Charlene, Princess of Monaco

Charlene Lynette Grimaldi, Princess of Monaco ( born January 25, 1978 in Bulawayo, Rhodesia as Charlene Lynette Wittstock ) is a former South African swimmer and since her marriage to Prince Albert II 1 July 2011 Princess of Monaco.

Origin and childhood

Charlene Wittstock is the daughter of Michael Kenneth Wittstock ( born 1946 ), and Lynette Humberstone (* 1959). Her father has his own business while her mother worked as a swimming instructor in the past. Wittstock was born in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, but grew up with her ​​two younger brothers Gareth (* 1982 ) and Sean ( b. 1983 ) since 1990 in Benoni, a town east of Johannesburg, on. For better training conditions, she moved as a teenager to Durban.

Your great-grandparents Martin Gottlieb Wittstock and Louise were in 1861 emigrated with Gottlieb's parents and eight other siblings from Zerrenthin in Uckermark over Hamburg on board the San Francisco to South Africa. There the Wittstocks living as day laborers or sought after diamonds.

Swimming career

Wittstock appeared at first to the based in Durban Seagulls and won the 1996 South African Swimming Championships. Your biggest international achievements came at the 1999 All Africa Games in Johannesburg. There go her victory over 100m backstroke and 100m freestyle. She left her club in 2000 and joined the Tuks Swimming Club at the University of Pretoria. She was never enrolled at the university and took no courses there, but had free access to the swimming facilities, the training, the accommodation and the sports halls. In the same year she was at the Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, a member of the 4 × 100-meter medley relay in South Africa, which reached fifth place. Also in 2000, she won the gold medal in the 200 meters backstroke at the swimming competition Mare Nostrum in Monaco. 2001/2002 she won in the course of the swimming World Cup - the most important international series of short course competitions - depending on a title over 50 and 100m freestyle and the 4 × 100-meter medley relay. The same season she also belonged to at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester and won the silver medal. In the Short Course World Championships in 2002, she swam about 200 meters breaststroke to sixth place. In January 2005, Wittstock returned to KwaZulu -Natal and has since been coached by Brannislav Ivkovic, a former Tuks - trainer. Your South African championship titles over 50 meters backstroke she could win back in April 2007.

Wittstock wanted to compete in Beijing at the Summer Olympic Games in 2008, but has long suffered from shoulder problems and could not attend after all. Your active swimming career she has finished then 2007. The U.S. magazine Sports Illustrated published photos of her as a model for swimwear.

Relationship and marriage to Prince Albert II of Monaco

In 2000, Charlene Wittstock met the then Crown Prince Albert of Monaco in Monaco know. She became known to a wider audience when she accompanied Prince Albert II of Monaco at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games and the Formula 1 race at the Grand Prix of Monaco. This encouraged the speculation, it could be the future Princess of Monaco. Their presence in the traditional Red Cross Gala in Monaco end of July 2006 further fueled the wedding rumors. From May 2007 they had their residence in Monaco. Since then, it has been speculated regularly on an engagement; These rumors, however, were always denied.

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco HSH Princess Charlene of Monaco

HRH Princess Caroline of Hanover

• Andrea Casiraghi Sacha Casiraghi

HSH Princess Stéphanie of Monaco

• Louis Ducruet
• Pauline Ducruet

Wittstock now accompanied the prince regularly at official events. In 2008 and 2009 she took part on the side of Prince Albert in the traditional Rose Ball and the Red Cross Gala. On June 19, 2010 Wittstock was at the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling at Albert's side.

On 23 June 2010, the engagement of Charlene Wittstock was announced with Prince Albert by his house. Beginning of April 2011 informed the palace with that Wittstock, who grew up Protestant, the Catholic faith - is converted - the state church in Monaco. On July 1, 2011, she married Prince Albert II in a civil ceremony. An orchestra played the wedding ceremony a specially composed " Hymn to Princess Charlene ". The church wedding was held the following day, July 2nd, also held in the palace; The princess wore a wedding dress by Giorgio Armani. Celebrant was the Archbishop of Monaco, Bernard Barsi.

On the occasion of the wedding left Monaco in 2011 characterize another 2-euro commemorative coin. It is the official currency and displays the portraits of the royal couple in profile, with Charlene to sighted the head obscured by Albert II partly in the foreground.

Interests

Princess Charlene engaged before her marriage to Albert II for social projects, with an emphasis on assistance to underprivileged children. She supports her husband in his work with charities.

At their private interests include surfing, mountain climbing, Modern Art and South African literature. The Princess is a vegetarian.