More Prince Albert Marriage Rumors

Rumors that lifelong bachelor playboy Prince Albert is set to wed soon are intensifying. The ruler of Monaco, 49, has been dating former Olympic athlete Charlene Wittstock of South Africa for about two years now.

Albert has reportedly stated that if he ever did marry, "the woman of my life will have to resemble my mother" which Wittstock does. She's been seen with him at a number of high-profile events, including last week's Circus Festival in Monte Carlo. Before dating Wittstock, the prince generally attended such events alone or with family only.

More telling is a recent tidbit in the London Telegraph newspaper saying that the prince has given orders that all palace staff are to become fluent in English, which is what 29-year-old Wittstock speaks. Meanwhile, she is apparently taking French lessons.

Prince Albert of Monaco to Wed?

Prince Albert, ruler of Monaco and the 49-year-old son of Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly, has long been a confirmed bachelor. He's dated a number of glamorous women, mainly European models, but has never been close to marriage, despite having illegitimate children by two different women.

But his latest girlfriend has tongues wagging about marriage. South African blonde beauty Charlene Wittstock, a former Olympic swimmer, has been on the Prince's arm at several high-profile events in the past few months, a change from the Prince's habit of attending alone or with one of his sisters.

Read the AFP story.