05 July,2011 07:40 AM IST | | Agencies
Princess Charlene of Monaco tried to flee home to South Africa three times before her marriage to Prince Albert II, according to reports.
The former Charlene Wittstock (33), reportedly made her first escape attempt when she travelled to Paris in May to try on her wedding dress.
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During the visit, she 'took refuge' in her country's embassy in the French capital, sources in Monaco said.
Prince Albert II and his wife Charlene cut their wedding cake, reportedly the world's biggest wedding cake. The five-tier cake was truly exceptional and dwarfed the couple
The allegations, which are surprising considering she went ahead with the wedding on Saturday, emerged in the French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche.
It went on to report that later in May,u00a0 Charlene made a second apparent attemptu00a0 to escape during the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix.
Then, last week, royal officials are saidu00a0 to have confiscated her passport en route to Nice airport via the helicopter service that runs between the Mediterraneanu00a0 principality and France. She was then persuaded to go on with the marriage.
"Several sources have confirmed that an arrangement was reached between the future bride and groom," reported Le Journalu00a0 du Dimanche.
Sources said the Monaco palace had hoped the glitzy wedding attended by a host of celebrities and European royalty would 'overshadow' new claims about secret children fathered by Albert.
Instead, Charlene was in floods of tears at one point, while her 53-year-old husband looked on impassively.
Meanwhile, the reception that followed provoked ridicule with tacky features such as a giant wedding cake that towered over the couple and a mirrored dance floor.
Today, the couple are due to fly to South Africa on honeymoon, presenting Charlene with her best chance yet of 'escaping' Monaco.u00a0
Show stopper
Naomi Campbell dressed in a white Givenchy gown committed turned heads at the wedding of Prince Albert II to Charlene Wittstock. Naomi's halter-neck dress was embroidered with dozens of green stones which she teamed with green earrings.
