[4], Charlene Lynette Wittstock was born on 25 January 1978 in Bulawayo, Rhodesia,[5] to Michael Kenneth Wittstock,[6] a sales manager, and Lynette Wittstock, a former competitive diver and swimming coach. On 13 April 2007, Wittstock regained her title as South Africa's 50-metreme women's backstroke champion when she completed the 50 m backstroke final at the Telkom SA National Aquatic Championships in 30:16 seconds, to finish third behind Australia's Sophie Edington and Brazil's Fabíola Molina. The couple divorced two years later and later the Catholic Church annulled the marriage. In 1983, Princess Caroline walked down the aisle once again when she married Stefano Casiraghi. [32], The Princess regularly participates in fundraising events for amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research. [2] Since 2010, Princess Charlene has been associated with the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Princess Caroline received her French Baccalaureat degree in 1974 with honours and continued her studies at the Sorbonne in Paris where she received a diploma in Philosophy and minors in Psychology and Biology. [3] On 23 June 2010, the palace announced their engagement. [26][27] On 10 December 2014, her twins were born at The Princess Grace Hospital Centre. For appearances at the Red Cross ball, she dazzled attendees throughout the 1970s and 1980s with delicate chiffon gowns, gold accessories and extravagant jewellery. Grace Patricia Kelly (November 12, 1929 – September 14, 1982) was an American film actress who, after starring in several significant films in the early to mid-1950s, became Princess of Monaco by marrying Prince Rainier III in April 1956. [5] The couple honeymooned in Mozambique. On 30 May 2014, the palace announced Princess Charlene's pregnancy. The couple had invited members of the IOC, including president Jacques Rogge, to their wedding.[24]. Princess Grace (Kelly) died on Sep 14, 1982 after a tragic car crash on the windy roads as she was driving from her country home to the Palace of Monaco. In November 2015, Charlene partnered with the Pontifical Council and attended the 20th Annual Conference for Healthcare Workers at the Vatican, where she spoke about efforts against the global downing epidemic. Princess Charlene of Monaco has defended her “half-hawk” buzz cut after the haircut was met with mixed reactions when the royal first unveiled it in December. Charlène de Monaco Bonjour! Both can cook and sew and play the piano and ride a horse. During a 1985 press conference in Paris, Princess Caroline officially announced the creation of the Ballet of Monte-Carlo, realizing her mother’s dream. On 11 January 1999, shortly before the wedding, Prince Ernst’s fourth cousin once removed, Queen Elizabeth II, issued this Order in Council: “My Lords, I do hereby declare My Consent to a Contract of Matrimony between His Royal Highness Prince Ernst August Albert of Hanover, Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg and Her Serene Highness Princess Caroline Louise Marguerite of Monaco.” Marrying without the Queen’s Royal Assent would mean that the marriage would have been void in Britain, according to the Royal Marriages Act 1772. In September 2007, Prince Albert II and Princess Caroline hosted a charity gala in the presence of Nelson Mandela. Since her marriage, her name has been Gallicised by adding a grave accent to her name in French documents. The Club sponsored her by providing her with free access to their pools, free coaching, accommodation, and gymnasium access. Princess Charlene of Monaco attended a Christmas gift distribution event today and debuted a brand-new look. In 1999, Princess Caroline gave birth to her fourth child, Princess Alexandra of Hanover. [2], She created the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation in December 2012, with a mission to put an end to drowning using childhood awareness and preventative measures. €2.5 million for the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s foundation for underprivileged children. [23], The wedding was originally scheduled for 8 and 9 July 2011, but was moved forward to prevent a conflict with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting in Durban on 5–9 July, which they both attended. In South Africa, the Wittstocks worked as handyworkers and unsuccessfully prospected for diamonds. Princess Caroline is dressed in a feathered gown from Chanel and was reported as exuding the elegance of her late mother, Grace Kelly, with her own sense of experimental flair. Since 2009, Charlene has been honorary president of Ladies Lunch Monte-Carlo. Happy birthday to you, Princess Charlene. She decided to leave Pretoria in January 2005, and returned to Durban; she then went to the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, where she joined a former University of Pretoria swimming coach, Brannislav Ivkovic. Princess