Prince Albert & Charlene Wittstock Wedding Suggestions & Musings

[crm2317]

I have to say, though I'm sure the bridesmaids will be adorable, I am a little disappointed that none of the bridesmaids or page boys will be from the family. I had been hoping to see Pauline or Alexandra or Charlotte in the bridal party. Possibly even Jazmin or Alexandre.

 

[KittyAtlanta]

FanOfMonaco: I understand it is a technicality. I was hoping I would get a responsible answer, which I did. Thanks. I just get tired of the pithy attitude toward the House of Monaco. Love 'em.

 

[Nadine]

Wow, so much has happened since I last checked in!

Brand new updates over at the official site, as well as here, my favorite being the online souvenir store ~ love the keychains, but am hoping for more of a selection as the wedding nears ~ half dolls of the bride please, and the groom if allowed, don't want to be too greedy.

But that said, I have to be totally honest, I'm devastated about the bridesmaids being little kids not from the family. I so wanted it to be like Grace Kelly's spectacular bridal party, which included traditional bridesmaids, which are defined as unwed young women of "marriageable age", not little kids. And not even from the family. I mean I could see children being part of the Junior Attendants, they wouldn't even have to be from the family, but to make the ENTIRE bridal party a group of literally strangers, no matter how cute or in deference to the Monegasque people is not right imho. Not right at all.

Because of this I don't see much coverage of the wedding, especially from the United States, and I wouldn't blame them at all. Just totally disappointing not to have those faces that attract people to Monaco, and whom the public is familiar with, namely Prince Albert's two sisters, especially the young good-looking Casiraghi Trio.

That said, I know the focus is and should be on Albert & Charlene, especially Charlene as the bride. But I honestly don't think including Albert's sisters, nieces, and nephews would draw away attention from the bride. Remember how respectful they were to Charlene this past year, after the engagement announcement, wherein Caroline, Stephanie, and Charlotte, et al, all wore black so that Charlene could shine when they all appeared on the balcony. They made her the star, as it should be. Therefore, I don't see how including his family would take away from his bride.

Sorry, but just totally disappointing.

 

[FanofMonaco]

I am wondering if the terminology is different in Europe from the US. It sounds like they are describing flower girls and ring bearers to me- the children's jobs. Is it possible they will announce the brides maids and groomsmen at a later date?

1500 journalists have applied for accredidation in Monaco so someone is going to cover this wedding. The timing of the weddings are also set up for the Americas to watch. That isn't coincidental. I am hoping we will start to get some interviews in June. It's been a long time since anyone other than PA has spoken to the American press. I am hoping to see PC, PS and the Casiraghis. If they are going to interview this is the time. Maybe we will get to see some of the GCT in Monte Carlo also. It's the week before the wedding.

 

[Renata4711]

Nadine, wait and see... They are revealing the game plan bit by bit, just like the W&K wedding.

The main "actors" will certainly enter together and be close to the couple.

 

[melina premiere]

We don't know the names of these children to avoid the pressure on them. In france and Monaco , we have children as brideflowers or groom, we have not girls at 16 to 20.
But thankyou for the children who were selected to escort the couple, they are judged to be unworthy to be flowersbrides or grooms because they are not royals
One thing, I would say and after I will shut my mouth.Prince Albert always said that he wanted to share his wedding with people of Monaco,We don-t know if Caroline and Stephanie wanted to see their children in the light of this event. I am sure that Stephanie is agreed with this escort for Caroline, I think Prince Albert told with Caroline and she was agreed. We will see all the family at the wedding include Alexandra, Charlotte, Pauline and Camille.

 

[MRSJ]

Hummmm. How can Al of Hanover, who is a daughter of a deposed family, outrank a reigning family?

I would think that her Monaco side, which currently reigns, would be on top.

Can anyone define?

HSH Prince Albert is a ruling sovereign monarch thus in rank he is equal to Kings and Queen's - his niece does not outrank him nor does she outrank her mother .... The HRH and HSH as nothing to do with it.....HSH Prince Albert is as equal in rank to HM Queen Elizabeth II.....

 

[crm2317]

We don't know the names of these children to avoid the pressure on them. In france and Monaco , we have children as brideflowers or groom, we have not girls at 16 to 20.
But thankyou for the children who were selected to escort the couple, they are judged to be unworthy to be flowersbrides or grooms because they are not royals
One thing, I would say and after I will shut my mouth.Prince Albert always said that he wanted to share his wedding with people of Monaco,We don-t know if Caroline and Stephanie wanted to see their children in the light of this event. I am sure that Stephanie is agreed with this escort for Caroline, I think Prince Albert told with Caroline and she was agreed. We will see all the family at the wedding include Alexandra, Charlotte, Pauline and Camille.

