Prince Albert & Charlene Wittstock Wedding Suggestions & Musings

[Moonmaiden23]

The children's presence I wouldn't mind so much....they both are beautiful.

Tamara Rotolo and Nicole Coste at my wedding? No freaking way.

I am not commenting on how anyone else should feel about having the groom's two baby mamas(both who at one time have embarrassed the groom and made spectacles of themselves) at their wedding.

I would not like it at all, period.

Yes, I agree CW sounds like a lovely person.

ETA: Little Eric Alexandre has half-siblings from NC's husband(I am not sure if she was divorced at the time of her liason with PA)

Tamara was married during her tryst with PA but was supposedly separated from her husband. I don't know if she had children from that marriage.

Having said that...I am not sure that the story is even true(that the children and their mothers will attend)

 

[Tilia C.]

Could become a tiara wedding for Charlene ....

Charlene Wittstock: Ihr Brautkleid soll in die Geschichte eingehen - BUNTE


According to Bunte an "insider" (whatever this means) reveiled, that the Armani wedding dress will become spectacular, a real "wedding dress for history".... additionally she will wear a Grimaldi Tiara. No information yet, which one of the 3 it will be.....
So fingers crossed!
BYe Bine

I hope that this "insider" is right about the tiara!
According to Bunte the Grimaldis own 5 tiaras: 2 from Princess Charlotte (the well known fringe tiara and the Cartier pearl drop tiara), and 3 from Princess Grace. That must be 1. the Van Cleef & Arpels diamond tiara, 2. the Societé de Bains de Mer ruby tiara. Wich is the third tiara Grace owned? She loaned a couple of tiaras, so I'm not sure which ones were just loans.

 

[Elly C]

Perhaps one has been commissioned.

 

[Tilia C.]

Perhaps one has been commissioned.

BUNTE talks about 3 tiaras which have belonged to Princess Grace. So, if their source is reliable, it will not be a newly commissioned tiara. There are several other tiaras which P. Grace has worn once. Of some it it is known that they were loans from jewellers. But of some I don't know if she owned them or not.

 

[KittyAtlanta]

I'd love to see Charlene wear the Ruby Cabachon. It is beautiful, plus it has matching earbobs.

 

[Tilia C.]

Nadine, thanks for the pictures.
Actually I'm not convinced about your number 3. You call it "ruby cabochon tiara", but the stones in this one seem to be facetted and not cabochon cut. On the other hand the rubies of the Societé de Bains de Mer tiara are actually cabochon cut. So I think that both names refer to the tiara no. 2.
No. 2 is known to be a wedding present to Grace. So she definitely owned it.
No. 1 was worn so often by her that it just can't have been a loan.
I think that she wore your no. 3 only once, and I have heard that it was a loan (but I don't know how reliable that source was).

P.S. I agree that the diamond tiara is very pretty and would look lovely on Charlene. I also hope that she doesn't wear rubies!! Not that I'm supersticious, but I think that coloured stone don't go well with wedding dresses.

 

[Nadine]

Here are my sources of reference:

http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/f20/grimaldi-family-jewels-20.html

Tiara with Pearshaped Pearls |Princess Caroline - Family Jewels of the House Grimaldi (scroll down to the middle, where it talks about all 3)




ADDENDUM: for those wondering what happened to my previous two posts they were deleted by Zonk because of hotlinking. My apologies everyone, as there was not an option to copy & paste per usual those pictures, thus I took a chance, and it didn't pay off. BUT, you can see the pics for yourself in the above links. ENJOY!


I am in a FAB mood, and nothing and no one can dampen it, Monaco Wedding here we come:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tWuLTzoyng

 

[KittyAtlanta]

Nadine, thanks for the pictures.
Actually I'm not convinced about your number 3. You call it "ruby cabochon tiara", but the stones in this one seem to be facetted and not cabochon cut. On the other hand the rubies of the Societé de Bains de Mer tiara are actually cabochon cut. So I think that both names refer to the tiara no. 2.
No. 2 is known to be a wedding present to Grace. So she definitely owned it.
No. 1 was worn so often by her that it just can't have been a loan.
I think that she wore your no. 3 only once, and I have heard that it was a loan (but I don't know how reliable that source was).