Caroline moved her family to the village of Saint Remy-de-Provence in France so her children could grow up without the prying eyes of the press. They are sympathetic to the problems and concerns in the world today.”, When Princess Caroline was 21, she married French banker, In 1983, Princess Caroline walked down the aisle once again when she married, Nine years later, in a quiet civil ceremony on her 42nd birthday, Caroline became the Princess of Hanover when she married, The next year, she travelled to South Africa to meet Nelson Mandela. The series, which gives a glimpse of life inside the lives of the super-rich, shows Prince Albert and Princess Caroline attending an event at the Casino de Monte Carlo. [7][8] The Wittstock family is of German origin; Wittstock's great-great-grandparents Martin Gottlieb Wittstock and Johanne Luise née Schönknecht emigrated to South Africa from the Pomeranian village of Zerrenthin in northern Germany in 1861 to escape hardship. As a child, Princess Caroline spent some of her time visiting her maternal grandparents in Philadelphia. She is the eldest child of. Monaco's Princess Charlene has taken the "new year, new me" sentiment in her stride, brushing off critics of her new buzzcut.. [2][30] In October 2012, the Princess accompanied the Prince on a visit to Warsaw, Poland. Wittstock won three gold medals and a silver medal at the 1999 All-Africa Games in Johannesburg. But, above all, my children are good sports, conscious of their position and considerate of others. “Besides being good students, they are good athletes: excellent skiers and swimmers. She began her swimming career in 1996 (winning the South African Championship) and represented South Africa at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, with her team finishing fifth in the 4 × 100-metre medley relay. She also bears all historical titles vested in the Prince, in the feminine.[3]. She has been Honorary President of Ladies Lunch Monte Carlo since 2009, and associated with the Nelson Mandela Foundation since 2010. [5] Wittstock was reported to be in tears during the wedding. She represented South Africa at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games, winning a silver medal in the 4 × 100 m medley relay in the latter competition. [29], Princess Charlene's advisor is Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein. [9] She was given a certificate in 2014 which verified her Irish ancestry. In 2014, Charlene was the recipient of the "Champion of Children" Award for her commitment to children's rights, presented by the Colleagues, a social services institution. [1] The couple married on 1 July 2011. Princess Charlene of Monaco might have just become our new favorite royal. In an interview for People Magazine in 1982, shortly before her death, Princess Grace described Caroline and Stephanie as amusing, intelligent and capable girls. Donations and a charity auction raised. Charlene met Prince Albert in Monaco at the Mare Nostrum swimming meet in 2000. Charlene retired from professional swimming in 2007. Her husband, Albert II, is the reigning Prince of Monaco and head of the Princely House of Grimaldi. She planned to compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics in China as her swansong, but did not qualify. Princess Caroline and Prince Albert open up in a new book, Albert II of Monaco, The Man and The Prince Monaco's Royal Siblings Unite! She is known to the public as a royal with style, poise and generosity. When Princess Caroline was 21, she married French banker Philippe Junot. She is currently the honorary president of Monaco Against Autism. [31] She has stated that the movement is close to her heart as a former athlete, and values its role in "using the power of sport to change lives". In the 1960s, when she was a young girl, she would alternate between classy outfits and contemporary ensembles, wearing sombre grey dresses with white ties for some occasions and trendy denim jackets with flared jeans for others. At the request of her father, Princess Caroline took on a number of high-profile roles, including becoming the President of the Princess Grace Foundation, the Garden Club of Monaco, the Springtime Arts of Monte-Carlo and the Red Cross. Princess Charlene of Monaco, 42, praised 'loyal' Prince Albert, 62, as she spoke with Point du Vue. [10], She has two younger brothers: Gareth, a coffeehouses businessman in Monaco,[11] and Sean, a promotions and events businessman in South Africa. Learn more about how the princess died. https://www.princessgracecollection.com/pages/princess-grace-of-monaco And today, at the age of 63, Princess Caroline was most recently named one of Europe’s most stylish royals by Vogue magazine in June 2020. On Wednesday, while attending a charity event, Princess Charlene debuted a dramatic new haircut that is so punk rock. While she's no stranger to short hair, she may have