“I don’t know if I can do this”

July 2, 2011. The small Principality of Monaco had dressed up to enjoy a historic day: the link of the prince albert with the South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock. Thousands of people waited in the cathedral for the bride’s arrival and millions attended the wedding on television. She, aware of the expectation, suffered a small anxiety attack before walking towards the altar. It was revealed by Julian Lennon, John Lennon’s photographer son who immortalized the princess on her most special day.

The artist has published a book with the best images of his career, Life’s Fragile Momentsand Princess Charlene takes the cover. Along with her report, a hitherto unpublished anecdote: “She sat there, staring at herself in the mirror, as if numb. She turned to me and said: ‘Jules, I don’t know if I can do this.’ I told her: ‘ What are you talking about?’ She said, ‘I can’t do it, I’m not sure I can take the pictures, there are too many distractions.’

Finally, he convinced her and the result was worth it: “I cropped it a certain way and I thought, ‘Oh my God, there it is. It’s Princess Grace, it’s the 1950s.’ So I converted all the photographs to black and white “, reveals the artist. The images, finally, were destined for charitable purposes through the Princess Charlène Foundation and the White Feather organization, which Lennon himself created.

A bride… on the run?

Lennon’s story confirms that the bride was very nervous that July morning, something she herself admitted in an interview years later: “She was so absolutely exhausted that when we put the rings on, I, who was so nervous, saw that she I was putting it in the wrong hand. I think Alberto told me something like: ‘Honey, it’s this hand.’ It was stressful, a lot of pressure,” he confessed.

Charlenne’s almost catatonic state that day gave rise to all kinds of rumors. The most widespread, that she had regretted the marriage at the last moment and, even, that she had tried to leave the prince at the altar: “They said he was fleeing. Where was he running? To the dark side of the moon? I think that It’s impossible, though, for anyone on the outside to understand how horrible, how much pressure there was for both of us. You wouldn’t believe it,” she said.