Prince Albert of Monaco is engaged to former South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock. (Lisa's History Room)
Prince Albert of Monaco is engaged to Charlene Wittstock, a former Olympic swimmer from South Africa. He is 52, she, 32. Ms. Wittstock will become the first crown princess since the 1982 death of Prince Albert’s mother, Princess Grace of Monaco. Princess Grace was the former American film star, Grace Patricia Kelly.
In this 1974 photo, Princess Grace of Monaco, center, poses with her husband, Prince Rainier III, and their three children. From left to right: Princess Caroline, Prince Albert, and Princess Stephanie. At the time, Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III were the reigning monarchs of the ancient royal House of Grimaldi. Both Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III are deceased. Today their son Prince Albert is the reigning prince.
Perez Hilton calls the announcement a
Pretty big deal considering Albert was a notorious bachelor, causing Parliament to change the constitution in 2002 to allow one of his sisters’ sons to take the throne if he doesn’t produce an heir!
He does have two children, but they were born out of wedlock so they are not allowed to assume the throne.
Looks like Charlene better get ready to make some babies!”
Palace protocol dictates that couples must wait at least six months between the announcement of the engagement and the wedding day. Expect a big “to-do” since this will be the first royal wedding of a reigning prince in Monaco since 1956 when Grace Kelly retired from filmmaking to wed Albert’s father, Prince Rainier III.
Prince Rainier III of Monaco weds American film star and fashion icon Grace Kelly. They wed twice; the civil ceremony was held on April 18, 1956, followed the next day by a religious one. Her Serene Highness the Princess of Monaco, commonly referred to as "Princess Grace," retained both American and Monegasque citizenships.
READERS: Continue the story with “Prince Albert of Monaco: A THIRD Love Child?”
READERS: For more on Grace Kelly here on Lisa’s History Room, click here.
Lisa's History Room 
An over-the-hill playboy with two out-of-wedlock children prepares to wed an Olympic swimmer. Oh, and the aforementioned playboy happens to be royalty– a reigning monarch. Is there any true glamor, etiquette or decorum left of the upper stations in the present world?
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There is nothing new under th sun.
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Actually that is true. There existed castle trash long before there existed trailer trash– or trailers. But in days of yore, etiquette and decorum kept the details out of the headlines of the time, thus preserving a semblance of civility.
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Euro aristocrats have always been quite flex with marriage vows. Extramarital affairs are frowned upon only when indiscreet. Nice hearing from you always, Winston. You can turn a phrase.
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If I am not mistaken, the title Crown Princess is not used in Monaco. I don’t recall Princess Grace ever being referred to as Crown Princess. She is simply Princess of Monaco while her ruling husband is Sovereign Prince of Monaco.
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Hi, Rickey, well I did some searching and discovered that, in Monaco, the eldest son of the monarch is referred to as the “crown prince.” That would make Prince Albert the crown prince, a term prob. used before he ascended the throne. I believe the term “crown princess” is being used in the Perez Hilton article to distinguish Charlotte’s future position from that of Princesses Caroline and Stephanie of Monaco. Thanks for the comment.
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I just don’t understand how Princess Grace’s children have all turned out to have such disastrous lives. The two daughters have had multiple marriages and divorces … Stephanie in particular has added to this with shacking up affairs with a variety of ill-suited men. And then Prince Albert wastes 30+ years of his life in debauchery, having children out of wedlock. This is not what Princess Grace taught her children. She stayed married, she accepted her responsibilities, she was loyal to her home her family and her faith. I just don’t understand why all 3 had no ability for self-governance and such a willful, flagrant disregard for morality. Sure, I know there’s always been adultery and fornication .. but there’s not even been an attempt to keep it together. To even try.
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Growing up in a palace in a resort town as rich royalty was probably too easy for them….
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Its well known that children learn many values from their parents….. kind of makes you wonder what went on in that royal household….
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