debuted the very first royal undercut. [30] In June 2020, the Foundation made masks for residents of Monaco amidst COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the years, Princess Caroline has always managed to turn heads with her impeccable style. The Princess was born on January 25, 1978 in Bulawayo, Rhodesia. [5] She accompanied him to the weddings of the Crown Princess of Sweden in 2010 and of the Duke of Cambridge in 2011. ", "Monaco confirms: Princess Charlene is pregnant with twins", "Monaco's Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene expecting baby", "La princesse Charlène est sur le point d'accoucher à Monaco", "Monaco's Princess Charlene, Prince Albert, welcome twins! Throughout her career, Wittstock gave swimming lessons to underprivileged children. Her personal friend, Chanel head designer Karl Lagerfeld, presented her with the award. Over 600 guests, including Grace Kelly’s friends Gregory Peck and Frank Sinatra, attended the grand wedding ceremony. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. [2] In September 2014, the Princess formerly presented her foundation at the 10th Annual Clinton Global Initiative Meeting in New York City. Princess Charlene's charity work primarily revolves around sport, AIDS and underprivileged children. She visited the Olympic Village and sports facilities in conjunction with government officials, and later donated a travel bus to the Tbilisi Rugby Club Team. In 2003, the Director-General of UNESCO appointed the Princess as Goodwill Ambassador in recognition for her personal commitment to programs for the education of women and girls. Charlene met Prince Albert in Monaco at the Mare Nostrum swimming meet in 2000. 3 Grimaldi Children Photographed Together for First Time in Years Her comments are her first since claims arose he is facing a paternity suit over a third love child. During an interview just one year after his wife’s death, Prince Rainier said that Princess Caroline stepped into her mother’s shoes with the same spirit as her mother. “Besides being good students, they are good athletes: excellent skiers and swimmers. Princess Caroline Louise Marguerite was born in the Prince’s Palace on 23 January 1957. In 2012, Princess Charlene became the patron of AS Rugby Monaco and also the honorary president of Monaco Liver Disorder and the MONAA association. The Princess was born in Bulawayo, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), the daughter of Michael and Lynette Wittstock; the family relocated to South Africa in 1989. Donations and a charity auction raised €2.5 million for the Nobel Peace Prize winner’s foundation for underprivileged children. Wittstock finished sixth at the 2002 FINA Short Course World Championships for the 200 m breaststroke. Charlene met Prince Albert at the Mare Nostrum swimming competition in Monte Carlo, Monaco, in 2000. Ten years later, the couple became engaged, and in July 2011 they officially wed. No royal titles were bestowed upon Princess Caroline’s children in the hopes that they would lead somewhat normal lives. [5] She attended Tom Newby Primary school in Benoni, near Johannesburg, from 1988 to 1991.[13]. The couple were married in a civil ceremony on 1 July 2011 in the Throne Room of the Prince's Palace. Charlene attended lunch with Salome Zourabichvili, the President of Georgia, at the Ceremonial Palace of Georgia, discussing diplomatic and philanthropic matters. ", "Meet Aiva-Grace, Princess Charlene's adorable new niece", "Charlene Wittstock remembered at former primary school", "Apple of Prince Albert's eye makes a splash", "Monaco's Prince Albert to marry Charlene Wittstock", "Fit for a princess: Prince Albert and Charlene guests of honour at Grace Kelly exhibit", "Prince Albert of Monaco engaged to Charlene Wittstock", "Marriage Princier 2011 Website, Frequently Asked Questions", "Why Princess Charlene of Monaco Converted to Catholicism and How She Finds 'Spiritual Balance' in Church", "Crown jewels: The fabulous rings which sealed the love of Europe's royal couples", "Prince Albert and Charlene change wedding date", "Honeymoon Over for Monaco's Royal Couple? When Princess Grace died in 1982, Princess Caroline served as the de facto first lady of Monaco. For appearances at the Red Cross ball, she dazzled attendees throughout the 1970s and 1980s with delicate chiffon gowns, gold accessories and extravagant jewellery. [2] Princess Charlene is a trustee of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, and attends their annual awards ceremony. Today is January 25 and Princess Charlene of Monaco celebrates her 43rd birthday. [31] In July 2011, Princess Charlene became a co-patron of Giving Organisations Trust, a group of South African charities that work with AIDS, underprivileged children, and environmentalism. She is the eldest child of Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly. They are sympathetic to the problems and concerns in the world today.”