It is not that they are judged unworthy, I don't think that was what was meant.

I have to agree with the other posters that it would have been nice to see Albert's family involved in the wedding party as well as children from the principality that the couple may well have never met.

 

[KittyAtlanta]

HSH Prince Albert is a ruling sovereign monarch thus in rank he is equal to Kings and Queen's - his niece does not outrank him nor does she outrank her mother .... The HRH and HSH as nothing to do with it.....HSH Prince Albert is as equal in rank to HM Queen Elizabeth II.....

We were talking about Alexandra of Hanover and got it settled many posts back. Thanks for the input.

 

[missMaryanne]

Am a bit confused?

Six bridesmaids from the Town?

Does that mean that Albert's immediate family nieces are not bridemaids' but strangers who live in the town?

what????6 strangers to be bridesmaids?

i think that steph doesn't want her kids to be more public that they are, but it's her brother's wedding, she could make an exception... and what about caroline's daughter?...

that wedding would be a good moment to see the whole family together.

 

[an_]

It's a technicality. Alexandra is a royal highness descended from Queen Victoria of England and Kaiser Wilhelm of WWI fame. But Ernst has no power and power is what counts in the real world. Monaco may be little, but the Grimaldis are wealthier than most, maybe all, European Kings and Queens. They also are great at networking. They seem to know everybody that's anybody.

HSH Prince Albert is a ruling sovereign monarch thus in rank he is equal to Kings and Queen's - his niece does not outrank him nor does she outrank her mother .... The HRH and HSH as nothing to do with it.....HSH Prince Albert is as equal in rank to HM Queen Elizabeth II.....

I am afraid I have to disagree with you.

According to Wikipedia (Royal Highness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia):
"Royal Highness (abbreviation HRH) is a style (His Royal Highness or Her Royal Highness); plural Royal Highnesses (abbreviation TRH, Their Royal Highnesses). It appears in front of the names of some members of some royal families but is not used for Kings or Queens who are styled Majesty.
The style Royal Highness ranks below Imperial Highness, but above Grand Ducal Highness, Highness, Serene Highness and some other styles."

So, ranks are:
01. Kings or Queens - HM (His/Her Majesty)
02. Royal Highness - HRH
03. Grand Ducal Highness - HDGH
04. Highness - HH
05. Serene Higness - HSH

Conclusions:
01. HSH Prince Albert is definitely not equal in rank to HM Queen Elizabeth II.
02. HM Queen Elizabeth II outranks Prince Albert in 4 positions.
03. HRH and HSH do have a lot do with it.
04. Princess Caroline and Princess Alexandra are both HRH, which means the two of them outrank HSH Prince Albert in 3 positions.
05. Princess Caroline and Princess Alexandra are both HRH, which means they are on the same rank.
06. Titles have absolutely nothing to do with power and/or money. Even less with who knows who.

 

[FanofMonaco]

Titles did at one time have everything to do with power and money. Thats how they became rulers. Now most of them are ineffective puppets who are ruled by their governments rather than the other way around. A title will get you nothing in the US. It's productivity that counts.

 

[an_]

Titles did at one time have everything to do with power and money. Thats how they became rulers. Now most of them are ineffective puppets who are ruled by their governments rather than the other way around. A title will get you nothing in the US. It's productivity that counts.

Oh yes, I do agree with you that "Titles did at one time have everything to do with power and money."
But what I meant is that, regardless of wealth and/or power, royal and nobility titles are subjected to rules that define ranks. Just like, for instance, in the army, navy: general/admiral ... major ... captain ... soldier

 

[Princess Robijn]

I am afraid I have to disagree with you.

According to Wikipedia (Royal Highness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia):
"Royal Highness (abbreviation HRH) is a style (His Royal Highness or Her Royal Highness); plural Royal Highnesses (abbreviation TRH, Their Royal Highnesses). It appears in front of the names of some members of some royal families but is not used for Kings or Queens who are styled Majesty.
The style Royal Highness ranks below Imperial Highness, but above Grand Ducal Highness, Highness, Serene Highness and some other styles."

