Here are some more photos from Monaco National Day earlier this week – I covered some photos on Wednesday. These are some better shots of Princess Charlene on the balcony, trying not to barf on Prince Albert as he tried to kiss her. I feel you, Char. I would need to hork too. But Charlene was game and I actually think she had some “good actress” moments of actually looking like she enjoyed her husband’s company. As we know, Charlene is pregnant… with twins! All we heard before now was that Charlene was due with the babies in December. But now Albert has given a new interview where he talks in greater detail about the due date, the preparations for the babies and whether they know what they’re having.
Those waiting eagerly for the birth of royal babies on other side of the Channel won’t have too much longer to wait after Monaco’s Prince Albert revealed that his heirs will be born before Christmas. Speaking to local newspaper Monaco-Matin, the Prince spoke of his excitement about the birth of his heirs, which he expects to happen within the next few weeks. The royal, 56, also said that, unlike many modern fathers, he has chosen not to find out the gender of the twins before they are born.
‘As it is a twin pregnancy the birth will surely take place a dozen days early,’ he told the French language paper.
Princess Charlene, 36, who has chosen to find out the babies genders, is under strict instructions not to tell him.
‘The princess probably knows but she is playing the game,’ said the expectant father. ‘She is keeping the secret as I asked her to. You know, one doesn’t often have the opportunity to have such pleasant surprises in life. That is why I prefer not to know the babies’ gender before the birth.’
Prince Albert has two children from previous relationships – daughter Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, 22, and son Alexandre Coste, 10 – but neither are able to inherit the throne as both were born out of wedlock.
For her part, Princess Charlene is said to be looking forward to becoming a mother for the first time and described her pregnancy as ‘magical’.
And it is not just the couple themselves who are eagerly awaiting the birth. Earlier this week, Charlene’s parents – who have set up a temporary residence in Monaco in preparation for twins’ arrival – spoke of their excitement.
Mike Wittstock described the feeling as ‘amazing’. Speaking to French publication Point de vue, he also said that despite their royal status he intends to treat the twins as normally as possible.
‘I will respect everything required by the protocol, my daughter knows that, but other than that they will be treated in the same way as their cousins.’
Due on Christmas! But Albert’s right, most twin births come early. And God knows, Charlene and Albert might even induce or just schedule a C-section before Christmas. I do think it’s a bit rich for Albert to play the whole “one doesn’t often have the opportunity to have such pleasant surprises in life” card about the babies’ sexes. I mean, he has illegitimate children that he only barely acknowledges, you know? Did he want to be pleasantly surprised by their gender too? Or did he save the “pleasant surprise” for the paternity tests?
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
Charlene is barely recognisable here. It doesn’t look so much like pregnancy weight, though. Hmmm … Albert looks like he’s put on more than her at this rate!
Aside from that, they actually look genuinely happy in these photos. Quite a change!
These two stayed at a hotel I work at earlier this year and I know it may surprise a lot of people but they really at genuinely happy.
I have seen pictures of her where she looks very happy. I think her she just has a resting sad face, and the media takes advantage of that.
•L•
Honestly, that makes me happy.
Any other interesting tidbits?
It doesn’t surprise me. I have no love for these people but the “kidnapped” drama-logue trying to discredit this relationship borders on cruel IMO.
Oh, and now the “she’s faking her pregnancy” narrative has started up as well, I see. Vom.
Hello! I’ve read in a few places that some people believe she going the surrogate route. Her face does look full of fillers. I got a little puffy with my pregnancies, but nothing like that in the face…
The puffy spot below her right eye is very strange.
•Jen•
There were people who thought Kate wasn’t pregnant with George even though she started carrying her body very differently shortly after the announcement. Charlene also shows signs (just like Kate) she’s genuinely preggers. I think certain people want to see a conspiracy in everything they encounter.
Some people are crazy.
