By Niamh Anderson
REVELLERS at an upmarket Scots nightclub were amazed when Prince Albert of Monaco turned up on a lads’ night out – and proceeded to blow £1,350 on drinks.
The billionaire Royal and ten male friends partied for three hours at Edinburgh’s Lulu nightclub, ordering magnums of Dom Perignon champagne worth more than £430.
The George Street club, which had been checked out by Royal protection officers three days earlier, gave over its VIP booth to the Prince and his all-male entourage, who swept in at midnight and stayed until 3am.
It was the same VIP booth and dance floor where Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall partied with friends a few weeks before their wedding in Edinburgh.
In the early hours of Sunday, Prince Albert picked up the tab for two magnums of year 2000 Dom Perignon champagne at £430 each , a magnum of Grey Goose vodka for £205 , and 30 bottles of Peroni and Tiger beer.
Possibly fearing the effects of the drink, the 53-year-old Prince also ordered ten bottles of water to help fight off any hint of a hangover the next day.
The George Street club was visited and inspected last Wednesday by officers from the Royal Protection Unit to ensure maximum security was in place but staff weren’t told who would be visiting the venue.
General Manager of Lulu, Ash Bairstow, said: “All we were told was that the group were on a private visit to Edinburgh and had enjoyed dinner at a city restaurant earlier in the evening.
“They had the best spot in the club. They looked like they clearly were enjoying themselves and the Edinburgh hospitality.”
Marriage
Mr Bairstow added that the Prince and his friends were “very well looked after.”
But despite the festivities, Princess Charlene, the prince’s South African wife was nowhere to be seen.
The prince has been seen countless times without his wife since they married in July this year, setting tongues wagging that their marriage is on the rocks.
He and his long term girlfriend Charlerne Wittstock married in a civil ceremony on 1 July 2011, followed by a Catholic ceremony on 2 July 2011 in Monaco.
But recently the former South African Olympic swimmer has not been seen by her husband’s side, sparking rumours that they relationship is in trouble.
However, the Prince seemed unperturbed by the absence of his wife and enjoyed his “lads weekend” in the capital.
After footing the rather large bill, the Prince and his friends left in a minivan with blacked-out windows, to return to the five star Balmoral Hotel where they were staying.
Just a few weeks ago newly married Royal couple Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall hit the dancefloor in Lulu, proving the nightclub is certainly trending amongst royalty.
Mr Bairstow added: “We’re hoping word has got out in Royal circles about how much fun there is to be had in Lulu and Edinburgh in general.
“We’re also sure that our reputation to manage VIP visits is playing a major role in attracting these guests to Lulu.”