. 2002 FINA Short Course World Championships, Wedding of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and Charlene Wittstock, opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics, 10th Annual Clinton Global Initiative Meeting, List of honours of the Monegasque Princely Family by country, "Monaco's Prince Albert weds South African Charlene Wittstock", "Biographical details for Ms. Charlene Wittstock", "After William and Kate's wedding, preparations for royal wedding of Prince Albert of Monaco begin", "Charlenes Wurzeln Vorfahren kommen aus Zerrenthin", "Princess Charlene of Monaco's Irish ancestry revealed", "Qui est Gareth Wittstock, le parrain de la princesse Gabriella ? Princess Caroline stays out of the limelight and rarely talks to the press, but her philanthropy, elegance and fashion sense speak louder than words. In December 2011, the ‘World Association of Children’s Friends’ honoured Princess Caroline for her “tireless endeavours in continuing the organisation’s legacy”. Wittstock, who was raised a Protestant, converted to Roman Catholicism, despite it not being a requirement in the Constitution of Monaco. [21][22] [35], Since her marriage, Charlene has been styled as Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco. [25] The religious ceremony took place in the courtyard of the palace on 2 July, and was presided over by Archbishop Bernard Barsi. Princess Caroline’s sense of style piqued the interest of the UK public after ‘Inside Monaco’, a three-part BBC documentary series, aired in June 2020. [30] In May 2011, she became a global ambassador for the Special Olympics, promoting 'respect and inclusion' for people with intellectual disabilities worldwide. ♡ Account dedicated to HSH The Princess of Monaco (Charlene Lynette Wittstock), South African former Olympic swimmer and wife of Albert II Nine years later, in a quiet civil ceremony on her 42nd birthday, Caroline became the Princess of Hanover when she married Prince Ernst August of Hanover. Princess Charlene of Monaco has admitted it is 'sometimes hard to smile' after an 'incredibly painful year'. She is the wife of Prince Albert II and mother to Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella. At the age of 33, Caroline suddenly became a widow when Stefano Casiraghi was tragically killed during a boat race. She also was a member of the South African women's 4×100 m medley team at the 2000 Summer Olympics, which finished fifth. Princess Charlene also took meetings with Paralympic athletes and visited the Ai la foundation, a rehabilitation centre for children with hearing loss. The daughter of Princess Grace of Monaco has been a passionate supporter of the French fashion house for decades, forming a close friendship with its late, great creative director, Karl Lagerfeld By Rebecca Cope. Portrait of Princess Caroline: Love and Philanthropy, Princess Caroline Louise Marguerite was born in the Prince’s Palace on 23 January 1957. Princess Caroline’s sense of style piqued the interest of the UK public after ‘Inside Monaco’, a three-part BBC documentary series, aired in June 2020. Actress Grace Kelly became Princess of Monaco through marriage and captivated the world until her untimely death. Charlene[1] (née Charlene Lynette Wittstock; French: Charlène;[2][fn 1] born 25 January 1978) is the Princess of Monaco and a former Olympic swimmer. The future princess was also instructed in the French language and the Monégasque dialect, and became familiar with European court protocol. [28] Princess Gabriella was born first, followed by Hereditary Prince Jacques, who is heir apparent to the throne. In September 2007, Prince Albert II and Princess Caroline hosted a charity gala in the presence of Nelson Mandela. [14] However, she never enrolled in classes. Princess Charlene of Monaco", "Monaco, Liechtenstein and Andorra: how Europe's Principalities have battled COVID-19", "N° 8096 du VENDREDI 23 NOVEMBRE 2012 * Ordonnance Souveraine n° 4.038 du 17 novembre 2012 portant élévation dans l'Ordr", "Princess Charlene Wore Wrap Dress during Monaco's National Day Celebrations", "Photographic image of Princess Caroline of Monaco and family", "Le couple princier est arrivé en Pologne | Actualités", "Onorificenze - Dettaglio del conferimento", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Charlene,_Princess_of_Monaco&oldid=1004226797, Commonwealth Games silver medallists for South Africa, Converts to Roman Catholicism from Protestantism, Commonwealth Games medallists in swimming, Grand Crosses of the Order of Saint-Charles, Recipients of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland, African Games gold medalists for South Africa, African Games silver medalists for South Africa, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 1 February 2021, at 16:56. Princess Stéphanie of Monaco has had roles as an