Monaco is best known as a playground of the rich and tax-shy, but when Prince Albert II marries Charlene Wittstock next week the happy day will be marked with a decidedly populist festival.
When Albert’s parents Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly married in 1956 it was without doubt the society event of the year, some said the decade, but this year April’s British royal wedding has already stolen that title.
When Albert and Charlene tie the knot on July 1 in this tiny principality, Britain’s Kate and William will be in Canada on their first official foreign trip, pursued by an estimated 1,300 journalists. Nevertheless, the older couple’s loyal subjects are determined to put on a show, and the streets of their city state are bedecked in the red and white of the House of Grimaldi and the rainbow banner of Charlene’s South Africa.
Souvenir mugs and plates emblazoned with the princely initials have replaced designer knick-knacks in Monte Carlo’s glitzy boutiques, and the seats have been taken out of the opera house to allow it to host a fairy tale ball. Only 35,000 people live in Monaco — many of them not local citizens but wealthy tax exiles or French service workers — and tourism officials hope to attract 200,000 wellwishers to what they call “48 historic hours”.
The “historic” adjective might suit the royal house, as the Grimaldis have ruled Monaco since 1297, but it could also fairly describe the entertainment chosen by the 53-year-old former playboy for his guests. On Thursday night before the first ceremony, local residents were serenaded by 1970s Californian nostalgia rockers The Eagles, then on Friday after the throne room nuptials, action moved to the port
France’s President Nicolas Sarkozy is attending the Sunday ceremony, but other world leaders will be notable for their absence, with the exception of presidents Michel Sleimane of Lebanon, Mary McAleese of Ireland and Carl Gustav XVI of Sweden.
