Monaco royal newlyweds throw lavish S.Africa party (AFP)

UMHLANGA, South Africa (AFP) – Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco threw a swank party Thursday for members of the International Olympic Committee and assorted glitterati at a five-star hotel in South Africa.

The newlyweds, who are in Charlene's home country for a meeting of the IOC, held a dinner reception for nearly 500 guests at the Oyster Box, a seaside luxury hotel in the Indian Ocean resort town of Umhlanga.

The couple made a brief appearance on the red carpet in front of the hotel, obliging the crowd of photographers, journalists and several dozen royal-watchers with a quick kiss on the lips.

They spent about a minute posing for the cameras -- Albert dressed in a black suit and red tie, Charlene in a black sleeveless gown with a diamond-shaped pattern that appeared inspired by African design -- then headed back inside to the invitation-only event.

"We're just so thrilled," said Joanne Hayes, public relations chief for the hotel.

The Oyster Box has spent weeks preparing for the event, which follows on the couple's wedding at the weekend in Albert's tiny Mediterranean principality.

Guests arrived to drumming and dancing by a group of young Zulu men dressed in traditional animal-skin garb, and were also serenaded by a local choir.

Dressed mostly in evening gowns and suits, they queued on the red carpet to pass through a security checkpoint at the entrance to the hotel, which was decked out in the red and white of the Monaco flag.

Hayes said the menu would include a dish created in Charlene's honour.

"We've created a special dish called Oysters Charlene. It's created by our executive chef, Kevin Joseph," she told AFP.

"Basically it's oysters baked with creamed spinach, curried lentils and asparagus."

The guest list, which ran to nearly 500 people, included IOC President Jacques Rogge, South African Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula, former Miss South Africa Jo-Ann Strauss and an assortment of business magnates, local notables and heavy hitters in the sporting world.

South African President Jacob Zuma, who had lunch with the couple Wednesday, had planned to attend but was detained on other business in the northern province of Limpopo, his office said.

Two of Zuma's four wives did however show up for the party, which began at 7:00 pm (1700 GMT).

The newlyweds' South African tour has been part honeymoon and part business trip.

Albert, a member of the IOC, took part in Wednesday's election of the 2018 Winter Olympics host city, which saw Pyeongchang, South Korea beat out Munich, Germany and Annecy, France.

On Friday, Charlene will be welcomed by South African anti-apartheid icon Archbishop Desmond Tutu at his HIV foundation in Cape Town.

She will be a co-patron of a collective of 10 charities known as The Giving Organisation Trust, carrying out her first duties as patron with visits to two charities that focus on children and HIV-AIDS and a project working to preserve the region's unique fynbos vegetation in the winelands.

The focus of the trust's charities range from children to health and animal protection.

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Lavish luxury for Monaco's royal newlyweds in S.Africa (AFP)

DURBAN, South Africa (AFP) – It's a venue fit for a prince and princess: a five-star hotel famous for sweeping views of the Indian Ocean and a presidential suite that lists for 50,000 rand ($7,400, 5,100 euros) a night.

The Oyster Box, one of South Africa's most lavish hotels, will host a reception for Prince Albert II of Monaco and his new bride, Charlene Wittstock, as they visit the eastern port city of Durban this week.

The royal newlyweds, who are in town for a meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) -- of which Albert is a member -- will be throwing a party at the seaside hotel for 400 guests on Thursday night.

The hotel, which opened in 1947, is famous as one of Africa's most opulent destinations.

It has hosted princes William and Harry, supermodel Naomi Campbell and Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, among other notables and celebrities.

Located in the resort town of Umhlanga, just north of Durban, it prides itself on its "colonial charm", a historic lighthouse and oyster beds just offshore that supply the hotel's renowned Oyster Bar.

Joanne Hayes, chief of public relations for the hotel, said it's an obvious choice for an event like the royal reception.

"We're thrilled. It's a great honour. But as far as we're concerned, when you see the Oyster Box, there is no other choice really," she told AFP.

