Just days before Charlene Wittstock and Prince Albert were due to be wed in a lavish civil ceremony and then church wedding, an influential French news magazine, L’Express, reported that Charlene had tried to pull a runner. The L’Express report was widely picked up, and then other French papers and tabloids began adding to the rumor mill. Sources came forward claiming that not only had Charlene tried to pull a runner just before her wedding, but that she had been upset for more than a month, and she had repeatedly tried to leave Prince Albert. A source claimed that Albert’s henchmen had taken away her passport, and that when Charlene sought help from her embassy, Albert’s people once again got to her. The whole thing really began to snowball, and it got to the point where pretty much everybody believed that Charlene was forced into a royal marriage, medieval-style, and that she was just sticking with Albert until she could push out an heir.
Anyway, Albert has decided to sue the magazine that got the ball rolling, L’Express. From my understanding (and correct me if I’m wrong, Frenchies), L’Express is a major, respectable news magazine right? It’s like France’s Newsweek or Time…?
Monaco’s Prince Albert and his new wife are suing a French magazine they claim spread false rumours of personal problems ahead of their wedding earlier this month, their lawyer has said.
Summons have been filed against L’Express magazine at a court in Nanterre, west of Paris, for invasion of privacy and “incorrect facts about their private life”, lawyer Thierry Lacoste said.
The magazine reported on its website that the new royal bride, Charlene Wittstock, now Princess Charlene, tried to leave the country just days before the pair wed in a lavish ceremony.
The 33-year-old former Olympic swimmer was said to have turned up at Nice airport in an attempt to flee back to her home country of South Africa. Officials reportedly had to confiscate her passport to stop her boarding a plane. She was said to have discovered her husband-to-be had fathered a third love child.
Prince Albert has previously been forced to admit being the father of two other children after DNA tests. One is the son of a former Air France hostess Nicole Coste, the other the daughter of American estate agent Tamara Rotola. The claims have been rejected by Monaco’s palace, the country’s premier, a lawyer for the pair and Prince Albert, 53, himself. The magazine declined to comment.
[From Sky News]
This lawsuit comes on the heels of that tragic hissy fit last week, where Albert and Charlene sat in front of some journalist and Charlene stayed almost completely silent as Albert threw a temper tantrum about all of the tabloid reports. Albert spoke completely in French, and when Charlene was asked about her reaction to all of the “reports” Charlene replied in English: “I think that says it all.”
As for the state of the lawsuit and whether Albert will win… I have no idea. I would love it if the French papers kept on going and refused to back down.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
The truth is the best defense – we shall see what happens.
I hope they do not back down. L’Express is a lot like People Magazine I think. Tabloid-esque but they don’t report something unless they have their facts straight and hard sources. Plus, in Europe it’s extremely hard to sue a tabloid so I think Albert is going to lose. If it were not true, I think Charlene would have had more to say then looking like a shell up there last week.
I really hope that Charlene does not give him an heir. I would hate to think of kids getting involved in this mess.
Way to keep the story going, Al.
This guy just creeps me out! I don’t care how much money he has….
Perhaps she could have said more than “I think that says it all.”
How about something like, “I love being Prince Dong’s love doll. Our passion knows no bounds and my tiara doesn’t fall off even when he bends me over the balcony”,
yeah, that would be a start.
What happened with the last DNA test? Have we heard anything on that yet? I thought they flew back from the 1st “honeymoon” to hear the results.
You’re right Kaiser, L’Express is quite a respectable magazine, not a tabloid at all.
Edit : Rita, that was hilarious, thank you !
This guy is a megalomaniac of all-universe proportions.
Something is amiss with her to marry him.
@ Kaiser & Gossip Owl: “l’Express” is a news & political magazine, more like “Newsweek” than “People”
The magazine editor always said they had 3 different sources to confirm the story.
Albert so creepy… I’m sure it’s true, I know I would have try to run too!
Good luck with that, Skippy. And still no word on the DNA results…things that make you go “hmmm”.
Oh Rita, you cheeky girl! 😀
He reminds me of a fat Mr. Burns.
I don’t get why they waited so long to sue if there’s really nothing at all to L’Express’ story.
L’Express used to be a quality magazine decades ago, and it still thrives on that reputation, just like TIME and Newsweek, which are also no longer nearly as respectable as they used to be.
I think he waited this long so he could get agreements in place with Babymama #3 and #4. Otherwise, they’d have been able to go after them for confirmation of Charlene’s distress.
He looks like an arrogant jerk, so puffed up with self importance, he’d explode if you stuck him with a pin.
Interesting that the lawsuit is not for libel or slander, since the truth is a defense to all defamation claims. It’s for invasion of privacy and getting private facts wrong. So did L’Express get the date of her running wrong? Other than being able to say “I’m suing them” I can’t imagine why Albert would do this. Idiot.
I resided in France (Paris) for two years, and learned that if it’s in L’Express, you can believe it. This publication puts no story to print without viable, reputable sources.
Ah, His Horny Highness, Prince Potato Head…the inflated ego. He is the gift that just keeps on giving.
