Posted on 06/28/2011 9:10:56 PM PDT by Cincinna
Prince Albert of Monaco's fiancée Charlene Wittstock tried to flee the tiny principality on a one-way ticket back to her homeland, L'Express reports. The reports come just days before Wittstock and her royal beau are set to tie the knot in a $75 million wedding. The reports come just days before Wittstock and her royal beau are set to tie the knot in a $75 million wedding.
According to the French news website, a “shaken” Wittstock fled to the airport in Nice after discovering a new revelation about her future husband, but was stopped by police acting on royal orders who persuaded the former swimming champ not to leave.
A member of Monaco’s billionaire Pastor property clan was brought in to act as an intermediary, the magazine also claims.
But, with just 48 hours to go until the extravagant three day event kicks off, the royal palace's publicity machine has gone into overdrive, denying reports of Wittstock's airport dash.
"A few days before the marriage of His Most Serene Highness Prince Albert with Miss Charlene Wittstock, the princely palace firmly denies the lying allegations," the palace said in a statement.
"These rumours have the sole aim of harming the image of the sovereign and consequently that of Miss Wittstock, and cause serious damage to this happy event."
The bride-to-be is now in Paris ahead of this weekend's wedding, a major event on the European social calendar that brings back memories of the wedding of Albert's father, Prince Rainier III, to the American actress Grace Kelly in 1956.
Guests include Earl and Countess of Wessex, President Nicolas Sarkozy, Naomi Campbell, Karl Lagerfeld, Giorgio Armani, Richard Branson, Archbishop Desmond Tutu,
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
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75 MIL?!!!I’ll step in to save old Alby...
What rumor; what revelation? I have an idea - the prince is reputed to have gotten around quite a bit, but this all sounds so French-accented TMZ.
‘A sweet little queen,
who can’t run away.
It’s good to be king,
Whatever it pays.’
If she wants to leave him for whatever reason, she should do so. It is better to cancel a wedding than to divorce after being wed.
Haven’t there been rumors for years that he’s gay?
I hadn’t heard that - just the womanizing ones. But who knows? I’m not helping by gossiping here myself, probably.
IMO, It’s trash. One of those nasty rumors started by journalists to sell papers.
Expect a retraction from l’Express, Mag, possibly a lawsuit.
L’Express has this on their website:
EDIT du 28/06/2010 à 16h10: Le Palais monégasque a formellement démenti l’affaire, qu’il qualifie d’”allégation mensongère”.
Translation: The Monaco Palace officially denies the incident, which it dezcribes as a lie, a false allegation.
Albert’s life has been pretty much an open book, just like the lives of his sisters who went from sluts go saints in a miraculous PR transformation. I don’t think there is anything left to be found out.....but you never know.
Charlene did leave Monaco a few days ago to fly to Paris for a major charity fundraiser.
I wish them well, whatever’s going on. They’re the closest thing the French have to a Royal Family, and the closest thing Irish-Americans have too. I hope it all goes very well, and many years of happiness.
All the rumors have been out in the open for many many years. All unproven.
Albert’s illigitimate daughter, Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, (see my previous posts for pictures) bears his name, and he acknowledges and supports her financially and emotionally. An open secret.
Run Charlene run! (Forrest Gump) :)
More on the story here from The Australian:
In a statement, the Palace of Monaco has dismissed as “untruthful allegations” a report that Charlene Wittstock, 33, had been on the verge of walking out on the prince after discovering that he was having an affair.
Lawyers took legal action in an attempt to stamp out the talk of last-minute jitters, but not before gossip had spread like wildfire on the internet.
The rumour, which had been swirling around Paris newsrooms for days, was published by L’Express, a respected magazine, which said on its website that officials had intervened as the bride-to-be prepared to take a flight back to South Africa last week.
The magazine added that a wealthy Monte Carlo-based family, the Pastors, had acted as intermediaries as Miss Wittstock was talked out of leaving.
“Since this incident, Charlene Wittstock sulks ostensibly during family meetings and festivities,” it said.
A source told The Times that there had been “an incident” involving the future princess at Monaco’s heliport last week.
Officials in Monaco immediately launched a damage limitation exercise to try to keep the spotlight trained on the wedding, which they hope will bring back some of the glamour that has been missing since the death of Princess Grace, a former actress, in 1982.
