Monaco ready for royal wedding

They are rolling out the red carpet in Monaco, where the principality's ruler, Prince Albert II, will marry South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock in a civil ceremony on July 1 and a religious ceremony July 2. Preparations have been in high gear for weeks.

Special Section: Monaco royal wedding
Pictures: Royal wedding photo album

Crowds build up ahead of the civil marriage ceremony of Prince Albert II of Monaco to Charlene Wittstock at the Prince's Palace on July 1, 2011, in Monaco.

Special Section: Monaco royal wedding
Pictures: Royal wedding photo album

Workers prepare the main courtyard of the Monaco palace on Monday, June 27, 2011, ahead of the marriage ceremony of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Zimbabwe-born former Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock on July 1 and 2. It's still the biggest thing to hit Monaco since Grace Kelly whose 1956 wedding to Prince Rainier III ushered in a new era of high-wattage glamour into this tiny Riviera principality known for its high-flying casinos and lax tax laws.

Special Section: Monaco royal wedding
Pictures: Royal wedding photo album

Monaco flags, center, and South Africa flags, fly in Monaco, Tuesday, June 28, 2011, before the wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco and his fiancee, Charlene Wittstock of South Africa.

Special Section: Monaco royal wedding
Pictures: Royal wedding photo album

A general view of Monaco with Monaco palace, right, is seen on June 28, 2011. Luxury yachts bearing wedding guests already have begun gathering in the harbor.

Special Section: Monaco royal wedding
Pictures: Royal wedding photo album

French Chef Alain Ducasse's team works in the Hotel de Paris Louis XV restaurant in Monaco on June 29, 2011. Ducasse is preparing the menu for the wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock of South Africa on July 1 and 2.

Special Section: Monaco royal wedding
Pictures: Royal wedding photo album

Official souvenir items for the Monaco royal wedding are seen on display, on May 28, 2011, in Monaco. Prince Albert II of Monaco and fiancee, Charlene Wittstock, a Rhodesian-born Olympic swimmer, are set to tie the knot on July 2 in the main courtyard of the Prince's Palace.

Pictures: Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock
Pictures: Prince Albert II

Flags announcing the Royal Wedding in Monaco fly on a flag pole in front of the Monaco Palace, in Monaco, June 17, 2011. Prince Albert II of Monaco and his fiancee Charlene Wittstock will wed on next July 1 and 2.

Special Section: Monaco royal wedding
Pictures: Royal wedding photo album

An artist works on a painting outside Sainte Devote church ahead of the Royal Wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco to Charlene Wittstock on June 30, 2011, in Monaco.

Special Section: Monaco royal wedding
Pictures: Royal wedding photo album

Official souvenir items for the Monaco royal wedding are seen on display, May 28, 2011, in Monaco.

Pictures: Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock
Pictures: Prince Albert II

A general view of the Monaco Palace is seen on May 30, 2011. Monaco's Prince Albert II and his fiance Charlene Wittstock are set to tie the knot on July 1 and 2 in two ceremonies at the Prince's Palace.

Pictures: Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock
Pictures: Prince Albert II

A general view of Sainte Devote church ahead of the Royal Wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco to Charlene Wittstock on June 30, 2011 in Monaco.

Special Section: Monaco royal wedding
Pictures: Royal wedding photo album

A general view inside Sainte Devote church ahead of the Royal Wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco to Charlene Wittstock on June 30, 2011 in Monaco.

Special Section: Monaco royal wedding
Pictures: Royal wedding photo album

South African cook Dean Uren, right, executive chef at the Fairmont Zimbali Resort (South Africa) and French cook Maryan Gandon, of the Fairmont Monte Carlo resort, shake hands Wednesday June 29, 2011, in Monaco. Uren will join colleagues at the Fairmont Monte Carlo to prepare the cocktail buffet to be served to the six thousand Monegasques following the civil ceremony on 1st July in Monaco. Behind is a poster of a commemorative stamp that will be issued to mark the wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco and his fiancee Charlene Wittstock and will be available on sale on July 1.

Special Section: Monaco royal wedding
Pictures: Royal wedding photo album

French composer Jean-Michel Jarre gestures during a rehearsal in Monaco, June 29, 2011. Jarre will perform on stage Friday as part of festivities marking the wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock of South Africa.

Special Section: Monaco royal wedding
Pictures: Royal wedding photo album

Chef Alain Ducasse tastes vegetables in the Hotel de Paris Louis XV restaurant in Monaco, June 29, 2011. Ducasse is preparing the menu for the wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock of South Africa on July 1 and 2.

Special Section: Monaco royal wedding
Pictures: Royal wedding photo album

A van displays a sign ahead of the Royal Wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco to Charlene Wittstock on June 30, 2011 in Monaco. The civil ceremony will take place in the palace Throne Room.on July 1.

Special Section: Monaco royal wedding
Pictures: Royal wedding photo album

A general view of the Monaco Palace is seen on May 30, 2011.

Pictures: Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock
Pictures: Prince Albert II

Flags announcing the Royal Wedding in Monaco fly on a flag pole in front of the Monaco Palace, in Monaco, Friday, June 17, 2011. Prince Albert II of Monaco and his fiancee Charlene Wittstock will wed on next July 1 and 2.

Special Section: Monaco royal wedding
Pictures: Royal wedding photo album

Carabiniers of Prince Albert II of Monaco are seen in the Palace square on May 30, 2011, in Monaco. Albert and his fiance, Charlene Wittstock, are set to tie the knot on July 2 in the main courtyard of the Prince's Palace.

Pictures: Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock
Pictures: Prince Albert II

A carabinier of Prince Albert II stands guard in the Monaco Palace on May 30, 2011, in Monaco.

Pictures: Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock
Pictures: Prince Albert II

Workers prepare the main courtyard of the Monaco palace on Monday, June 27, 2011, ahead of the marriage ceremony of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Zimbabwe-born, South Africa-raised former Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock on July 1 and 2. It's still the biggest thing to hit Monaco since Grace Kelly whose 1956 wedding to Prince Rainier III ushered in a new era of high-wattage glamour into this tiny Riviera principality known for its high-flying casinos and lax tax laws.

Special Section: Monaco royal wedding
Pictures: Royal wedding photo album

A worker is seen in front of the Monaco Palace during preparations ahead of the Royal Wedding on June 30, 2011 in Monaco.

Special Section: Monaco royal wedding
Pictures: Royal wedding photo album

A general view of the Monaco Palace is seen on May 30, 2011.

Pictures: Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock
Pictures: Prince Albert II

Official souvenir items for the Monaco royal wedding are seen on display in a gift shop window on May 30, 2011, in Monaco.

Pictures: Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock
Pictures: Prince Albert II

Official souvenir items for the Monaco royal wedding are seen on display, May 28, 2011, in Monaco.

Pictures: Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock
Pictures: Prince Albert II

An official Monaco royal wedding key ring and empty pocket are seen on display on May 28, 2011, in Monaco.

Pictures: Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock
Pictures: Prince Albert II

A guard stands at the entrance of Monaco Palace on June 30, 2011. Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock, of South Africa, will wed Friday and Saturday.

Special Section: Monaco royal wedding
Pictures: Royal wedding photo album