P.S. I agree that the diamond tiara is very pretty and would look lovely on Charlene. I also hope that she doesn't wear rubies!! Not that I'm supersticious, but I think that coloured stone don't go well with wedding dresses.

Oh, you are certainly correct about the facets. Grace did have a ruby headpiece with an ornament on the front that I called the "taxi flag" to go around a "pony tail", but I think it was faceted too. Perhaps the original article's description just made a mistake re: the rubies' being cabachon. I'd still like Charlene in a red/white tiara and earrings, especially if her gown is on the sophisticated side.
*****************************************************
On another facet: I wonder if Albert will wear a wedding ring. If he does, I wonder if he will use his father's.

 

[Nadine]

Hmmm, after thinking about it a bit I now revise my original pick of the "small diamond tiara", instead I agree with KittyAtlanta.

Reason: Monaco's colors are red & white, thus a ruby tiara of Grace's would be the most apropos on such a special occasion, jmho.

Ahhhh, I can just imagine a fantastical wedding dress (as suggested up above in the Bunte article) being white, and topped off with Grace's ruby earrings and ruby tiara to match the colors of Monaco!!!!!

Off to find pics of Grace's ruby earrings as well, which Caroline & Stephanie have both worn in the past.


ETA: http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/f20/princess-grace-jewellery-406.html

 

[Renata4711]

As a change from ruby earrings - why not try PA's macaroons ???

The macaroons will be either ruby red or pale white.

There is also a brown macaroon which symbolises South Africa.

Monaco Info has a short film on the manufacture of the macaroons.

 

[mtatum]

I think that the third tiara is the one that Princess Grace wore on Princess Caroline's pre-wedding ball and was prominently displayed in the Princess Grace exhibit. Curiously though, does the family own this piece of jewelry or just loaned from Van Cleef and Arpels? Wasn't it rumored too years ago that Madonna was planning to wear this tiara for her wedding?

Grace only wore it only once though. Most reports say that Princess Caroline wore the tiara on the 1983 Red Cross ball but this time as a necklace.

If I were Charlene though, as beautiful as this tiara is, I wouldn't wear it on my wedding day given the fate of the Philip Junot-Princess Caroline union.

Come to think of it, the necklace Caroline is wearing in the second photo looks different from the tiara, doesn't it? The tiara though is obviously made to be versatile as it has a necklace clasp in the end and is framed on a tiara structure that appears to be removable.


http://www.smithsonianmag.com/multimedia/photos/116427769.html?c=y&page=3
http://www.corbisimages.com/stock-p...14-001/red-cross-ball-in-monte-carlo--/?ext=1

 

[Nadine]

After perusing Princess Grace's wonderful jewelry thread, the following pieces stood out to me:

1.) exhibition photos of several of Grace's wonderful tiaras, necklaces, brooches, earrings, et al, that she wore during her lifetime, accompanied with an article about the exhibition:

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l169/tnsngr/grace.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/2dha0cg.jpg

http://i39.tinypic.com/156wm0i.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/24y4av7.jpg

Cartier pieces worn by Grace Kelly feature in special jewellery display


2.) Grace's red & white ruby pieces that *I* feel would look wonderful on Charlene, as both First Lady of Monaco, and wife of the Sovereign of Monaco:

http://s5.tinypic.com/6e3pdw.jpg (I've seen both of Grace's daughters wearing those earrings before)

http://i40.tinypic.com/2dha0cg.jpg (ditto! Also Caroline has worn both brooches before as well)

http://i44.tinypic.com/219p2ch.jpg (my favorite photo; Charlene would look lovely in all 3 pieces of this magnificent set, especially at the wedding, including that FAB tiara!!!!)

http://i41.tinypic.com/m8l7hc.jpg (by all accounts Grace's favorite tiara to wear)

http://i33.tinypic.com/v2v9kl.jpg (stunning earrings)



3.) random gorgeous pieces, some only on loan one time, but hopefully the others we will see shine again when Charlene becomes First Lady of Monaco next month:

http://i41.tinypic.com/10d7bkg.jpg (my personal favorite tiara of Grace's; simple, stunning, elegant, perfect...)