The Oyster Box was built in 1869 and originally served as a navigationa beacon before being converted to a hotel.

It recently underwent a two-year renovation, reopening in 2009. The new owners, the Red Carnation luxury hotel group, sought to blend new furnishings and technology with the original decor of the 1940s and 50s, when the old hotel was in its heyday.

Today the hotel has 86 "individually appointed" rooms and suites, including eight garden villas that each have their own plunge pool.

The crown jewel is the 450-square-metre (4,840-square-foot) presidential suite -- a two-level room served by private lift, with a private swimming pool, private study and marble his-and-hers bathrooms.

South African media have reported that the couple are staying in the suite, but the hotel is tightlipped about its guests.

The Oyster Box boasts six restaurants overseen by executive chef Kevin Joseph, who trained at Michelin-starred establishments in London.

It also has an all-white ballroom adorned with crystal Venetian chandeliers, an infinity pool overlooking the Indian Ocean and a 24-seat movie theater that can be booked for private screenings with dinner and popcorn.

The royal reception is expected to spill into the various venues of the hotel, which will be reserved exclusively for invitees that night.

The hotel is keeping details of the function under wraps, but Joseph says he is planning a menu that is "seasonal, with a South African touch".

Police and security are expected to set up a cordon around the property.

"This is a private function," said general manager Wayne Coetzer.

"We will do all we can to ensure that the couple and their guests are able to enjoy the renowned Oyster Box hospitality to the fullest."

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Monaco's prince weds bride in lavish ceremony (AP)

MONACO – Monaco's Prince Albert married Charlene Wittstock in an extravagant religious ceremony Saturday attended by international celebrities and royalty, bringing new allure to the tiny principality known for its luxurious casinos and as stomping ground for the rich and famous.

The Catholic service ended two days of pomp and followed an intimate civil ceremony Friday. The marriage of the 53-year-old prince and the 33-year-old Wittstock, a one-time Olympic swimmer from South Africa, ended a three-decade wait for a new princess.

The last wedding of a ruling prince in Monaco was in 1956 when Hollywood actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III.

Saturday's ceremony was attended by guests including Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld, former James Bond actor Roger Moore and French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Thousands of Monaco's residents cheered the proceedings while watching on large screens set up outside the palace, where both ceremonies were held.

Wittstock swept along the red carpet leading into the palace on her father's arm. In her sumptuous boat neck gown by Giorgio Armani Prive, her hair pulled back in a swirling French twist and with only the lightest touch of makeup, she seemed to channel the effortless elegance of Grace Kelly.

Throughout the ceremony, which lasted an hour and a half, both bride and groom had demure expressions. Only as they took their vows and exchanged rings did the solemn facade crack: As they slipped on the 18 carat white gold Cartier rings onto each other's fingers, Albert — in a white military uniform — shot her a wink, and Charlene cracked a broad, sincere smile.

The tears flowed freely down the new princess' face after the ceremony, as she left her bouquet of lilies of the valley and other white blossoms at the Sainte Devote church — a tradition in Monaco.

With photographers shouting for the attention of the A-list guests as they streamed into the palace, the wedding had something of the flavor of a star-studded red carpet at the film festival in neighboring Cannes.

British actor Roger Moore, a longtime Monaco resident and a former James Bond, lent a touch of secret agent glamour. The carpet might as well have been a catwalk for British model Naomi Campbell and Czech supermodel Karolina Kurkova.

Royal guests included monarchs from Denmark and Sweden. Prince Karim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the world's Ismaili Muslims, and Empress Farah Pahlavi, wife of Iran's deposed shah, chatted with former French first lady Bernadette Chirac inside the palace.

The last guest to enter according to protocol, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, elicited extensive applause and hoots of approval in what was likely the warmest welcome the leader, whose popularity ratings hover at record lows, has received in a long time.

The most enthusiastic welcome was reserved for the bride and members of the Grimaldi family, one of Europe's oldest dynasties. Albert's sisters, Princesses Stephanie and Caroline, both looked fetching in their short taupe dresses, Caroline's steely blue eyes hidden behind the oversized brim of her hat. Her daughter, Charlotte Casiraghi, was breathtaking in a pink off-the-shoulder cocktail dress by Chanel.