So, ranks are:
01. Kings or Queens - HM (His/Her Majesty)
02. Royal Highness - HRH
03. Grand Ducal Highness - HDGH
04. Highness - HH
05. Serene Higness - HSH

Conclusions:
01. HSH Prince Albert is definitely not equal in rank to HM Queen Elizabeth II.
02. HM Queen Elizabeth II outranks Prince Albert in 4 positions.
03. HRH and HSH do have a lot do with it.
04. Princess Caroline and Princess Alexandra are both HRH, which means the two of them outrank HSH Prince Albert in 3 positions.
05. Princess Caroline and Princess Alexandra are both HRH, which means they are on the same rank.
06. Titles have absolutely nothing to do with power and/or money. Even less with who knows who.

You are correct that a Royal Highness outranks a Serene Highness (and others), but there is an exceptions and that is with monarchs. (1) That's why the Queen of England doesn't outrank the Prince of Monaco. At least not in this time period. Go back 100 years (or less actually) and that changes. (5) That is also why Prince Albert outranks Princess Caroline and Princess Alexandra.

PR

 

[Stefan]

It is not that they are judged unworthy, I don't think that was what was meant.

I have to agree with the other posters that it would have been nice to see Albert's family involved in the wedding party as well as children from the principality that the couple may well have never met.

It was similiar when Hereditary Prince Alois of Liechtenstein married Duchess Sophie in Bavaria. Then they had children each from one of the Kantons of Liechtenstein and also Guilllaume of Luxembourg was incliuded.

on Monaco matin, it is said that the bridemaids (girls and boys) will be from Monaco and the towns very closed to Monaco.
On monaco actualites, it is also said that there will be at Saturday'wedding at 12 am a cocktail at the Hermitage for the guests of the couple .
On the card of invitation there is the code dress for the wedding( jackets or uniform) for man hats for women, there will not be tiaras to admire.
I think Prince Albert will take weights with all these cocktails

So the dresscode will be the same as in London? Or will it be lo ng gowns for the ladies? Short gowns and hats would be strange if one consider that there is a Ball after the Wedding and probably no time for the ladies to change gowns.

 

[melina premiere]

I think royals will have anotherinforms on the wedding the dress code is surely for the non royals who will attend to the wedding; I think royals will dress in evening choths with tiara during the travel Prince Albert and princess Charlene will make until the Sainte Devote church. The Hotel of Paris and Fairmont hotel are not far from the palast.

I was thinking about the children escort, perhaps itis for introducing Alexandre Coste among them, it would be a surprise. Albert's son is living in Villefranche french town closed to Monaco

 

[titiromi]

I am afraid I have to disagree with you.

According to Wikipedia (Royal Highness - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia):
"Royal Highness (abbreviation HRH) is a style (His Royal Highness or Her Royal Highness); plural Royal Highnesses (abbreviation TRH, Their Royal Highnesses). It appears in front of the names of some members of some royal families but is not used for Kings or Queens who are styled Majesty.
The style Royal Highness ranks below Imperial Highness, but above Grand Ducal Highness, Highness, Serene Highness and some other styles."

So, ranks are:
01. Kings or Queens - HM (His/Her Majesty)
02. Royal Highness - HRH
03. Grand Ducal Highness - HDGH
04. Highness - HH
05. Serene Higness - HSH

Conclusions:
01. HSH Prince Albert is definitely not equal in rank to HM Queen Elizabeth II.
02. HM Queen Elizabeth II outranks Prince Albert in 4 positions.
03. HRH and HSH do have a lot do with it.
04. Princess Caroline and Princess Alexandra are both HRH, which means the two of them outrank HSH Prince Albert in 3 positions.
05. Princess Caroline and Princess Alexandra are both HRH, which means they are on the same rank.
06. Titles have absolutely nothing to do with power and/or money. Even less with who knows who.

Ernst August doesn't reighn. He is just titled Prince and HRH by courtesy.

 

[melina premiere]

When Prince Ernst August was yet in Monaco yet with Princess Caroline, he walked a step behind Prince Albert at the begining of the reign he entered with Caroline behind Prince Albert and Stephanie. At the national fest in 2010, little Alexandra was with her brothers and sister at the second linie behind princess Stephanie, Princess Caroline and Charlene. when a prince is no more reigning , his title is no more matter as he is reigning. A part in the events in Society.(look king Constantin, Empress Farah or the kings of Roumania, yougoslavia and so)
Prince Albert is a prince sovereign he is at the same rank as the others kings or queenswho are ruling. At The funerals of President Pompidou , De Gaule or MitterrandPrince Rainier went outside the first fefore the kings and queens who attended this event because his reigning was the most long.

 

[MRSJ]

. (1) That's why the Queen of England doesn't outrank the Prince of Monaco. At least not in this time period. Go back 100 years (or less actually) and that changes. (5) That is also why Prince Albert outranks Princess Caroline and Princess Alexandra.

