Looking Back at Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II of Monaco’s Wedding: The 3-Carat Engagement Ring, Armani Wedding Dress, Celebrity Guests and More

Julia Teti

July 24, 2024 at 4:12 AM·4 min read

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II of Monaco’s royal wedding took place 13 years ago this July. The couple, who met in the early 2000s when Charlene was a competitive swimmer for South Africa, made their official debut together during the 2006 Winter Olympics and got engaged in 2010.

The couple’s wedding took place over the course of two days. It was, however, the July 2, 2011, nuptials that garnered the most attention for the couple. (The two had a private civil ceremony on July 1, 2011.)

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Ahead, learn more about the little details that went into Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II of Monaco’s royal wedding in July 2011.

The Engagement Ring

DUBLIN, IRELAND - APRIL 04: A close-up photo of an engagement ring worn by Charlene Wittstock, fiancee to His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II Of Monaco visits the National Museum during a State visit on April 4, 2011 in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images) — A close-up photo of an engagement ring worn by Charlene Wittstock, fiancée to His Serene Highness, Prince Albert II of Monaco visits the National Museum during a state visit on April 4, 2011, in Dublin.

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene, then Charlene Wittstock, announced their engagement in June 2010. In the months that followed, the couple made public appearances together, where the glittering engagement ring was on full display.

Princess Charlene’s engagement ring consists of a three-carat, pear-shaped diamond surrounded by smaller stones. The ring was designed by Italian jewelry house Repossi. The ring is estimated to be worth more than $65,000.

The Dress

MONACO - JULY 02: (PREMIUM RATES APPLY) Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco make their journey to Sainte Devote church after their religious wedding ceremony at the Prince's Palace of Monaco on July 2, 2011 in Monaco. The Roman-Catholic ceremony followed the civil wedding which was held in the Throne Room of the Prince's Palace of Monaco on July 1. With her marriage to the head of state of Principality of Monaco, Charlene Wittstock has become Princess consort of Monaco and gained the title, Princess Charlene of Monaco. Celebrations including concerts and firework displays are being held across several days, attended by a guest list of global celebrities and heads of state. (Photo by Francois Durand/PP/Getty Images) — Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco make their journey to Sainte Devote church after their religious wedding ceremony at the Prince’s Palace of Monaco on July 2, 2011 in Monaco.

For the religious wedding ceremony on July 2, 2011, Princess Charlene wore a gown designed by Giorgio Armani. The off-white column gown was made of duchess silk satin and featured a bevy of glittering elements, as well as a long train measuring roughly 16 feet.

MONACO - JULY 02: Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco leave their religious wedding ceremony in the main courtyard at the Prince's Palace on July 2, 2011 in Monaco. The Roman-Catholic ceremony follows the civil wedding which was held in the Throne Room of the Prince's Palace of Monaco on July 1. With her marriage to the head of state of the Principality of Monaco, Charlene Wittstock has become Princess consort of Monaco and gains the title, Princess Charlene of Monaco. Celebrations including concerts and firework displays are being held across several days, attended by a guest list of global celebrities and heads of state. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images) — Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco leave their religious wedding ceremony in the main courtyard at the Prince’s Palace on July 2, 2011, in Monaco.

The modern look was a departure from classic gowns, like that of Prince Albert II’s mother Grace Kelly and Kate Middleton’s wedding dress. (Kate Middleton and Prince William wed roughly three months before Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II in April 2011.)

Among the details of the dress, the gown included a contemporary crossover neckline. Along the front of the dress were roughly 40,000 Swarovski crystals, 20,000 mother-of-pearl teardrops and roughly 30,000 gold stones that created a delicate floral design embroidered along the front of the bodice and down the front skirt of the gown, spreading out closer to the hemline.

Ceremony and Guests

MONACO - JULY 02: Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie Countess of Wessex attend the religious ceremony of the Royal Wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco to Princess Charlene of Monaco in the main courtyard at the Prince's Palace on July 2, 2011 in Monaco. The Roman-Catholic ceremony follows the civil wedding which was held in the Throne Room of the Prince's Palace of Monaco on July 1. With her marriage to the head of state of the Principality of Monaco, Charlene Wittstock has become Princess consort of Monaco and gains the title, Princess Charlene of Monaco. Celebrations including concerts and firework displays are being held across several days, attended by a guest list of global celebrities and heads of state. (Photo by Venturelli/WireImage) — Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie Countess of Wessex attend the religious ceremony of the Royal Wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco to Princess Charlene of Monaco in the main courtyard at the Prince’s Palace on July 2, 2011, in Monaco.

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene’s religious ceremony took place at the Prince’s Palace in Monaco. The venue featured a long red carpet for Princess Charlene and her father, Michael Kenneth Wittstock, to walk down as the ceremony began. Roughly 3,500 guests were in attendance for the courtyard ceremony, with large screens erected so more could watch the ceremony unfold.

MONACO - JULY 2: In this handout image provided by the Palais Princier, Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco cut the cake during the religious ceremony of the Royal Wedding, in the main courtyard at Prince's Palace on July 2, 2011 in Monaco. The Roman-Catholic ceremony followed the civil wedding which was held in the Throne Room of the Prince's Palace of Monaco on July 1. With her marriage to the head of state of the Principality of Monaco, Charlene Wittstock has become Princess consort of Monaco and gains the title, Princess Charlene of Monaco. Celebrations including concerts and firework displays are being held across several days, attended by a guest list of global celebrities and heads of state. (Photo by Eric Mathon - Palais Princier via Getty Images) — Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco cut their wedding cake in the main courtyard at Prince’s Palace on July 2, 2011, in Monaco.

Among the high-profile guests who were in attendance, Britain’s Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh and Naomi Campbell, Giorgio Armani and Karl Lagerfeld.

MONACO - JULY 02: Model Naomi Campbell wearing a Givenchy dress attends a dinner at Opera terraces after the religious wedding ceremony of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco on July 2, 2011 in Monaco. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images) — Naomi Campbell wearing a Givenchy dress attends a dinner at Opera terraces after the religious wedding ceremony of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco on July 2, 2011, in Monaco.

Years Later

MONACO - JULY 02: Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco leave the religious ceremony of the Royal Wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco to Princess Charlene of Monaco at the Prince's Palace on July 2, 2011 in Monaco. The Roman-Catholic ceremony follows the civil wedding which was held in the Throne Room of the Prince's Palace of Monaco on July 1. With her marriage to the head of state of Principality of Monaco, Charlene Wittstock has become Princess consort of Monaco and gain the title, Princess Charlene of Monaco. Celebrations including concerts and firework displays are being held across several days, attended by a guest list of global celebrities and heads of state. (Photo by Venturelli/WireImage) — Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco leave the religious ceremony of the Royal Wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco to Princess Charlene of Monaco at the Prince’s Palace on July 2, 2011, in Monaco.

Following their nuptials, Princess Charlene and Prince Ablert II welcomed twins in December 2014 — Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques. Throughout 2024, the couple has made several public appearances together, including an outing with their children at the 2024 Monaco E-Prix on April 27. As of July, the couple has been married for 13 years.