actress, fashion designer, singer, and philanthropist, but she’s been a fashion trend-setter throughout all of these ventures. The Princess was born on January 25, 1978 in Bulawayo, Rhodesia. Monaco's Royal Twins Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques Adorably Hold Hands at End of Summer Picnic Royals // September 09, 2019 A 66-Foot Veil and an Eagles Concert! UNICEF honoured her with the Children’s Champion Award in 2006. But, above all, my children are good sports, conscious of their position and considerate of others. Princess Charlene, 43, visited the Monaco Cathedral this morning for a ceremony in honour of Saint Devote wearing a black frock with Prince Albert, 62, by her side. Wittstock met Albert II, Prince of Monaco, in 2000 at the Mare Nostrum swimming meet in Monaco. [2] She left her Durban-based team (the Seagulls) to join the Tuks Swimming Club at the High Performance Centre of the University of Pretoria. [34] In October 2020, Princess Charlene undertook a trip to Tbilisi, Georgia, on behalf of the Foundation. Through life’s ups and downs, she has had the responsibility and sense of duty to put her humanitarian associations, her family and her children first. Princess Stephanie of Monaco's daughter is no longer a little girl! In September 2016, Charlene attended World First Aid Day in Geneva as an ambassador for the event. The series, which gives a glimpse of life inside the lives of the super-rich, shows Prince Albert and Princess Caroline attending an event at … Both can cook and sew and play the piano and ride a horse. The Princess was born in Bulawayo, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), the daughter of Michael and Lynette Wittstock; the family relocated to South Africa in 1989. [7][12] The family relocated to South Africa in 1989, when Wittstock was 12 years old. The next year, she travelled to South Africa to meet Nelson Mandela. Princess Charlene and Prince Albert of Monaco are celebrating their twins Princess Gabrielle and Prince Jacque's sixth birthday this week with a … Princess Alexandra of Hanover: a Thoroughly Modern Royal In Tune with the 21st Century, Beatrice Borromeo: Intrepid Journalist, Human Rights Activist and Mother, Hercule I, Doctor of Law and Father of The First Prince of Monaco, Princess Stephanie: Fighting For Zero Aids In Monaco And Saving The Traditional Circus For The 21st Century, Charlotte Casiraghi: Passion for Fashion and Philosophy, The House of Grimaldi: HSH Prince Albert II, Remembering Grace: the legacy of the Princess of Monaco, Princess Grace: from Hollywood to Monaco trone, Pauline Ducruet: Sustainable and Inclusive High Fashion, Photo exhibition “Protecting UNESCO’s World Marine Heritage through scientific research”, Photographic exhibition “Principality of Monaco – Biodiversity under high surveillance”. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. As a child, Princess Caroline spent some of her time visiting her maternal grandparents in Philadelphia. Princess Charlene and Prince Albert of Monaco chose a sweet formal family portrait for their annual Christmas card, which was shared online by a royal fan.. Despite intensive media coverage of her life, Princess Caroline has rarely given interviews, preferring to let her vast philanthropic work speak for itself. The ring was reported to be created by Parisian jeweller Repossi. Princess Charlene of Monaco debuted a very punk new hairdo, going from experimenting with micro-bangs to a shaved half-mohawk while passing out Christmas presents to children on Wednesday. ", "Biography of H.S.H. [17][18][19][20] Her engagement ring featuring a pear-shaped three-carat diamond at the center and surrounding diamond brilliants. [3] Charlene founded the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation in 2012 to support her personal humanitarian endeavors. Her husband, Albert II, is the reigning Prince of Monaco and head of the Princely House of Grimaldi. [33] In 2016, she become the patron of the South African Red Cross Society on its 68th anniversary. In the 1960s, when she was a young girl, she would alternate between classy outfits and contemporary ensembles, wearing sombre grey dresses with white ties for some occasions and trendy denim jackets with flared jeans for others. It was confirmed on 9 October 2014 that the couple was expecting twins by the end of the year. [7][16] They made their public debut as a couple at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics. Charlene (née Charlene Lynette Wittstock; French: Charlène; born 25 January 1978) is the Princess of Monaco and a former Olympic swimmer. Throughout the years, Princess Caroline has always managed to turn heads with her impeccable style. [15] Previously, Wittstock had been out of competitive swimming for 18 months with a shoulder injury.[15]. Caroline and Stefano had three children; Andrea (1984), Charlotte (1986) and Pierre (1987).