Monaco's Prince Albert to Marry

**fgg** · June 23rd, 2010, 08:50 AM

Monaco's Prince Albert to Marry

By Stephen M. Silverman and Peter Mikelbank
Wednesday June 23, 2010 07:10 AM EDT

Prince Albert and Charlene Wittstock

One of the world's most eligible bachelors is off the market. Prince Albert II of Monaco will marry South African former swimmer Charlene Wittstock, the Mediterranean principality's royal palace confirmed to PEOPLE on Wednesday.

"Everyone here is extremely, extremely happy," the palace said.

No wedding date has been for the prince, 52, and the former schoolteacher, 32. The couple first appeared in public together at the 2006 Winter Olympic opening ceremonies in Turin, and Wittstock has been living in Monaco since 2007, when she unofficially ended her training.

She has become friends with and been tutored in protocol by both his sisters, Princesses Stephanie and Caroline. "But she knows instinctively what is expected of her," a royals source tells PEOPLE.

Last weekend, Albert and Wittstock were in Stockholm to attend the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Prince Daniel Westling, Duke of Vastergotland.

This will be a first marriage for Monaco's monarch, who is the son of the late film star Grace Kelly and the late Rainer III, Prince of Monaco.

In 2005, Albert officially acknowledged a toddler son he'd fathered with a Togolese flight attendant. The following year, he also acknowledged a second child born out of wedlock: a daughter, now 18, in California.

Monaco's Prince Albert to Marry - Engagements, Prince Albert : People.com

**Laurent** · June 23rd, 2010, 08:53 AM

Interesting.

He really doesn't look 20 years older than her.

**LynnieD** · June 23rd, 2010, 08:55 AM

Wonder if they will actually make it down the aisle...betting no.

And OT: The two kids born out of wedlock---do they have any claim to the throne?? Not that I really care, was just curious..

**Brookie** · June 23rd, 2010, 09:53 AM

The Pillsbury Doughboy takes a wife.

**sputnik** · June 23rd, 2010, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by LynnieD

Wonder if they will actually make it down the aisle...betting no.

And OT: The two kids born out of wedlock---do they have any claim to the throne?? Not that I really care, was just curious..

i'm not sure. i think the pressure finally got to him and he finally accepted that getting married is part of his royal duty.
as for his illegitimate kids, no, they have no claims. monegasque law is very clear on that and there is no way in hell they could ever accede to the throne. rumour has it there's a third illegitimate kid, a little boy, but so far no proof, but it wouldn't be surprising. apparently albert likes to, uh, spread his seed around - when he acknowledged the first kid and journalists asked him if there were more, he answered something like, don't be surprised if more turn up in the future.

and all this time i thought he was gay but i have it on close authority - a good friend of mine who was born and raised in monaco, went to school with caroline's kids and knows all the palace gossip - that he's mostly straight. except for a few gay romps when he was younger and in college in the US.

**MsChiff** · June 23rd, 2010, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by Brookie

The Pillsbury Doughboy takes a wife.

**SunShine23** · June 23rd, 2010, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by sputnik

i'm not sure. i think the pressure finally got to him and he finally accepted that getting married is part of his royal duty.
as for his illegitimate kids, no, they have no claims. monegasque law is very clear on that and there is no way in hell they could ever accede to the throne. rumour has it there's a third illegitimate kid, a little boy, but so far no proof, but it wouldn't be surprising. apparently albert likes to, uh, spread his seed around - when he acknowledged the first kid and journalists asked him if there were more, he answered something like, don't be surprised if more turn up in the future.

and all this time i thought he was gay but i have it on close authority - a good friend of mine who was born and raised in monaco, went to school with caroline's kids and knows all the palace gossip - that he's mostly straight. except for a few gay romps when he was younger and in college in the US.

Thanks for the info!!
I agree, he prob felt pressure. She looks like a generic, pretty blonde and looks like shes wound up real tight.

**LynnieD** · June 23rd, 2010, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by sputnik

i'm not sure. i think the pressure finally got to him and he finally accepted that getting married is part of his royal duty.
as for his illegitimate kids, no, they have no claims. monegasque law is very clear on that and there is no way in hell they could ever accede to the throne. rumour has it there's a third illegitimate kid, a little boy, but so far no proof, but it wouldn't be surprising. apparently albert likes to, uh, spread his seed around - when he acknowledged the first kid and journalists asked him if there were more, he answered something like, don't be surprised if more turn up in the future.

and all this time i thought he was gay but i have it on close authority - a good friend of mine who was born and raised in monaco, went to school with caroline's kids and knows all the palace gossip - that he's mostly straight. except for a few gay romps when he was younger and in college in the US.

Thanks---I figured they had no claim to the throne. And agree that he must have caved to the pressure.

He's just a little gay I guess...

**Brookie** · June 23rd, 2010, 10:55 AM

They'll produce a couple of heirs, hopefully far away from the tutelage of their cousins.

**HWBL** · June 23rd, 2010, 11:08 AM

Originally Posted by LynnieD

Thanks---I figured they had no claim to the throne. And agree that he must have caved to the pressure.

He's just a little gay I guess...

I've heard from local (Dutch) co-workers and friends that he's often
seen in the Amsterdam nightlife (incognito) where he's acting very
straight. Story is the guy can hardly keep his hands to himself.

I noticed at Victoria's wedding that he'd put on a huge paunch!
He used to be quite athletic, so I guess even that couldn't stop
the middle age spread.