PR

Thanks....well said. A ruling sovereign is equal in rank to another sovereign. Since he is sovereign he can not be outranked by his siblings or their children.....

As I've recently learned on this board a style HRH and HSH are different then rank ..... A rank is determined by your place within the line to the throne (which ever throne it is) while a style is just that something that you're styled as aka called.....Albert holds the rank of ruling sovereign while having an HSH style....

 

[Zonk]

Let's stay on topic...this thread isn't about the Styles and Titles in Monaco.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

I'm really interested in the music, as music can honestly make all the difference in the world. Take for instance Prince Charles & Lady Diana's wedding versus William & Kate's. Well hands down the former is my all-time favorite wedding, bar none, the latter had the the best most uplifting inspirational music. If it wasn't for the music, it would have been rather dull imho. Yet the music made all the difference in the world.

In particular, the following piece has been played every day by me since the wedding, at least a couple of times a day, that's how much I enjoyed it:

YouTube - Jerusalem - Prince William and Kate Middleton Royal Wedding


Here's hoping Albert & Charlene do their research, and BRING TO LIFE Monaco to the masses. Bring the house down with some powerful God-fearing uplifting music! Nobody does it better than the Catholics. Recall Pope John Paul II's funeral, the recitation of the Litany of the Saints:

YouTube - Litany of Saints - Funeral of John Paul II

I agree that an old style High Mass in the Roman Catholic Church can send chills up one's spine...but I am not sure that is what either PA or certainly not CW is interested in...it doesn't seem like their style.

It's a shame, because the William/Kate wedding had such beautiful hymns. I would love it if PA took advantage of the incredibly rich and majestic beauty that a full Nuptial Mass has to offer...so like the Cambridge wedding I hope I am in for a pleasant surprise with Monaco.

The Eagles "Hotel California" is a fun song, but completely inappropriate for any wedding let alone a Princely one. I hope this is a missprint.

BTW...I don't think the Litany of the Saints is EVER invoked at weddings...at least not that I have heard of.

THANK YOU melina-premiere...for that information on the bridal attendants! I think it is charming that CW has selected children from throughout the Principality..! I am happy about that...because unlike KM, CW does not have any sisters and apparently not any close female friends either. As lovely as Pippa Middleton was at her sister's wedding, I do NOT want a similar situation at the Monagasque one, where an adult attendant almost steals the bride's thunder!

 

[melina premiere]

I think that the eagles as concert the day before the civil wedding is modern and it is well, many people in France and Monaco likes eagle american and folk music, I like Eagle and my husband liked it very much now he is dead, I often listen the song 'love makes us alive,'' and california hotel.
But for the religious ceremony there will be religious songs obligatory, there will be surely beautiful classic songs and musics. (Haendel, Schubert and bach). A roman catholic mass is long and had religious and classic musics and songs, it will not be like the wedding of Prince William and Kate which is more short than the catholic roman mass. the wedding would last one hour and a half.
I do not think Charlene selected the children, I think it is the idea of Prince Albert who always said that the people of Monaco is also his family and he wanted to gather with them for the wedding, but I think they are perhaps children of his friends.
It is Monaco Nice which said that the children are monegash or from the town closed to Monaco, it is not on the officially page of the palace

 

[Moonmaiden23]

Well, whoever came up with the idea I think it is a perfectly charming one and I love it!

 

[melina premiere]

It you want to see a wedding roman mass, you can watch the wedding of Philippe of Spain, it is on you tube with tittle boda de principes de estoria part 6 to part 11, it is the spanish language but all the wedding mass are like these whith the songs who could be different but in the same tune, classic and lithurgic.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

melina-premiere I have watched part of Felipe's Nuptial Mass and frankly I was not that impressed...I found it rather joyless and somehow tense for reasons I can't explain...maybe it was the awful weather?

I much prefer the Infanta Cristina's wedding to Inaki Urdangarin...it was lovely, grand and very Catholic as well.

I have also watched old clips online of Baudouin and Fabiola's 1960 wedding...now THAT was a grand Catholic spectacle indeed!

The delegation sent by Pope John XXIII is said to have taken up so much of the Palace of Brussels that some of the Royals had be booked into hotels. Practically everyone who was anyone in the Gotha was at that wedding!

And the music was sooooo moving and beautiful!

 

[Nadine]

You know sometimes I think you say things just to be provocative, Moonmaiden23, and I have to laugh.

