Prince Albert

II

to meet Charlene

Prince Albert II / Photo: Associated Press

Prince Albert II is the ruling prince of Monaco and Duke Valentinois since 2005, from the house of Grimaldi, the only son of Prince Rainier III and Hollywood actress Grace Kelly.

He was born in 1958 in Monaco, received an excellent education and was fond of sports since childhood.

He was engaged in football, swimming and judo.

And five more times he participated in the Winter Olympic Games as a bobsledder.

He did not achieve great success in sports, but it was thanks to sports that he met Charlene on his life path.

The girl was in the South African swimming team.

I met Albert in 2000 at a competition in Monaco.

However, their first meeting was completely inauspicious, and the second took place only six years later, in 2006, in Turin.

The prince was already 48 years old, and he, as before, was not married and gained fame as a lover.

He had affairs with many famous actresses, models and athletes.

The press reported that Naomi Campbell and Kylie Minogue were among them.

In a word, the prince's bachelor life was stormy, he even had two children out of wedlock, which he officially and publicly recognized: daughter Jasmine from a woman from California Tamara Rotolo and son Alexander from flight attendant Nicole Kost.

Princess Charlene to meet the Prince of Monaco

Charlene / Photo: Associated Press

Charlene Wittstock was born in 1978 in the Rhodesian city of Bulawayo in a family of European origins.

Her mother, Lynette, was a swimming coach, and it was probably she who suggested her daughter take up this sport professionally.

At the age of 18, Charlene won the South African swimming championship.

And four years later, as part of the South African national team, she already performed at the Olympic Games in Sydney.

Perhaps Charlene would have achieved much greater success in sports if not for a shoulder injury.

After finishing her career in professional sports, Charlene even managed to work as a school teacher before their second and fateful meeting with the Prince of Monaco in 2006 in Turin.

After that, Charlene moved to Monaco.

After moving to the palace, Charlene's life did not immediately become sweet.

Yes, Prince Albert II went out into the world with his chosen one, but for some reason he was in no hurry to marry her.

In addition, it was rumored that Albert is still having affairs, doing it behind Charlene's back.

It is hard to imagine what the future princess of Monaco felt at that time.

She moved to the palace, being just an athlete, without any titles and rich relatives, she even spoke French very poorly.

Before the prince became sensible and confessed, another four years passed.

Engagement

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene / Photo: Associated Press

In June 2010, the palace officially announced Albert's engagement to Charlene Wittstock.

And on the eve of the wedding, another scandal broke out in which the prince was involved.

Stewardess Nicole Kost, the mother of Albert's illegitimate son, told the press that all this time she did not stop her relationship with the prince and gave birth to another child from him.

Prince Albert's lawyer then issued a statement in which he declared that all the words of this woman were lies, and that Charlene and Albert II were in full swing preparing for the wedding.

The press also wrote that it was difficult for Charlene to cope with gossip of this kind and she even tried to buy a ticket and escape back to South Africa, but she was not allowed to do so by representatives of the princely court.

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene / Photo: Associated Press

And on July 1, 2011, Charlene married the prince with a smile and eyes wet with tears of either joy or sadness.

A civil ceremony was held that day, and a wedding ceremony was held on July 2.

After the wedding, the couple went on a honeymoon to Charlene's homeland, South Africa.

They settled in different hotels, which caused another wave of rumors and unpleasant gossip.

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene / Photo: Associated Press

Birth of heirs

After the prince's wedding, the couple was in no hurry to have heirs.

Princess Charlene was 33 years old at that time, and her husband was 53. There were various rumors, including that the former athlete simply cannot get pregnant.

The palace announced the good news on May 30, 2014.

They appeared in front of the audience, holding each other's hands, and it was obvious that a new stage of life was waiting for the couple ahead.

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II / Photo: Getty Images

On December 10, 2014, Charlene gave birth to her husband, son Jacques and daughter Gabriella.

After the birth of her children, Charlene stopped appearing in public for a while, the media again began to write about problems in marriage and postpartum depression in her mother.

But it is obvious that more time is needed to take care of twins, and Charlene simply never appeared in public and fulfilled her duties.

Her decree was delayed, but her return was triumphant.

The princess changed her image, cut her hair short and noticeably improved.

Now she was present next to her husband and with her head proudly raised at many social gatherings.

In 2022, the princely couple celebrated their eleventh wedding anniversary.

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert II with their children / Photo: Getty Images

Read also:

Two Daniels and a beautiful wedding: the love story of the Swedish Crown Princess Victoria