UMHLANGA, South Africa – Monaco’s new princess took a break from her South African wedding reception Thursday to share a kiss with her prince for the cameras.
Princess Charlene, who was raised in South Africa, and Prince Albert II appeared briefly before journalists who had been entertained by a Zulu song-and-dance troupe as they watched VIPs, including International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, walk down a red carpet into the luxury Oyster Box restaurant and hotel.
The royal couple has been attending a meeting of the IOC, of which Albert is a member, in nearby Durban this week.
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Charlene, her blonde hair pulled back, wore a black evening dress with a geometric design. Albert wore a dark suit and festive red tie.
Albert and Charlene, married in grand weekend ceremonies in Monaco, are former Olympians. Albert competed in five Winter Olympics as part of Monaco’s bobsled team. Charlene swam for South Africa in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Earlier Thursday, a small crowd of the curious, some straight from the Indian Ocean beach in shorts and flip flops, had watched Albert arrive amid wailing sirens and flashing lights.
President Jacob Zuma was on Thursday’s guest list. When he met Albert on the first day of the IOC meeting, photographers overheard him joking about lobola, the gift, usually paid in cattle, a Zulu groom gives the bride’s family.
Zuma lunched with the couple in Durban this week and, according to a presidential statement, “conveyed, on behalf of the government and people of South Africa, his warmest congratulations and best wishes.”
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