Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II Marriage Profile

In the midst of concerns that the wedding may not take place, Charlene Wittstock and Prince Albert II said "oui" in a civil wedding ceremony on July 1, 2011 and again on July 2, 2011 in a traditional Catholic wedding ceremony.

Prince Albert II aka Prince Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi aka Prince Albert, Marquis of Baux: March 14, 1958 in Monaco.

Charlene Lynette Wittstock: February 25, 1978 in Rhodesia aka Zimbabwe.

Albert and Charlene first met in 2000 at the Monaco International Swim Meet. They began dating in 2005 but kept their dating relationship private until 2006. The public became aware they were seeing one another when they appeared together in Turin at the opening ceremonies of the 2006 Winter Olympics.

Albert and Charlene became engaged in June 2010. The couple announced their engagement to a small gathering of family and friends at one of the gardens at the Prince's palace.

The royal wedding of Prince Albert of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock was rumored to have a price tag of $65 million. Prior to the wedding, concerns appeared in the media that Charlene could turn into a runaway bride.

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II were married in a civil ceremony on July 1, 2011 in Monaco in the Throne Room of the Prince's Palace. Their marriage was officiated by the president of Monaco's Council of State, Philippe Narmino. They signed the official marriage register with a Montblanc custom designed gold pen with precious stones. Charlene was dressed in a pale blue floor-length suit.

A traditional Catholic wedding ceremony took place in the main courtyard of the Palace on July 2, 2011. They couple exchange 18 carat white gold platinum rings designed by Cartier.

Charlene's off-white silk Duchesse off-the-shoulder wedding dress was designed by Giorgio Armani. She wore a long silk tulle veil. Albert wore the "cream-colored summer uniform of the palace guards." Wedding Photos

"The dress was embellished with flowery embroidery, crafted with stones in gold shades, along with Swarovski crystals and mother of pearl teardrops in white and gold hues."
Source: Dana Kennedy. "Prince Albert & Charlene Wittstock Wed in Religious Ceremony." People.com. 7/02/2011.

After the wedding ceremony, Princess Charlene left her bouquet at the St. Devote chapel. Some of the guests at the wedding include Albert's sisters Princess Caroline and Princess Stephanie, Nicolas Sarkozy, Gerard Butler, Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher, Naomi Campbell, King Gustaf of Sweden, Roger Moore, Nadia Comaneci, Giorgio Armani, and Desmond Tutu.

There were parades, concerts, fireworks and other events in celebration of their marriage.

Albert and Charlene planned to honeymoon in South Africa.

Albert: 32nd ruler of Monaco when his father Prince Rainier III died. His formal ascension to the throne was on November 19, 2005. Prince Albert holds a brown belt in judo and has been a member of Monaco’s Olympic bobsleigh team three times.

Charlene: Olympic swimmer.

Prince Albert has two children from previous relationships.

• Jazmin Grace Rotolo: Born in 1992. Her mother is Tamara Rotolo, a former waitress. Tamara and Prince Albert met in 1991 on the French Riviera. Jazmin cannot claim the Grimaldi name, nor can she ever assume the throne of Monaco. Jazmin lives in Palm Desert, California.
• Alexandre Coste: Born in 2003. His mother is Nicole Coste, a former flight attendant from Togo. Alexandre can never take the throne, nor will he have any claim to the Grimaldi name.

Albert: "Sports built her values, and she has a strong personality. Her interest in humanitarian causes, especially those touching children, is an expression of her great sensitivity and openness to others." Source: Peter Mikelbank, Stephen M. Silverman. "Prince Albert Sets the Date for His Wedding." People.com. 6/24/2010.

Peter Mikelbank: "With support of Albert's sisters, first Caroline (now 53), then, Stephanie (45), Wittstock has undergone a four-year tutelage in Princess 101. Born Protestant, she has converted to Catholicism and received catechism – conditions imposed by Monaco's Constitution. The former schoolteacher also learned French, Monegasque and European court protocol, developed an interest in fashion (she has a predilection for Armani), and slowly emerged alongside Albert at any number of society functions and balls." Source: Peter Mikelbank, Stephen M. Silverman. "Prince Albert Sets the Date for His Wedding." People.com. 6/24/2010.