http://i39.tinypic.com/2n6dyes.jpg (Grace dressed MAGNIFICENTLY for the 1966 Centenary Ball; unfortunately all but the brooch on loan, thus worn only one time; however the *brooch* has been worn by not only Caroline, but also her daughter Charlotte this past year at the Rose Ball)

http://i41.tinypic.com/2003cqp.jpg (ditto!)

http://i39.tinypic.com/2h56ws9.jpg (gorgeous turquoise jewelry set that I know I saw Caroline wearing when she was married to Stefano at either the Rose Ball or Red Cross Ball; my favorite Ball pics of Caroline btw)

http://i41.tinypic.com/b9devb.png (never before seen this gorgeous emerald & white jewelry set on Grace, which I think would look SPECTACULAR on Charlene; perfect backdrop for her stunning emerald green eyes imho)

http://s5.tinypic.com/acsqc5.jpg (I think this brooch of Princess Grace, especially the picture, would look wonderful on Charlene)

http://i39.tinypic.com/iz5b9c.jpg (ditto! By the way, this tiara I've never ever seen before, it's simply EXQUISITE, understated, modest, elegant, reminiscent of the "small diamond tiara" imho)


I've been thinking a lot about how young Albert was when he lost his mother in 1982 (only 24 yrs. old when it happened), and how close they both were. Mother & Son, such a special bond, just as father & daughter are, and how much Albert must miss his mother. Therefore to honor her memory, and make her a part of this very special day, I can see Charlene wearing several poignant pieces of Grace's jewelry. Ahhh, how long & hard Albert must've looked to find someone that reminds him of his mother, just as his sisters' married men that resembled Rainier in some way. Jmho.


"CONGRATULATIONS TO ALBERT & CHARLENE, FIRST COUPLE OF MONACO"!!!!!

 

[Renata4711]

In a BUNTE interview, PA says he likes CW's cooking, especially Barbecues.

Charlene Wittstock: Fürst Albert liebt ihre Kochkünste - BUNTE

The Carpet has Landed !!

The image shows a detail of the richly ornamented carpet on which CW and her father will walk to the altar.

I mentioned some days ago that the carpet will eventually be cut into 300 pieces; these will be signed by the couple, and auctioned off, to benefit the charities of PA and CW.

Un tapis rouge et blanc pour traverser la place du Palais | Nice-Matin

 

[LadyMacAlpine]

When considering the jewels Charlene might wear that were Graces don't forget Caroline inherited much of it and then sold it to pay off Stefanos debts.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

What...??!

I am so sad to hear that LadyMacAlpine. I wish Caroline had not used her mother's precious things to pay off Stefano's debts...I thought Stefano was a successful businessman with his own money??

Renata4711...that carpet is stunning...will July 2nd NEVER get here??

 

[jonc93]

The Carpet has Landed !!

The image shows a detail of the richly ornamented carpet on which CW and her father will walk to the altar.

I mentioned some days ago that the carpet will eventually be cut into 300 pieces; these will be signed by the couple, and auctioned off, to benefit the charities of PA and CW.

Un tapis rouge et blanc pour traverser la place du Palais | Nice-Matin

Thank you for that link! That carpet is stunning, much better than standard red and incorporates the colors of Monaco. I like how it has a sort of eastern flair to it, very nice!!

 

[KittyAtlanta]

I like the carpet too. It will be impressive in a large venue.

 

[mtatum]

When considering the jewels Charlene might wear that were Graces don't forget Caroline inherited much of it and then sold it to pay off Stefanos debts.

I have read that the jewels that Princess Caroline used for Stefano's creditors were pieces her mother had before being a princess. The family was not keen on keeping these jewels anyway as they were reminders of her Hollywood past and were perhaps gifts of suitors anyway. So if these articles are true, then her Princess Grace jewels are intact.

 

[KittyAtlanta]

As a change from ruby earrings - why not try PA's macaroons ???

The macaroons will be either ruby red or pale white.

There is also a brown macaroon which symbolises South Africa.

Monaco Info has a short film on the manufacture of the macaroons.