Women’s faces usually change during pregnancy for various reasons, such as weight gain and increased blood flow and water retention, and I do think she looks pregnant in her face (heh).
Not just faces. Bodies change. In other photos you can see Charlene’s arms (usually lithe swimmer arms) have gained some weight.
The only “fake pregnancy” I bought into was Beyonce’s. I continue to believe Beyonce was NEVER pregnant. Not a conspiracy when its true.
Strange lumps, I think this is what happens when pregnancy weight starts pushing out the fillers and whatever other reconstructive efforts that were done…
@Juliette, totally agree, Bey is the only fake pregnancy rumour I’ve ever believed as well.
However, IVF, with the opportunity to select genetically ideal embryos, makes total sense for royals living in the public glare, with money to burn and a future heir at stake.
She’s probably got a little high blood pressure going on….I swelled up at the end of my twin pregnancy too and retained a lot of water. After my boys were born it looked as if I had cried for 5 days straight and couldn’t open my eyes because they were almost swollen shut. lol…it wasn’t pretty. Most likely she will have those babies sooner than later. I feel her pain and give her props for the smile on her face. 🙂
He reminds me of how Tom Cruise acted when Katie was pregnant with Suri and after she was born. Acting like he was going to be a father for the first time and how “over the moon” he was. I always wonder how the older siblings feel about their father talking that way.
Any man can be a father, but it takes a special man to be called “Dad”
Amen.
I wonder if his two other kids will be able to meet their new siblings…..God, he is such a douche. That is a deal breaker for me–any guy who doesn’t pay child support AND see his kids on a regular basis better not even look in my general direction.
And I know how his oldest daughter feels–my sperm donor has at least ten other kids out there–I have at least 9 other brothers, and a sister somewhere out in the world.
Your sperm donor doesn’t know what he’s missing! *internet hug*
Woah. I have one cousin out there in the world (given up for adoption as a baby) and I wonder about her periodically. It must be more intense when it’s siblings, and so many. Virtual cake and kittens.
Yes, and of course said sperm donor is being an asshole about names, locations,etc. My mom thinks he’s still pissed that she took him to court for child support (for 6 years vs. 18 years), because he won’t answer any of her calls or emails.
And yeah–at *least* ten others. Those are the ones that my mom knows about, from like six years ago. At least half of them are from his two previous marriages (I know he let his first ex wife’s new husband legally adopt their 2 sons so he wouldn’t have to pay any child support), and the others are from God knows where.
I hope I find all of them someday.
Shambles is right, your sperm donor is an idiot. My grandfather was the same kind of a-hole. Such guys aren´t worth crying over.
Jazmin and Alexandre are often with their dad in Monte Carlo. The thing is Albert has real power in his little state. He has deals with the local papers and paparazzi. They aren´t allowed to publish photos of his kids because Albert fears for their personal rights. The family has no problem with law suits, they happiliy sue magazines and they win every time.
Some blogs have photos and locals report how often the kids are with Albert, but no magazine will ever publish the photos. That´s why people think Albert has no contact with his kids. His daughter is now older, she gives short interviews, has her own charity (sponsored by Albert) and walks red carpets. Albert and his daughter were even arm in arm on a red carpet a year or so ago. And Lagerfeld let her walk on one of her catwalks for a charity fashion show in Monaco. I have this feeling after college Jazmin will enter the limelight more and more.
A friend of mine has met Albert and Charlene a few months after their wedding. Lucky b*tch lives and works on the Cote d’Azur. She told me how easygoing and happy they are. Albert isn´t the big bad wolf. He just doesn´t look like a Prince and according to my friend he isn´t very bright. Same goes for Charlene. Both are more nice simple characters.
•Dany•
Monoco’s overall control of the media is legendary. It makes William’s issues with the media look small. I’m glad to hear he’s more involved with his other children than what is reported.
