Charlene, Princess of Monaco facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charlene |
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Princess Charlene in 2020
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| Princess consort of Monaco | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tenure | 1 July 2011 – present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | Charlene Lynette Wittstock 25 January 1978 Mater Dei Hospital, Bulawayo, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) |
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| Father | Michael Wittstock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mother | Lynette Humberstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Swimmer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Signature |  |
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Charlene (French: Charlène; born Charlene Lynette Wittstock, 25 January 1978) is the Princess of Monaco. She is married to Prince Albert II. Before her marriage, Charlene was an Olympic swimmer for South Africa.
Charlene was born in Bulawayo, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Her family moved to South Africa in 1989. She started her swimming career in 1996, winning the South African Championship. She represented South Africa at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Her team finished fifth in the 4 × 100-metre medley relay. Charlene stopped professional swimming in 2007.
Charlene met Prince Albert at a swimming competition in Monte Carlo, Monaco, in 2000. They married on 1 July 2011. On 10 December 2014, she gave birth to twins, Princess Gabriella and Hereditary Prince Jacques. Princess Charlene's charity work focuses on sports, AIDS, and helping children in need. She started the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation in 2012. This foundation supports her efforts to help people.
Contents
Early Life and Family Background
Charlene Lynette Wittstock was born on 25 January 1978. She was born at Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Her father, Michael Kenneth Wittstock, was a sales manager. Her mother, Lynette, was a competitive diver and swimming coach.
The Wittstock family has German roots. Her great-great-grandparents moved to South Africa from Germany in 1861. They were looking for a better life. Charlene also has some Irish ancestry.
Charlene has two younger brothers. Gareth is a businessman in Monaco. Sean works in promotions in South Africa. Her family moved to South Africa in 1989 when she was 12 years old. She went to Tom Newby Primary school in Benoni, near Johannesburg.
Her Swimming Career Highlights
Charlene Wittstock won three gold medals and one silver medal. This was at the 1999 All-Africa Games in Johannesburg. She also represented South Africa at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games. She won a silver medal in the 4 × 100 m medley relay in 2002.
She was part of the South African women's 4×100 m medley team. They competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics and finished fifth. Wittstock also finished sixth in the 200 m breaststroke at the 2002 FINA Short Course World Championships.
Throughout her swimming career, Charlene taught swimming lessons. She helped children who did not have many opportunities. She aimed to compete in the 2008 Summer Olympics but did not qualify. She had been out of competitive swimming for 18 months due to a shoulder injury.
Marriage to Prince Albert II
Charlene Wittstock met Albert II, Prince of Monaco, in 2000. They met at a swimming event in Monaco. They first appeared as a couple at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics.
On 23 June 2010, the palace announced their engagement. Charlene, who was raised a Protestant, converted to Catholicism. This was not a rule in Monaco, but she chose to do so. She also learned French and the Monégasque dialect.
The couple had a civil wedding ceremony on 1 July 2011. It took place in the Throne Room of the Prince's Palace. A religious ceremony followed on 2 July in the palace courtyard. Archbishop Bernard Barsi led the ceremony.
On 30 May 2014, the palace announced Charlene was expecting. On 9 October 2014, it was confirmed they were expecting twins. On 10 December 2014, her twins were born. Princess Gabriella was born first, followed by Hereditary Prince Jacques. Jacques is the heir apparent to the throne.
Princess of Monaco and Her Work
Since 2009, Princess Charlene has been the honorary president of Ladies Lunch Monte-Carlo. She has also been involved with the Nelson Mandela Foundation since 2010. In May 2011, she became a global ambassador for the Special Olympics. She promotes respect and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities. She feels this movement is important because she was an athlete herself.
In July 2011, she became a co-patron of Giving Organizations Trust. This group of South African charities works with AIDS, children in need, and the environment. Princess Charlene is also a trustee of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA. She attends their annual awards ceremony.
Charlene often takes part in fundraising events for amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research. She is the honorary president of Monaco Against Autism. In 2012, she became the patron of AS Rugby Monaco. She is also the honorary president of Monaco Liver Disorder and the MONAA association. In 2014, Charlene received the Champion of Children Award. This was for her dedication to children's rights. In 2016, she became the patron of the South African Red Cross Society.
The Princess started the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation in December 2012. Its main goal is to prevent drowning. It does this by teaching children about water safety. In September 2014, she officially presented her foundation. This was at the 10th Annual Clinton Global Initiative Meeting in New York City.
In June 2020, her Foundation made masks for people in Monaco during the COVID-19 pandemic. In October 2020, Charlene visited Tbilisi, Georgia, for her Foundation. She visited sports facilities and donated a bus to a rugby team. She also met with Paralympic athletes and visited a center for children with hearing loss. She met with the president of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili.
In January 2024, Charlene became the honorary president of Pink Ribbon Monaco. This campaign fights against breast cancer. In June 2024, Charlene was announced as a torchbearer for Monaco. This was for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. A month later, Princess Charlene and Prince Albert visited Paris. They attended the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Health Updates
In May 2021, Princess Charlene was on a trip to South Africa. She was raising awareness about rhino poaching. During this trip, she caught an ear, nose, and throat infection. She had a sinus lift and bone grafting procedure earlier that spring. This condition made it hard for her to fly. She could not return to Monaco for the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix.
After several medical procedures, doctors advised her to stay in South Africa. She missed her tenth wedding anniversary in June, which she said made her very sad. In August 2021, she had a four-hour surgery. In September 2021, she was hospitalized again for ENT problems. On 8 October 2021, it was announced she had a final procedure. She returned to Monaco on 8 November 2021.
On 16 November 2021, the palace announced Charlene would be resting. She canceled all her activities due to ill-health and "deep fatigue." She spent four months recovering at a clinic in Switzerland. In March 2022, the palace stated she was back in Monaco with her family. She was expected to slowly start her duties again as her health improved.
In June 2022, Charlene tested positive for COVID-19. She self-isolated following health guidelines.
Titles and Honours
Titles and Styles
Since her marriage, Charlene is known as "Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco." She also holds her husband's historical titles in the feminine form.
Honours Received
National Honours
Monaco:
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint-Charles
Recipient of the Medal for Physical Education and Sports, First Class
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Foreign Honours
France: Grand Cross of the Legion of Honor
Poland: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
Italy: Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Italy
Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Dame Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the Order of Saint John
Arms and Emblems
 Coat of arms of Charlene as Princess of Monaco |
 Royal monogram of Charlene as Princess of Monaco |
See also
In Spanish: Charlene de Mónaco para niños