While Charlene — whose name is now officially written with an accent to give it a more French resonance — wore a blue ensemble of her own design to Friday's civil ceremony, she opted for one of her longtime favorite designers, Armani, for Saturday's wedding gown. The "petites mains" or seamstresses of his haute couture atelier put more than 2,500 hours of work into the dress, a strong-lined, made-to-measure concoction of more than 130 meters (about 140 yards) of different silks, 40,000 Swarovski crystals and 20,000 mother of pearl beads.

The ceremony, officiated by Monseigneur Bernard Barsi, Archbishop of Monaco, included moving performances by U.S. soprano Renee Fleming and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, as well as a tradition "click song" by South Africa's Pumeza Matshikiza — a nod to the princess' roots.

After the ceremony, about 450 select guests tucked into a multi-course gala prepared by celebrated French-born chef Alain Ducasse.

Filet of golden mullet and a vegetable medley "arranged to portray a landscape typical of the coast of the Riviera," according to a statement, was the main event at the three-course meal, where everything besides the South African wines and Champagnes were sourced from within a 10-kilometer (6-mile) radius of Monaco.

Ducasse, who like many in his tax bracket has taken citizenship in Monaco, is the first chef to earn three Michelin stars in three different cities, including three for his Louis XV restaurant in the principality.

Charlene was born in Zimbabwe, but moved to neighboring South Africa as a child, and under the tutelage of her mother, a swim coach, competed for that country at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Albert — also a former Olympic athlete, having competed in five Winter Olympics as part of Monaco's bobsled team — has been a member of the International Olympic Committee since 1985.

Albert and Charlene met during a 2000 swimming competition in Monaco. She then began appearing regularly at social events and moved to Monaco in 2006. Residents say Charlene has since maintained a low profile.

The couple's civil wedding on Friday was held in the palace's sumptuous throne room where Rainier III and Grace Kelly married. The actress died in a car crash nearly 30 years ago, and Monaco had been without a princess ever since. Known as a notorious ladies man, Albert long eschewed marriage, and many in Monaco had resigned themselves to forever having a bachelor prince.

The constitution was even modified to ensure the continuity of the Grimaldi line in case Albert never produced an heir. The prince has acknowledged having fathered two children out of wedlock, but only his legitimate offspring would be able to succeed him.

Rumors have swirled in recent days that a third illegitimate child had surfaced — prompting Charlene to allegedly try to call off the wedding and return to South Africa days before the festivities.

The palace has denied the reports, dismissing them as "ugly rumors" prompted by spite and jealousy.

Charlene has told interviewers she would like to have children, and Archbishop Barsi asked those at Saturday's ceremony to pray for the fecundity of the princely union.

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'Lavish' SA party to follow Monaco royal wedding (AFP)

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – Prince Albert II of Monaco and his swimming champ fiancee, Charlene Wittstock, will host a "lavish" party in her home country South Africa after their wedding in July, a newspaper said Sunday.

The couple will host 200 guests, including international royalty, at a seaside luxury hotel in the eastern city of Durban on July 7, five days after their wedding in Monaco, the Sunday Times reported.

"We're keeping everything under wraps, but I can say it will be a luxurious affair," Wayne Coetser, general manager of the five-star Oyster Box Hotel, told the newspaper.

"It's a lavish affair, with a menu that will feature some South African delicacies" and the "best champagne", he added.

Albert and Wittstock had already announced they would travel to South Africa after the wedding to attend a July 5-9 meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Durban, when the host of the 2018 Winter Olympics will be decided.

The two former Olympians -- he was a bobsleigh racer, she a backstroke swimmer -- in August moved their wedding up by six days to be able to attend the meeting.

Albert, the 53-year-old son of late Hollywood star Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III, has been a member of the IOC since 1985.

The playboy prince announced his engagement to Zimbabwe-born Wittstock, 33, last June.

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