Durban – There was a very light hearted atmosphere on Wednesday when President Jacob Zuma and his wife Thobeka Mabhija briefly hosted the royal Manaco couple.
Zuma met with Prince Albert and Princess Charlene at King’s House presidential residence for what he called a “courtesy call.”
There was no time for questions as Prince Albert had to rush back to the International Olympic Committee meeting to vote for the 2018 Winter Olympic hosts, which eventually went to Pyeongchang.
“As we all know that the Prince is here as part of the International Olympic Committee, but also because of the programme that could not allow me to attend the royal wedding, I felt that I should invite them,” said Zuma.
Prince Albert was pleased to be in the city: “Durban is very close to Charlene’s heart, so it’s great that I have the chance to get to know it. It has been an incredible pleasure and really momentous. It’s a wonderful coincidence that the 123rd IOC conference happening at the time of our visit.”
Zuma was delighted to spend time with “a very important couple, a very fresh couple who have just been married.”
“We have had a wonderful time, though the time was short. We’ve had a good discussion about a number of things, including understanding Monaco, because it is quite a unique country,” said the President.
There were no words from Princess Charlene, who smiled graciously throughout the media briefing.
“The internationally acclaimed wedding also served as a happy signal of the nature of the close and warm relations between South Africa and Monaco,” said Zuma.
The President reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to building on the very positive foundation that exists with the tiny European principality.
The royal couple will host a gala dinner on Thursday at the exclusive Oyster Box for around 450 guests.
Zuma joked with reporters that they couldn’t attend the Monaco wedding but he brought the couple to King’s House to give the media a chance to see them. – Kemantha Govender, BuaNews
