Thursday, 14 July 2011

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The shocking truth about Prince Albert's runaway bride

Did Princess Charlene of Monaco attempt to flee the country before her wedding? And if so, why?

Charlene Wittstock married Prince Albert II of Monaco and became Princess Charlene

Although Charlene Wittstock is now a princess after her marriage two weeks ago to Prince Albert II of Monaco, 53, she's better known by another title: ‘the runaway bride'.

It all sounds like something out of a Hollywood film.

A French newspaper claims that just days before the 
£45 million wedding, Charlene, 33, was stopped at Nice airport clutching a one-way ticket home to South Africa following claims that her husband-to-be had fathered an illegitimate child during their relationship.

The paper alleges that a series of frenzied phone calls between the police and Palace officials followed before Charlene's passport was confiscated.

Although Royal officials firmly deny the reports, a senior Monaco detective involved in 
the incident confirmed: ‘Charlene had her passport confiscated so the Prince's entourage could persuade her 
to stay.'

And other sources 
claim Charlene had tried to ‘escape' three times previously 
- including once while trying 
on her wedding dress in Paris, where she ‘took refuge' at the South African embassy, and 
again at the Monaco Grand Prix.

It's no surprise, then, that the three-day wedding - a civil ceremony followed the next day by a church service and a glitzy reception for 800 guests with a giant cake and mirrored dancefloor - reportedly had a muted feel.

‘Prince Albert looked ashen and whenever she wasn't posing for official portraits Charlene looked strained and shell-shocked,' says one guest.

‘The whole thing had a very odd atmosphere.

'Compared to Prince William's marriage to Kate Middleton, this felt like a wake.'

Read the full story about Prince Albert and Princess Charlene in Now Magazine dated 18 July 2011 - out now.

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