FRANCE/MONACO: Close friend of Monaco royal couple dismisses talk of pre-nuptial tensions

Record ID: 1519436

  • Title: FRANCE/MONACO: Close friend of Monaco royal couple dismisses talk of pre-nuptial tensions
  • Date: 30th June 2011
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (French) LE PARISIEN JOURNALIST CATHERINE TARDREW, AUTHOR OF THE REPORT, SAYING: "And according to people who are close to the palace, there is a lot of tension in the immediate entourage of the Prince and of his wife-to-be." (SOUNDBITE) (French) LE PARISIEN JOURNALIST CATHERINE TARDREW, AUTHOR OF THE REPORT, SAYING: "I think it will take place. The wedding will happen. It probably won't be in an idyllic atmosphere, but I think it's out of the question that this wedding will be cancelled 48 hours from the ceremony. It would seem, according to our information, that Charlene has understood that she can't do otherwise." VARIOUS OF OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM ROYAL PALACE DENYING TENSIONS BETWEEN THE COUPLE
  • Embargoed: 15th July 2011 01:17
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Monaco, France
  • City:
  • Country: Monaco France
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Royalty
  • Reuters ID: LVA9PHR33BXSPZREE7ZTZDO3O2P8
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Contemporary musician Jean-Michel Jarre on Wednesday (June 29) brushed aside speculation on the front pages of some French newspapers of tensions between Monaco's crown prince Albert and his bride-to-be Charlene Wittstock only days ahead of their wedding in the tiny principality.
    Jarre, who rehearsed a concert he is due to give for the couple on Friday night, said they appeared to be harmonious and happy at the prospect of being wed. He slapped down talk in French and Italian newspapers, which has also been vehemently denied by the royal palace itself.
    "They were completely cool about the whole thing and I found them quite positive and very enthusiastic about the whole week," Jarre told Reuters Television.
    "You know rumours are rumours, as you know. You're specialists of that so you know more than me," he added.
    Asked if he thought they were happy, Jarre said: "Absolutely, absolutely. It's all bullshit."
    Under a headline 'Monaco is worried', Le Parisien newspaper gave equal prominence to the denial and to the speculation. Other dailies including the Le Figaro quoted various officials and aides saying there was no problem between the couple in the run-up to the wedding.
    But the author of the Le Parisien article stuck to her story.
    "According to people who are close to the palace, there is a lot of tension in the immediate entourage of the Prince and of his wife-to-be," said journalist Catherine Tardew.
    On Tuesday French weekly L'Express reported on its website that Charlene Wittstock, who is set to marry the tiny French Riviera principality's head of state on Saturday, went to the airport in nearby Nice last week to board a one-way flight for South Africa, where she grew up.
    It required "infinite persuasion" by the prince and members of his entourage to convince the 33-year-old former swimming champion to change her mind, the magazine said.
    The report only served to "gravely hurt the image of the Sovereign, and that of Miss Wittstock, and bring major harm to this happy event," a palace spokeswoman said in a statement. Officials were unavailable for on-camera interviews.
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