Mad-rooting prince is far from ’charming’
MONACO: It’s 10 years since a wide-eyed young South African swimmer named Charlene Wittstock married her “prince charming”, Albert of Monaco, in a $100m threeday wedding extravaganza.
But after a turbulent decade of marriage, the couple are very far from their “happy ever after” fairytale ending.
Albert, 63, has been dogged by a series of paternity scandals. An American estate agent claimed he was the father of her daughter, Jazmin Grace. Albert admitted paternity only after DNA testing proved it in 2006.
In May 2005, an air hostess, Nicole Coste, claimed Albert was the father of her son Alexandre, born in 2003, three years after Albert met Charlene. Shortly before he ascended the throne after the death of his father, Prince Rainier, in 2005, Albert confirmed Alexandre was indeed his biological son.
Then in December last year, a Brazilian woman claimed he was the father of her 15-year-old daughter, an allegation Albert has denied.
In public, he and Charlene try to put on a united front. “When my husband has problems, he tells me,” she said in an interview. “I often tell him, ‘I’ll stand by you whatever you do, in good times or bad’.”
But then just a few months later, in May, she abruptly left her husband and children in Monaco to fly home to South Africa. She has not returned.
In July, Albert took his ex, Ms Coste, to the Red Cross Ball as Charlene marked their 10-year wedding anniversary alone in South Africa.
The Monaco rumour mill is talking divorce, but so far the couple have stayed silent.