In a rare interview, the former South African Olympic swimmer reflected on life as consort to Prince Albert II of Monaco, sharing how her background in elite sports helps her handle official duties, raise her 11-year-old twins, and navigate the spotlight. For Princess Charlene of Monaco, running a royal household takes the same focus as training for the Olympics. Also read | Inside Jaipur royal family’s Teej celebrations at City Palace: Padmanabh Singh, Gauravi Kumari perform rituals
Monaco, the world’s second-smallest independent state, packs about 38,000 residents into 2.08 square kilometers of French Riviera coastline famous for luxury yachts , billionaires and Formula 1.
Born Charlene Wittstock in Bulawayo, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), in 1978, she moved to South Africa as a child. She became a world-class swimmer, representing South Africa at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, where her team finished fifth in the 4×100-meter medley relay. Also read | Indian royal family gives tour of its massive 500-acre palace in Vadodara: Roughly 4 times the size of Buckingham Palace Despite her busy royal calendar, Princess Charlene shared that she prioritises her family time with her 11-year-old twins.
For Princess Charlene, the mindset she built in the swimming lane remains her guiding principle inside the palace.
“I always make sure that I have enough time to look after Jacques and Gabriella so they can develop and feel at home,” she said, adding, “We enjoy joint activities, especially outdoors, so that I can connect them with the Mediterranean environment and its fantastic nature. “Sports require resilience, humility and solidarity… to be a team player, to respect others and to compete in a peaceful way,” she reflected.
