Sun, July 03, 2011
MONACO, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Monaco's Prince Albert married South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock on Saturday in a religious ceremony.
Witnessed by some 800 royal and celebrity guests in the palace, as well as another 3,800 outside watching on a large screen, the 53-year-old prince and the 33-year-old South African bride exchanged vows and rings.
Dressed in an elegant Giorgio Armani wedding gown made by several different kind of silks, the bride walked through the red carpet on her father's arm.
Archbishop Bernard Barsi of Monaco held the Catholic service in the courtyard of the palace, after which the couple left for a nearby chapel, where the bride lay her bouquet, as a tradition, with tearful eyes.
Charlene was the first princess of Monaco since Hollywood star Grace Kelly, who married Albert's father, Prince Rainier III, died in a car crash in 1982.
The wedding's guest list included former James Bond actor Sir Roger Moore, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld, bohemian designer Roberto Cavalli, Princess Madeleine and Prince Carl Philip of Sweden.
