Zuma kept royals waiting

Durban - President Jacob Zuma kept the Prince and Princess of Monaco waiting for almost two hours at King’s House in Morningside on Wednesday where a banquet dinner was awaiting the distinguished guests.

With Zuma late, the guests had to wait in another room before the motorcade of BMWs could make its way to the residence to receive them.

The sizeable media contingent - comprising mostly German, French and local journalists - had by then been waiting more than three hours for the royals and Zuma to arrive.

First Lady Thobeka Madiba Zuma arrived first, followed by Zuma an hour or so later in a second motorcade.

The presidential couple then came out of the mansion together to welcome their royal guests.

Princess Charlene wore a crocheted mermaid dress that flared elegantly around her feet, with ivory and gold bracelets and pearl earrings finishing her ensemble. Prince Albert wore a navy suit.

"Durban is truly beautiful and it’s easy to see why this place is so close to Charlene’s heart," he said.

Lobola

Prince Albert said he was pleased to have spent time with Zuma. "It is an incredible pleasure that the IOC session is taking place in Durban which is a wonderful city…" he said.

He said he could not take questions from the media as he was rushing to the Durban International Convention Centre to attend the IOC programme.

Zuma jokingly said they did not discuss the issue of lobola for Charlene.

On a serious note he said the royal wedding has served, in the most human and social of ways, to focus the international limelight on Monaco and South Africa, to the mutual benefit of both countries.

Journalists asked the royal couple to kiss for the cameras - which they obligingly did - but as they hardly had time to dine, journalists could not pose the burning question: "Did she or didn’t she get the wedding jitters?"

On Thursday the couple will host a party at the Oyster Box Hotel.

About 450 V-VIP guests are expected to attend - including members of royalty from all over the world.