I'm taking your post as a humorous one...should they be attached to the ear by posts or should they be dangly? LOL

Funnily enough, I have an evening bag known as the "macaroon" due to it's shape.

I'll be glad to accept a box of Hermes macaroons, just drop them off with the butler...

 

[Moonmaiden23]

I have read that the jewels that Princess Caroline used for Stefano's creditors were pieces her mother had before being a princess. The family was not keen on keeping these jewels anyway as they were reminders of her Hollywood past and were perhaps gifts of suitors anyway. So if these articles are true, then her Princess Grace jewels are intact.

Okay, then I feel a little bit better. I can't blame them for not wanting any "Hollywood reminders" around... I read in one of Grace's bios that the Shah of Iran seriously pursued Grace in the 50's with the hope of marrying her, but Ma Kelly put the serious kibosh on her daughter marrying him(smart move, imo ) Grace kept a fabulous collection of jewelry from him though.

Maybe Caroline was able to sell it at a handsome profit.

 

[FanofMonaco]

I don't believe the story about Stefano's debts. What debts would he have? Both he and PC were millionaires. His businesses would be set up as companies where he would not be individually liable. His brother Marco took over management of the businesses when he died. If PC sold jewelry, it is only because she wanted to.

I also don't believe the story about Stefano's coffin being stood on end. He would have been buried in a locked family tomb similar to the one at the Casiraghi funeral last year, not out in the open in the ground. His wife was a princess!

I apologize for getting off subject but I find these stories to be outrageous and have to be very hurtful for the family. The tabloids will say anything.

 

[melina premiere]

To day, there was on monaco info, a view about the court yard, There are many works, and the report said last week that that the work will go on also at the nights, to day we do not recognize the courtyard, Yesterday, they spoke about the flags which are hanged now, there are the flags of the wedding, red and white with the date of the wedding, the name of the brides and the crown.There are the flags of Monaco and the flags of South Africa.
There are no more places for the concert of the Eagles

 

[LadyMacAlpine]

I don't believe the story about Stefano's debts. What debts would he have? Both he and PC were millionaires. His businesses would be set up as companies where he would not be individually liable. His brother Marco took over management of the businesses when he died. If PC sold jewelry, it is only because she wanted to.

I also don't believe the story about Stefano's coffin being stood on end. He would have been buried in a locked family tomb similar to the one at the Casiraghi funeral last year, not out in the open in the ground. His wife was a princess!

I apologize for getting off subject but I find these stories to be outrageous and have to be very hurtful for the family. The tabloids will say anything.

We do have posters that are Tabloid reporters and I am not one if that is what you are implying. Nor did I read it in a Tabloid. Stefano being in debt and Caroline selling the jewels was discussed here and here.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

LadyMacAlpine, I definitely believe you. I have read that he was heavily in debt at the time of his death in books by several reputable authors including Gwen Robbins...who is or was a friend of the family.

The upstanded coffin story is too gruesome to think about...but I also read that in a book and not a tabloid.

What I didn't know is that Caroline had to sell her jewelry to settle the debts...poor woman.

 

[Zonk]

Let's get back on topic. This thread isn't about Stefano Casiraghi.

 

[Elly C]

Back to the tiara wearing debate- I have just posted some close up pics of Grace's engagement set & the diamond tiara on the Grace jewellery thread. The tiara is on exhibition at the Smithsonian until July 4th & so unless it is withdrawn is unlikely to be worn by Charlene ( I would have thought it would have been withdrawn by now if this was the intention as she would need to experiment with hairstyles etc. ) However, what is also interesting is the statement elsewhere on the site that this tiara is now the property of Van Cleef, so this would suggest that it is not considered a Grimaldi tiara.

 

[Renata4711]

Monaco Hebdo reports that there is some uneasiness about the cost of the wedding, in view of the economic downturn.

Minister of State Michel Roger: "La préoccupation première du mariage n'est pas vraiment économique. Ce n'est pas un business, c'est un moment de fête."

The first preoccupation of the wedding is not really economic. This is not a business, this is a moment of festivity."

In Monaco, as in GB, the employees can look forward to two Bank Holidays.
The shopkeepers can look forward to increased takings from tourists.