I don’t doubt that he sees them OR that he pays more than his fair share of child support, but if I was his kid, I’d be pissed that I was a secret, that I wasn’t part of his entire family simply because my parents weren’t married when I was born. People complain about the monarchy–I actually don’t have any strong feelings about it one way or another, but this sort of thing should’ve been abolished YEARS ago. Worldwide. That’s so backwards. It’s not the titles, I don’t think his older daughter gives a flying fart that he’s a prince, but it seems to me that they’re cut off from the rest of the family because of their ‘illegitimacy’. And now their father has a new wife, to give him ‘real’ kids. They should have the same rights as his children with Charlene have/will have.
VG – so agree with you about all of the children having the same rights. This man seems to be a douche in all of his affairs. It’s an outrage, really.
I think how my father or any father would be just so proud to have you as their daughter, VC. Your sperm donor shortchanged you, but he is the one who’s really missing out.
I so agree with GNAT and Shambles, VG – yr sperm donor doesn’t know what he’s missing.
It’s so difficult to forgive a parent – or stop the grieving over the way that they have disrespected you. It’s much harder than forgiving any other person. The pain of not having the generation above grounding you, can make one feel like a wanderer. How to excise the pain of that? Tell me.
There can be so much fear in tiny hearts because of those who think that they own us, or might abandon us.
Lord GOD what is up with the plastic surgery???
I don’t care about these two one bit but I do feel for his “illegitimate” children. Can’t imagine how they must feel. Or the mothers. Such a class act that man.
Actually good to hear that Charlene looks happy in private, and that IRL he sees his older kids and is involved in their lives. I am sure some of this (not being heirs) sucks for the kids, but otherwise how is the situation any different than another rich man’s kids that are born from an affair? They don’t live with both parents, the dad often marries and has “legitimate” children who stand to inherit more, etc. Unfair for sure, but that is why in this age of declining marriage I still think if you are going to have children, that piece of paper matters.
Overall, while I happen to be solidly anti-royal, in his defence (can’t believe I am saying this), I actually don’t think Albert promised marriage to the moms, and for all we know they may have been content to have a child with someone who kept them out of the press, paid support and so on. Not sterling behaviour for sure but way better than some women who have to drag their baby daddy to court for non-support, or see recent stories of athletes beating their kids and returning them to their exes covered in bruises.
And yes, Char does look weirdly different. Pregnancy puffiness? Hormones? Fillers? Or just a bad angle and weird lighting?
I’m glad they’re happy. I want to believe they’re happy. About Charlene’s face: female relatives in my family became almost unrecognizable during pregnancy – face broadening, nose widening, cheeks filling out etc. – after the birth, they regained their previous appearance. It struck all of us as quite normal – so, no need to detect plastic surgery everywhere. I doubt that Char. would undergo plastic surgery during a pregnancy anyway….
I concur. Lots of women get a plumping or broadening of the face during pregnancy.
•MacScore•
Pregnancy can absolutely make a ton of changes to a woman (body, gait, how you carry yourself, etc.). However, it doesn’t change the fact that Charlene has had extensive work done on her face (teeth, guns, cheeks, chin, and ears — and that’s just off the top of my head). Go look at her face about 2-3 prior to the engagement and right before she was pregnant — huge differences in her look. Huge.
Princess Charlene described her pregnancy as “magical”, and after a thoughtful pause…..her insemination as “artificial”
I mostly only comment on Duchess Kate here, but couldn’t resist a bit of snark on this situation. Honestly I can’t imagine being married to this guy, much less carrying his heirs. No thanks!
I’m 5 months pregnant. When does this face plumping and nose brodening start?
I’m terrified.
Congrats on your pregnancy! I would not worry about it, everyone is different. Not every woman’s face changes, and usually post-partum the changes (mostly) go away anyway. My face did not change, but my feet and ankles did, LOL….
not everyone gets that way. my cousin did though.
I was looking forward to her natural face due to inability to maintain botox during pregnancy, but I guess she had too many procedures to ever go back to her natural face.