.S.H. Prince Albert II and Miss Charlene Wittstock have entrusted Mr Alain Ducasse, in cooperation with the S.B.M., to prepare the official dinner for their wedding.
The dinner will be prepared in the kitchens of the Louis XV at the Hotel de Paris with the support of staff from establishments belonging to the Société des Bains de Mer of Monte Carlo.
The royal couple would like to put Mediterranean cuisine in the spotlight on this occasion by selecting products from the region, including those from the Prince’s estate located in Rocagel.
Over 450 guests will attend the dinner, which will take place on the terraces of the Garnier Opera House on 2nd July 2011.
••••••••••••••••••
CONCERTS
Two major concerts in celebration of the Princely Wedding
Two major concerts, courtesy of the Royal Couple, will be given on Thursday 30th June and Friday 1st July 2011 in celebration of their marriage.
Eagles Concert at the Louis II Stadium, Thursday 30th June at 10 p.m.
Concert, free of charge, open to Monegasques, residents, inhabitants of the neighbouring towns and individuals working in Monaco, 15,000 tickets for the pitch and stands of the Stadium.
Tickets will be distributed by the Louis II Stadium ticket office in June. Two ticket offices will be open from 9.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. The ticket offices are available:
- From 30th May to 11th June: for Monegasques (two tickets per identity card)
- From 6th to 11th June: for residents (two tickets per resident’s permit)
- From 14th to 18th June: for inhabitants of the neighbouring towns and individuals working in Monaco.
For the concert: doors will open to the public at 7.30 p.m.
Jean Michel Jarre Concert in Port Hercule, Friday 1st July at 10 p.m.
(pictured above 2CAeroproduction - Christine Ferreira)
A key event of the two-day wedding celebrations: a show created by Jean Michel Jarre, courtesy of the Royal Couple, in Port Hercule to which as many people as possible are invited. At 10 p.m., the Principality will vibrate to the electronic sounds of Jean Michel Jarre. Port Hercule, completely transformed into a stage for the evening, will provide the setting for the artist, who has created this unique concert for Monaco, specifically for the Royal Wedding. Monaco will provide the backdrop for a dazzling evening. A futuristic performance in which light and laser landscapes, HD video and pyrotechnics will depict the visual score of the universal music.
A 60-metre stage, set up on the central T of the harbour with 35-metre high towers and giant screens, will enable the public to watch the concert from the North and South harbour basins, Quai Albert I, Avenue d’Ostende, the Montée de la Quarantaine, Avenue de la Porte Neuve and the Rampe Major. Access will be free and open to all.
For this concert, all public car parks in the Principality will be free on 1st July from 8am, so that the public can park without any difficulty. The SNCF will be reinforcing the day and night train services, whilst the number of buses between Nice and Monaco will also be increased. The same applies to buses in the Principality. The State services are making every effort to facilitate access to the Principality, whether by car, train or bus, so that as many people as possible are able to attend the concert. This spectacular evening concert will conclude the celebrations on Friday 1st July which begin at 5 p.m. with the civil wedding between H.S.H. Prince Albert II and Miss Charlene Wittstock.
Jean Michel Jarre: “Monaco is one of the most beautiful places in the Mediterranean. It is already a great honour to perform. It is a true pleasure to be able to do so in such a magnificent setting, which is a sort of natural amphitheatre. The idea is that the concert be a public event for all Monegasques. Not only must it reflect the prestigious nature of the event, it must also be popular so that everyone in the Principality can unite on this occasion”.
••••••••••••••••••
ROYAL COURTYARD
Two major concerts in celebration of the Princely Wedding
The official collection of memorabilia
D-50 : latest news
Accreditation: Instructions
The Main Courtyard of the Palace
The Royal Wedding: an overview
30
Apr 11
The Main Courtyard of the Palace
The Royal Courtyard can be considered as the former central part of the fortress back in the 13th century. Its current architectural appearance dates from the reign of Honoré II. But it was his successor, Prince Louis I, who decided to open up the monumental entrance in the main façade, which faces the Square and the old town. During renovations to the Palace ordered by HSH Prince Rainier III, the Main Courtyard was paved with three million white and coloured pebbles forming huge geometrical patterns.
Opposite the staircase of the Main Courtyard, frescoes attributed to Luca Cambiaso (1527-1585) adorn the façade; they represent “The Triumph of Bacchus” and “The Sea Divinities”. Other frescoes decorate the elegant Hercule Gallery: in the archway bezels feature the birth, work and death of Hercules, painted by Orazio dei Ferrari (1605-1657), also the creator of decors designed for the ballets performed in the Court of Prince Honoré II; between the doors and windows are mythological characters (Antiope, Semiramis, Sphiron, Artemis…) inspired by engravings produced in the style of Claude Vignon (1593-1670).
In 1960, the Sovereign Prince opened the Main Courtyard to the prestigious Orchestra of the National Opera (which was renamed the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra in 1980) bestowing upon it international renown and prestige. Since this date, the tradition has been for high-quality classical concerts and recitals, featuring the best soloists and conductors from around the world, to take place in the Main Courtyard during the summer season.
The Main Courtyard Staircase
Leading to the Galerie Hercule, this spectacular horseshoe-shaped staircase, inspired by the one in Fontainebleau Château, stands at the centre of the Main Courtyard. Built under the reign of Louis I, the godson of King Louis XIV, each of the thirty steps has been carved from the same block of Carrara marble. Rose-shaped Venetian mosaics form the ornamental tiling of the front steps, while the banisters are adorned with Portor marble spheres.
The Chapel of Saint-Jean-Baptiste
The Palatine Chapel was built in the 17th century, under Honoré II, at the far end of the Main Courtyard, as a replacement for the old oratory.
Two centuries later, Prince Charles III embarked upon a major restoration programme; frescoes by Jacob Froschle and Deschler d’Augsbourg were added to the external walls, while the interior was given a baroque style by Italian painter and ceramist Ernesto Sprega.
The Palatine Chapel, embellished with a high altar in precious marble, is used solely for private religious ceremonies.
The Galerie Hercule (Hercules Gallery)
Overhanging the Main Courtyard, this Italian-style gallery, designed by Milanese architect Dominico Gallo in the XVIth century, runs parallel to the State Apartments. It is decorated with frescoes depicting mythological characters, including one featuring this famous ancient hero, by Genoese artist Orazio Ferrari, who has succeeded beautifully in giving it the magnificent style of an Italian Renaissance Palace.
The murals underwent several changes upon the request of HSH Prince Rainier III who asked for four frescoes by Pier Francesco Mazzucchelli and “Il Morazzone”, representing mythological or legendary characters, to be brought in.
It is from this gallery that the Sovereign appears before all the Monegasques gathered in the Main Courtyard, during important events, such as accessions, presentations of a future Princess or a Sovereign child.
...the prince acknowledged fathering two children out of wedlock. Jazmin Grace Grimaldi was born of a 1991 tryst with Tamara Rotolo, a California woman who had been vacationing in the Mediterranean, while Alexandre Coste was born in 2003 to a former flight attendant originally from the west African nation of Togo.A "Royal Wipers" ping.
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This wedding sounds beautiful and fun.
a lovely woman with a classy, distinctive style
She wont take a back seat to anyone!!!!
God bless their marriage!
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