Marital bliss as royals seal union with a kiss

South African-born Princess Charlene and her husband, Prince Albert of Monaco, painted a perfect picture of marital bliss when they kissed outside the Oyster Box hotel in Umhlanga, north of Durban.

Dressed in a black chiffon long dress with intricate gold detail, Princess Charlene held a gold clutch bag in one hand, while linking arms with Prince Albert.

Although rumours of the princess's unhappiness at the prospect of even more illegitimate stepchildren surfacing hung over the couple, the newlyweds smiled and waved to foreign and local journalists, who had been reporting ahead of last Saturday's wedding that the former Olympic swimmer had tried to flee Monaco.

Prince Albert, in a black lounge suit complemented by a crisp white shirt and red tie, whispered to his new bride before leaning in for a kiss. When their lips touched, the small crowd, gathered outside the elite hotel to catch a glimpse of the pair, cheered and applauded.

The couple then waved once more and headed into the hotel, where 400 guests, including their friends, royalty and members of the International Olympic Committee who were in Durban for its annual plenary session, had gathered to celebrate their marriage.

Earlier, Prince Albert had arrived alone at the hotel, where his wife was already waiting for him. He had been at the Olympic organisation's session while the princess spent the day at the hotel.

Anastasia Polydorou, 10, from Bloemfontein, who waited outside the hotel last night to see her "favourite princess", had earlier met Princess Charlene during breakfast .

"I asked her if I could hug her because I had never met a real princess before, and she said yes. She hugged me. She was so friendly and she is so beautiful," she said.

Polydorou, her parents and other holidaymakers waved to dignitaries as they stepped onto the red carpet last night.

The atmosphere at the hotel entrance was electrifying with Zulu dancers stomping their feet and banging drums as guests arrived.

Massive vases held red roses and white lisianthus next to metal detectors at the door.

Earlier, Olympic gold medallist Penny Heyns waved from the red carpet while local IOC chairman Sam Ramsamy greeted journalists.

Justice Minister Jeff Radebe, in a black pin-stripped suit, arrived as Durban's mayor James Nxumalo entered the hotel.