Seriously, in no way, shape, or form did I imply that the "Litany of the Saints" would be sung at a wedding, duh. If you re-read my post you will see that I say that nobody does it better than the Catholics. And then I posted a video of Pope John Paul's Funeral to prove my point. I rest my case.

Also, I personally don't care about anybody else's royal wedding. The only ones I was interested in and watched are Charles & Diana, Victoria & Daniel, and now Albert & Charlene. Additionally, I watched most of William & Kate's wedding, but not all, that's it. My fandom of royalty went down considerably after Diana & Charles divorced, and that whole ugly affair, I lost respect for the whole lot of them. I'm not a royal watcher, period, just here in anticipation of Albert & Charlene's wedding.

And on that score, I am disappointed that a bunch of little kids are going to make up the ENTIRE bridal party, and to add insult to injury they're not even going to be from the family, lol. *rolls eyes*

Royalty continues to disappoint me personally, so I say bring it on, I no longer have high hopes or expectations for any of them. It is what it is, and that's all I have to say about that.

 

[melina premiere]

I think that the fact to select chilfren of Monaco and around is wonderful for these Children, they are worthy like Alexandra and Camille and so. Yesterday on the tv channel of France riviera, there was an interview of people of Monaco and the report man asked to the people what did they think about the wedding and that the children of Monaco would escort the bride and the couple, they all said they were very pleased to see that the princely couple will take children of Monaco, they said they are very pleased to see that the Prince saw them as a near family and all the royal families must follow this example and see not the people to only cheer them but to integrate their subjects in their personaly stage of their life. They also said that the royal children are often taken in photos and they can let the place to the people who pay taxes for their living. It is what they said to the tv.
They also said there is no more fairy tale, we must enter in the XXI century and to be modern or there will be no more royals and there will be republic lands and Prince Albert understands this fact. It is what the people of Monaco were saying to the tv

 

[Nadine]

Well great for Monaco, but in the bigger picture Monaco is practically nil, and that goes for any other royalty except for the one in the UK, and even that one isn't any where what it used to be. Fact.

All this b.s. about bringing it into the 21st century, blah blah, propaganda, et al, is just that, propaganda. I don't buy into it.

What set them apart and made them special no longer applies today, now they air their dirty laundry publically, commit every other sin under the sun (lol, and did in the past, but back then it was private), and marry commoners and act common.

If that's their goal, so be it, but don't come crying around when it gets abolished in the end. At that point they will have made their own bed and will have to lie in it. It's just a matter of when, not if.

Oh and this talk about rank and style, all man-made, God outranks them all.

But back on topic, despite all that I'm still looking forward to the wedding, can you believe it, lol, some dreams die hard!

 

[Moonmaiden23]

You know sometimes I think you say things just to be provocative, Moonmaiden23, and I have to laugh.

Seriously, in no way, shape, or form did I imply that the "Litany of the Saints" would be sung at a wedding, duh. If you re-read my post you will see that I say that nobody does it better than the Catholics. And then I posted a video of Pope John Paul's Funeral to prove my point. I rest my case.

Also, I personally don't care about anybody else's royal wedding. The only ones I was interested in and watched are Charles & Diana, Victoria & Daniel, and now Albert & Charlene. Additionally, I watched most of William & Kate's wedding, but not all, that's it. My fandom of royalty went down considerably after Diana & Charles divorced, and that whole ugly affair, I lost respect for the whole lot of them. I'm not a royal watcher, period, just here in anticipation of Albert & Charlene's wedding.

And on that score, I am disappointed that a bunch of little kids are going to make up the ENTIRE bridal party, and to add insult to injury they're not even going to be from the family, lol. *rolls eyes*

Royalty continues to disappoint me personally, so I say bring it on, I no longer have high hopes or expectations for any of them. It is what it is, and that's all I have to say about that.

ME? Provocative?? You have to be joking.

I am sorry that I misunderstood your point...I meant no offense.

I happen to love your posts and agree with the points you make 90% of the time!

 

[Vita]

What set them apart and made them special no longer applies today, now they air their dirty laundry publically, commit every other sin under the sun (lol, and did in the past, but back then it was private), and marry commoners and act common.

Are you bothered they are more human than royal or more royal than human?

And Royals have always been commoners who were just lucky enough to obtain power and an army. That is my opinion. They personally may not have aired their dirty laundry but it has never really been private.

I think its always best to defer to the people who actually live in these types of nations to speculate on their own monarchy's future out of respect.

Anywho I stated before I thought Ms. Wittstock may wear de la Renta or maybe with Monaco being close to Italy and France Armani or Givenchy. They are so classic. Are there any popular Monaco designers fit for the job?