Swedish Royal Wedding

HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco represented the Principality and the House of Grimaldi at the wedding last Saturday of HRH Princess Madeleine of Sweden and New York banker Chris O'Neill. Here the Princess arrives alongside TRH the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

Princess Charlene chats with TRH Crown Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark. They do have an odd "almost" connection. Both princesses are from former parts of the British Empire and married into European royalty and both met their husbands through the Olympic games (though in very different ways).  

The Swedish Royal Wedding

HSH Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock cut a fine figure at the wedding of HRH Crown Princess Victoria and (now) Prince Daniel of Sweden yesterday. Charlene carried herself well, no major gaffes in her first major royal function though the press seemed a little put off that she basically ignored them and refused to answer the questions they shouted in her direction and the Sovereign Prince stood out in a sea of dark coats with his white jacket. I must say I still havn't figured that out -the shoulder boards are throwing me off. If this is some formal-dinner wear uniform I have not seen the Sovereign Prince wear it before. Perhaps a unique version of his Princely uniform for the special occasion? If anyone has any ideas let me know...

It has also been commented on in more than one media outlet that a "mere girlfriend" is not usually invited to such an event but only spouses and fiances. This fit right in with the constant reminders that the new Prince of Sweden was a personal trainer etc which just goes to show, yet again, that there are none so snobby and stuck up as the gaggle of common-born "media elites".

Albert and Charlene Arrive

Yesterday HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and longtime girlfriend Charlene Wittstock arrived in Stockholm, Sweden for the special concert building up to today's wedding ceremony between HRH Crown Princess Victoria and Daniel Westling. Just another day at the office perhaps for Prince Albert but this will be the first major royal function to which Charlene has been invited. Although they may be avoiding wedding bells of their own, royal society seems to be accepting them as a couple. In the past Prince Albert and Princess Caroline attended such events but not this time; which has led to some speculation. A prevailing viewpoint is that the Swedish court simply wanted to avoid any discomfort over whether or not to invite Princess Caroline and her wayward husband (in name only these days) Prince Ernst August V of Hanover. However, it may be less complicated then that. Prince Albert II and Crown Princess Victoria have been good friends for many years and that may be all there is to it. In any event, Charlene was looking very much at ease in this new situation for her and she and the Sovereign Prince made quite a pair. Perhaps the spectacle will give them a little nudge in the matrimonial direction.

Swedes and Flowers in Monaco

HSH Prince Albert II welcomed Their Majesties King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden to Monaco for the gala dinner of the 59th World Baden-Powell Fellowship Event Scout Foundation today. HM Queen Silvia and Prince Albert II

Later today Prince Albert and big sister Princess Caroline toured the 43rd International Bouquet Competition in Monaco

Royals Unite Against Cancer in Monaco

Last Friday a number of royals gathered in the Principality of Monaco for the gala of the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer. HSH Prince Albert II acted as host to such royal guests as HRH Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, TRH Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz of Belgium, TRH Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg as well as HRH Camilla of Bourbon Two-Sicilies, Duchess of Castro. Much attention was given to the Crown Princess of Sweden who came early for drinks with Albert II and the Princely Palace. The Sovereign Prince told a Swedish reporter that the meeting was "wonderful and fantastic".

Prince Albert II and Princess Astrid of Belgium gave speeches at the event. Princess Astrid is the Honorary Chairwoman of the EORTC Charitable Trust, which is based in Brussels, Belgium. Prince Guillaume is also a member of the General Assembly of the EORTC Charitable Trust. The organization was founded in 1976 to unite in a pan-European, multi-national effort to fight cancer. The group currently operations in more than 30 countries.