Prince Albert marries Charlene Wittstock in Monaco royal wedding

Prince Albert of Monaco has married former Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock.

The 53-year-old royal tied the knot with his 33-year-old South African fiancée in a civil ceremony at the French principality's palace this afternoon.

The public event, which was attended by stars including Naomi Campbell and Richard Branson, will be followed by a religious ceremony and an official dinner attended by approximately 40 heads of state on Saturday.

The newlyweds were at the nuptials of Prince William and Kate Middleton back in April, but Britain's latest royal couple were absent from today's ceremony after heading off on a tour of Canada. Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, will represent the country at tomorrow's dinner.

Newspaper reports that Wittstock was considering aborting the wedding were previously dismissed by the royal family as "false allegations", intended "to seriously damage the image of the Sovereign...and bear down on this happy event".

Wittstock was said by local media to have grown concerned by suggestions that the Prince had fathered a third illegitimate child.

The couple, who announced their engagement last June, first met five years ago at a swimming championship in Monaco.

Watch Prince Albert of Monaco marry Charlene Wittstock below: