A Charming Prince Albert had guests eating out of his hand during his week in Durban while his new bride was moved to tears in Cape Town at a charity do.
The prince and his wife, former Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock, cut short their honeymoon and yesterday returned to Monaco.
The newlyweds had a rocky start to their marriage as rumours swirled that the prince had fathered a third child out of wedlock and Princess Charlene had tried to flee Monaco before the nuptials.
The couple hosted a private cocktail reception on Thursday at the Oyster Box Hotel. They flashed smiles, held hands and kissed before joining 400 guests who included Princess Anne, tycoon Patrice Motsepe and first ladies Thobeka Madiba and Nompumelelo Ntuli.
In a short address, the prince greeted everyone with a ''sawubona".
''He added African colloquialism to his speech, which brought light humour," said a guest. "The crowd loved that he was embracing the Zulu culture."
Wearing a black and bronze beaded " mermaid" dress, the princess thanked the city for its hospitality.
The bash was described as an opulent and flawless "red-carpet evening" filled with "bling and lots of diamonds". There was a large white floral display in the main conference room, with lollipop roses and silver candelabra.
Municipal speaker Logie Naidoo said it was "a regal affair", with the couple's wedding photographs on display.
However, the prince flew solo on Friday evening when he attended a dinner to celebrate the end of the International Olympic Committee conference, held at the Sibaya Casino.
The princess spent the day in Cape Town at charity engagements with businesswoman and close friend Bridgette Radebe.
She assumed co-patronage of The Giving Organisation with Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
At the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation in the impoverished Masiphumelele township, she was moved to tears as Fezeka Gxwayibeni, 20, recite d a poem about the harsh realities of township life.
"I watched your wedding. Sometimes, when you are like me, you wonder when will the fairy come and see you, and tell you that everything is going to be okay," read the poem.
Meetings with World Wildlife Fund officials and the Choc Childhood Cancer Foundation were cancelled at the last minute.
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