@ Rita – LOL! That is one of the funniest images I’ve entertained in quite a while.
Also, according to Eringer’s site (he was Albert’s former security adviser, who pretty much openly despises His Horny Highness) three interesting items:
Albert’s palace aide de camp, French national John Jayetn resigned his position a few weeks ago out of disgust and anger at Albert’s charade and overall incompetence as head of state.
Albert secretly attended “Gay Days” in Stockholm back in 2003, flew into town in total secrecy, partied with gay men and women before jetting back to Monaco.
At Albert and Charlene’s wedding, palace PR person Christiane Stahl begged French president Nicolas Sarkozy to pose for the official wedding photo at the palace. Sarkozy refused, stating the whole affair was a circus and a lie, and abruptly departed Monaco, not staying for the reception dinner…with that God awful wedding cake!
Ooh! Thank you Mr. Greek for sharing those juicy tidbits!
@ Mr. Greek:
Interesting!
A friend of mine, who has many contacts to gay scenes told me that Prince Horndog was a regular guest in the gay hardcore leather scene in Cologne/Germany.
This guy is SUCH a creep. But why, if she is so unhappy, did she go through with the marriage? For the cash and title? I know people do that, but they usually pull it off with a bit more believability and she seems hopelessly miserable. From everything I’ve ever heard and read of him, he is a first class pig.
I know that Albert is skeevy as all get out, but a part of me appreciates that he does not discriminate sexually. Maybe if he allowed himself to be who he is or the prinipality had let him be his rep would not be a PR joke. Then again he would lose the money and position and would never get laid.
@Hibiscus – ewwwwwwwwwww bad images of Price D-Head in leather now fill my head. Must wash brain.
@Rita – 😀
@Kaiser – can you find anything at all on the DNA tests??? So curious to hear that he is the Dad. Third times a charm right?
I love Charlene’s style in that last photograph. It’s like Angelina’s professional neutrals + just the right amount of bling = Perfection.
Prince Albert’s Prince Albert: Weebles wobble, but they don’t flop down!
Heheheh…pardon me, ladies.
testing my gravatar image. sorry! It was the only way I could do it since Cele|bitchy is my fav site!
@ Hibiscus: That’s interesting, and so gross on many levels. LOL!
Prince Albert’s Prince Albert wrapped in leather…found in the meat section of Monaco’s Piggly Wiggly!
Ok, I’d better quit unless I want visions of this dancing in my head come beddy bye time.
@ Mr. Greek…yes, the Eringer site is a good one. Someone (was it you) posted a link to it awhile back right before the wedding.
“Prince” Albert is a twisted SOB. Can’t imagine he’s attempting to sue. I sure hope L’Express stands by its’ guns. Albert apparently is used to getting his way…mainly by intimidation.
“Good luck with that, Skippy.”
*snort*
Ya, whatevs, Al. You’re a douche of epic proportion. Sue me.
great,they are both gorgeous and classy – unlike their british or american peers, for everybody else in the media, just because you could say anything and start rumors for your own interest doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to go for it, lowest of the low in human nature indeed, laughable and pathetic.
^^^ are you serious? I think he’s Eurotrash of the highest order, famous for nothing much except being born into a life of priviledge and frittering away his life on speed boats with topless wannabees.
Whatever the truth of the story, you can bet your ass that marriage isn’t a love match.
Oh, and he is insipidly and flaccidly repulsive.
Wow, Albert is suing L’Express for “lies.” That’s like suing Times or People magazine in the USA. L’Express must have had some reasons to print what they did and they don’t print false stories (my pal that’s currently a graduate student in France confirmed that).
Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t the paparazzi and gossip rags (ala Enquirer-style) heavily monitored in Europe thanks to a lawsuit brought by Albert’s sister Caroline in Germany a few years ago? Plus doesn’t France have anti-paparazzi laws that not only apply to photographs but also writing unfounded gossip about celebrities, etc. (which was why Brad and Angelina went to live there, no?)?
Anyway, this lawsuit by Albert is really strange because L’Express is legit and they do their research not to mention that’s pretty heavy stuff to throw at the royal head of Monaco right before his wedding, ya know?
Also, where’s those DNA results?????
I live in Nice which is quite close to Monaco. What i heard was that a police officer spoke to a L’Express journalist about stopping her at the Nice airport. I also heard that that police officer was fired for this shortly after, before they were married and all of the frenzy ensued.
It’s weird…he’s rumoured to be gay, but he scatters his seed like a water sprinkler.
All i can say is, before i get all geared up to bash him, i think of poor Grace Kelly…
this is going to sound crazy, but ever since this whole business started, it’s had a real “girl with the dragon tattoo vibe” to me. only charlene hasn’t gotten in touch with her inner Lisbeth to fight the sadistic sick monster who’s abusing his power and position to prey on her.
I don’t think he can win, as the Express journalist was adamant that they had credible sources.
The lawsuit is more likely to be an attempt to find out who those sources were in order to fire/punish them.
Back away from the keyboard, dleen. You’re overdue for your meds.
Oh, and BTW, The United States does not have ‘royals’.