Winks and shy smiles as Monaco’s prince marries his princess

WITH a wink and a smile, Monaco’s ruler Prince Albert married South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock on Saturday in a ceremony attended by a who’s who of European royalty and the international elite.

The 53-year-old married Wittstock, 33, in the courtyard of his palace at the foot of a vast white-marble double staircase lined with white flowers. Some 3,500 guests sat outside to watch the service on giant TV screens.

Albert’s sisters, Princesses Caroline and Stephanie, both dressed in pink, smiled as they watched the couple marry in front of a crowd that included French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld and opera singer Renee Fleming.