The restaurants and night clubs are getting ready for the festivities.
Michel Bouquier (director of DTC) explains that everything will be themed in terms of "Romance", and they are expecting a very international clientèle.

 

[KittyAtlanta]

I agree with Michel Roger. However, these situations tend to be "d@mned if you do; d@mned if you don't. They could have had a civil ceremony only, with a wedding dinner for only the family --- at which everyone would have said "it's not like they don't have the money...."

I would give my eye teeth to be there.

 

[Renata4711]

Kitty, I don't mind posting here about it, and I might well watch the proceedings on Monaco Info, but that's all there is, as far as I'm concerned.....

Still, it's been interesting amassing lots of data about the event...

Roll on Zara and Mike.....

 

[Nadine]

Back to the tiara wearing debate- I have just posted some close up pics of Grace's engagement set & the diamond tiara on the Grace jewellery thread. The tiara is on exhibition at the Smithsonian until July 4th & so unless it is withdrawn is unlikely to be worn by Charlene ( I would have thought it would have been withdrawn by now if this was the intention as she would need to experiment with hairstyles etc. ) However, what is also interesting is the statement elsewhere on the site that this tiara is now the property of Van Cleef, so this would suggest that it is not considered a Grimaldi tiara.

Thanks for the info.!

Loved viewing Grace's engagement set (btw I recall reading some time ago that Rainier gave his granddaughter, Charlotte, Grace's engagement ring ). However, the tiara shown on the Smithsonian site was only worn once IIRC by Grace at Caroline's first wedding, on loan, specifically at the pre-wedding gala the day before, seen here: http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/9559/princesscarolinetiaravv3.jpg

***Note: it sure looks like Caroline wore Grace's "small diamond tiara" for the pre-wedding gala: http://i41.tinypic.com/10d7bkg.jpg ***



The Grimaldi Tiaras are few, at most 5 or 6 in total, and that includes Caroline's 2 + Grace's 3 = 5. In fact the following site has a very good write-up on each one of Grace's tiaras, and also sheds light on the Grimaldi Tradition of wearing a tiara at a pre-wedding event only: The Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor: Tiara Thursday: Some of Grace's Tiaras


So in summary Grace owns the following tiaras:

1.) "small diamond tiara" by Van Cleef & Arpels ~ http://i41.tinypic.com/10d7bkg.jpg

2.) "serre-chignon tiara" given to her as a wedding present; worn only once at the Shah of Iran's coronation ~ http://cdn.theroyalforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=7531&d=1054408492

3.) "bain du mer tiara" given to her as a wedding present; reportedly her favorite tiara as she wore it the most ~ http://i41.tinypic.com/m8l7hc.jpg

*4.)* "ruby & diamond tiara" worn at least twice, questionable if it is a loan or not? ~ http://www.angelfire.com/de3/verenasroyaltiaras/images/GraceRb.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/219p2ch.jpg

***Note: I really feel this tiara would look the best on Charlene, and also I question if it is a loan because it is part of a set, seen here: http://s5.tinypic.com/6e3pdw.jpg, which includes the earrings & necklace, so imho this is the 4th tiara owned by Grace.***


Okay, now onto Princess Caroline of Hanover, whom inherited the two most famous grimaldi tiaras from her grandmother, Charlotte:

5.) "pearl diamond tiara" by Cartier; given to Charlotte as a wedding present from her husband, Count Pierre de Polignac ~ Tiara with Pearshaped Pearls |Princess Caroline - Family Jewels of the House Grimaldi

6.) "tiara russe" (aka fringe tiara), the oldest of the grimaldi tiaras, given to Charlotte by her father, and worn by Charlotte's grandmother, Lady Mary Victoria Hamilton, in 1869 or thereabouts, around the time she married Albert I of Monaco ~ http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=274470&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1279950618

Fringe Tiara

Tiara Russe or Fringe Tiara



ps: I was wrong in my previous post about Caroline having worn Grace's turquoise jewelry set, here's the one Caroline actually wore: http://www.pantip.com/cafe/isolate/topic/M10495707/M10495707-29.jpg