Grace Kelly shot from movie star to iconic figure when she married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, in 1956. Although she died tragically, two months shy of her 53rd birthday, when she suffered a stroke while driving and lost control of the wheel, to many her life seemed like a fairytale.
Now, 28 years later, her son Albert, and current Prince of Monaco is set to exchange wedding rings with longtime girlfriend, Charlene Wittstock.
The couple met at a swimming competition in 2000, and by 2006 Wittstock was seemingly a permanent fixture on the Prince’s arm. Over the years the prince has had several notable flings, appearing publically with supermodels Naomi Campbell, Claudia Shiffer, and movie star Gwyneth Paltrow, just to name a few.
But it appears that the playboy is finally ready to settle down. The couple confirmed that Prince Albert had presented Wittstock with a 3 carat pear shaped diamond engagement ring, set in unique gray gold, reportedly worth about $100,000, this past June.
 |
| INSIGNIA-7045 by VERRAGIO |
The couple has begun to share details about the upcoming nuptials, not set to take place until next summer. The two day wedding will be held in Monaco over July 2nd and 3rd; day one will be a civil ceremony and day two the more traditional Catholic ceremony. Although the guest list will contain as many as 1,000 names, the ceremony will also be televised for the rest of the principality.
For her part, Wittstock acknowledges the iconic shoes she has to fill for the people of Monaco, and told reporters “I’ll do anything to be worthy of their expectations.”
Big shoes to fill indeed, as the Rainier-Kelly wedding was already dubbed “The Wedding of the Century,” back in the 50’s when the affair was being planned.
And although the current prince seems prepared to give the wedding to outshine all others, we will have to wait and see how he does, and maybe keep busy planning our own royal wedding.