How is the second royal wedding of the century being prepared?

On July 2, when guests and viewers watch Charlene Wittstock and Prince Albert of Monaco walk down the red carpet, comparisons with the recent wedding of Catherine Middleton and Prince William of England will be inevitable. The event, which has been in the making for several months, promises to be grandiose, even unique: a princess gown designed by Armani, an open-air cathedral for the ceremony, and festivities spanning three days—that says it all.

The festivities

The festivities will kick off on the evening of June 30th with the Eagles, who will perform a free concert for the occasion. The following day, the civil wedding will be celebrated in the Grand Throne Room of the Monegasque Palace at 5:00 p.m., followed by a cocktail reception for residents of the Principality. In the evening, none other than Jean-Michel Jarre will "set the port ablaze" with a free show that promises to be breathtaking.

On the third day, July 2nd at 5:00 p.m., the bride and groom will exchange a religious "I do" in the courtyard of the Palace, which will be transformed into an open-air cathedral for the event. Dinner will then be served on the Casino Terraces under the lights of the fireworks. The celebration will continue at the Opéra Garnier and likely throughout Monaco, until the early hours of the morning.

Sobriety and concern for ecology

Despite all the pomp, the Monaco wedding will be more understated than the one in London. The bride and groom will travel in a hybrid Lexus rather than a carriage, at the request of the prince, who is very concerned about environmental protection. You won't see a helicopter in the sky, which was intended for bird's-eye shots.

As for the menu, secretly refined in the kitchens of Alain Ducasse's Monaco restaurant before being prepared by a battalion of 60 chefs, it will be resolutely Mediterranean.