Prince Albert, 53, and his fiancee were the victims of a smear campaign, they said.
Thierry Lacoste, the prince’s lawyer, obtained an injunction ordering L’Express to publish proof.
The magazine said it would refuse to do so to protect its sources. Mr Lacosts said: “ I was with the prince and Charlene Wittstock three days ago and I can promise you that everything is fine.”
Henry-Jean Servat, a royal commentator, said: “Charlene Wittstock is a young woman who was not prepared for all this. When Grace Kelly arrived in Monaco, she had the training to deal with it. Charlene Wittstock does not. I can’t really believe that she left for the airport with all her suitcases, but there must be a bit of tension around - like in all marriages.”
Stephane Bern, a fellow French journalist who specialises in covering royalty, agreed. “All the rumours circulating on the flight of Charlene are false, obviously, and stem from a desire to harm her,” he said.
“Perhaps there are women who want to tarnish the ceremony by talking of infidelity or problems in the relationship.”
Critics pointed out that Prince Albert has fuelled the rumours himself with liaisons over many years, two of which resulted in him fathering children, with a Californian barmaid and an air hostess from Togo.
However, neither child is in the line of succession, and the prince has spoken publicly of his hope that Miss Wittstock will provide him with a legitimate heir.
After a civil service on Friday, the guests are expected next day at the religious ceremony.
Prince Albert has ordered 200 BMWs to carry them around, and has booked Jacques Couturier, best-known producer of firework displays in France, to put on an “opera of fire” above Monaco’s harbour.
More on the story here from The Australian:
In a statement, the Palace of Monaco has dismissed as “untruthful allegations” a report that Charlene Wittstock, 33, had been on the verge of walking out on the prince after discovering that he was having an affair.
Lawyers took legal action in an attempt to stamp out the talk of last-minute jitters, but not before gossip had spread like wildfire on the internet.
The rumour, which had been swirling around Paris newsrooms for days, was published by L’Express, a respected magazine, which said on its website that officials had intervened as the bride-to-be prepared to take a flight back to South Africa last week.
The magazine added that a wealthy Monte Carlo-based family, the Pastors, had acted as intermediaries as Miss Wittstock was talked out of leaving.
“Since this incident, Charlene Wittstock sulks ostensibly during family meetings and festivities,” it said.
A source told The Times that there had been “an incident” involving the future princess at Monaco’s heliport last week.
Officials in Monaco immediately launched a damage limitation exercise to try to keep the spotlight trained on the wedding, which they hope will bring back some of the glamour that has been missing since the death of Princess Grace, a former actress, in 1982.
Prince Albert, 53, and his fiancee were the victims of a smear campaign, they said.
Thierry Lacoste, the prince’s lawyer, obtained an injunction ordering L’Express to publish proof.
The magazine said it would refuse to do so to protect its sources. Mr Lacosts said: “ I was with the prince and Charlene Wittstock three days ago and I can promise you that everything is fine.”
Henry-Jean Servat, a royal commentator, said: “Charlene Wittstock is a young woman who was not prepared for all this. When Grace Kelly arrived in Monaco, she had the training to deal with it. Charlene Wittstock does not. I can’t really believe that she left for the airport with all her suitcases, but there must be a bit of tension around - like in all marriages.”
Stephane Bern, a fellow French journalist who specialises in covering royalty, agreed. “All the rumours circulating on the flight of Charlene are false, obviously, and stem from a desire to harm her,” he said.
“Perhaps there are women who want to tarnish the ceremony by talking of infidelity or problems in the relationship.”
Critics pointed out that Prince Albert has fuelled the rumours himself with liaisons over many years, two of which resulted in him fathering children, with a Californian barmaid and an air hostess from Togo.
However, neither child is in the line of succession, and the prince has spoken publicly of his hope that Miss Wittstock will provide him with a legitimate heir.
After a civil service on Friday, the guests are expected next day at the religious ceremony.
Prince Albert has ordered 200 BMWs to carry them around, and has booked Jacques Couturier, best-known producer of firework displays in France, to put on an “opera of fire” above Monaco’s harbour.
obama not on guest list, wonder why, LOL
Some of the funniest columns on FR were those about that googly eyed girl, lol.
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