Monaco newlyweds lunch with South Africa's president

(CBS) Honeymooning newlyweds Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco had lunch Wednesday with South African President Jacob Zuma at the presidential residence in Durbin.

Fresh from three days of wedding festivities in Monaco last weekend, the South African-born bride and her groom arrived in her native country Tuesday, in time for the International Olympic Committee reception and annual meeting in Durban. The prince is a member of the committee.

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Both are former Olympians, he as part of the Monaco bobsled team and she was a swimmer for South Africa. They met several years ago at an Olympics event in South Africa.

According to AFP published reports, the couple spent 45 minutes with the president.

"She has again done us proud by bringing us the royal in-laws from Monaco," Zuma said in welcoming Charlene, who wore a floor-length white, crocheted dress with a halter neck.

Zuma then teased Albert about a South Africa's tradition of paying for a bride with a gift of cattle to the bride's family. "We usually say you can't get a wife free of charge, you must pay lobola - the cattle," Zuma joked to the prince.

Zuma previously met the couple on Tuesday night at an IOC receptionto which Charlene wore a fitted, sleeveless black cocktail dress.

After greetings at the door to the residence, known as King's House, the newlyweds joined the president and his wife for lunch indoors. On their return, the couple kissed for reporters before leaving in separate cars.

Albert and Charlene are expected to host a lavish dinner reception for 400 today at the upscale Oyster Box Hotel in Umhlanga.

The warm reception the newlyweds are receiving in Africa has overshadowed reports that the princess tried to flee home from Monaco several times before her nuptials. She was reportedly upset over reports that the prince, who has two illegitimate children, may have fathered another child out of wedlock.