In a candid interview, Princess Charlene of Monaco has opened up for the first time about a personal family tragedy that continues to ignite her passion for one of her closest causes.

In an interview with the French newspaper Ouest-France (as reported in the Monaco Tribune), the Princess revealed that her cousin Richard died by drowning at age five, when she was also a child, and this has inspired her lifelong passion for water safety awareness.

"Richard drowned in a river, very close to my uncle’s house. He was only five years old,’ Princess Charlene told the newspaper. "It was devastating for our whole family. I don’t think that kind of pain ever really goes away."

This type of family tragedy has inspired Charlene to consistently advocate for greater awareness of water safety, as well as promoting swimming lessons, which she believes should be a "fundamental right, just like learning to read".

"Cost should never be a barrier to acquiring a life-saving skill," she says.

Charlene has shared this sad family past for the first time as it’s reported the wife of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, was "deeply concerned by the sharp rise" in drownings this summer. According to the Monaco Tribune, there have been 193 drowning deaths in France in June and July.

Through her own foundation, the Fondation Princesse Charlène de Monaco, the Princess channels her efforts into three programmes - Learn to Swim, Water Safety, and Sport and Education. The official website includes a personal mission statement from Princess Charlene.

"I created my foundation to offer children better opportunities, show them the way through the values of sport and solidarity, and reduce deaths by drowning worldwide. Growing up in South Africa, I witnessed numerous times the devastating reality of drowning – as many children are not always prepared to face water hazards.

"Too many children die from drowning every year because they do not know how to swim, even though just a few lessons could save their lives and make them feel more confident in the water.

"Together, we can prevent drowning and secure a future for our children."

In 2025, Charlene welcomed France's First Lady, Brigitte Macron, to witness some of the work she had been doing with her Water Safety work in Monaco.

Before she married Prince Albert, Princess Charlene was a professional swimmer who represented South Africa at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.

It was the same year that she met her future husband, Albert, at a swimming competition in Monaco. They later made their public debut at the 2006 Winter Olympics and were married in July 2011.

Since its creation in 2012, Princess Charlene’s Foundation has expanded with activity in 43 countries, helping to educate and support over one million people.

Princess Charlene of Monaco has described chasing after "eternal youth" as an "illusion" as she revealed she believes ageing is something we should "accept".

Princess Charlene is admired by many around the world, both for her career as a professional swimmer and now as the Princess Consort of Monaco, and her approach to ageing is every bit as inspirational. The Princess will celebrate her 47th birthday next January and recently opened up to French magazine, Gala, about how she feels she’s changed as she has grown older. It was during this honest conversation that Princess Charlene expressed her refreshing belief that "eternal youth" isn’t achievable and that people shouldn’t chase it.

"I think you need to accept it [ageing]," she declared, as per the Monaco Tribune. "Chasing after eternal youth is an illusion. I simply try and stay as young as possible in my body and in my heart."

She was reportedly asked for her personal definition of beauty, to which she responded that it’s "something imperfect", before adding, "Nowadays, I have the impression that there is a quest for physical perfection. It is obviously unachievable."

Princess Charlene also reflected upon how she’s come to "accept" she can no longer train in the pool like she used to when she was an international swimmer. As she’s got older, she’s realised that she will have to adapt her approach to exercise slightly but still wants to embrace and enjoy the activities she has always loved.

"I walk, I cycle, I swim too, but not as much as before," she reportedly shared. "I don’t practise swimming as intensely as in the past. When I was young, I trained very hard, I challenged myself physically. These days, it’s all about moderation."

The Princess continued, "It can be quite difficult because my nature is to want to beat records, win medals and surpass my limits. But, at nearly 47 years old, I can no longer do that… my body won’t let me. My spirit and my heart might, but my body says no!"

Whilst she might not swim as "intensely" as she once did, the Princess seems to have made peace with changing up her exercise routine to ensure it still works for her. She also described her routine training for the Olympics in the past as something that made her feel "a little isolated" from her fellow teenagers sometimes.

Although it wasn’t without its challenges, Princess Charlene excelled at her swimming career, winning plenty of medals, including three medals in the 2002 FINA World Cup and a Commonwealth Games Silver Medal in the same year. It was also through her swimming that she first met her husband Prince Albert.

Opening up previously about this moment with Tatler back in 2010, she explained how she had been 22 and "focused" on the swimming competition at the time, though she instantly felt a "sense of destiny" when she and Albert crossed paths.

"I was in Monte Carlo for a swimming competition when I first met the prince," she disclosed. "I was 22 and focused. I wasn't in the emotional place for a relationship. But the moment I met Albert, I felt a profound sense of destiny. I have been quoted as saying I felt weak at the knees. That is a slightly trite way of phrasing it, but it is true - I knew he was the one."

They are now proud parents to nine-year-old twins Jacques and Gabriella and during her interview with Gala, Princess Charlene shared that spending alone time with each of them is "essential when you’re parenting twins". She noted it can be "difficult" to find time to do this and that the conversations she has with them couldn’t be more different.

"Gabriella is very inquisitive. She is very intrigued by the world and life in general. She asks lots of questions and demands a lot of attention. As for Jacques, he’s curious and observant. He’s more reserved, and is calmer by nature," she declared.

Princess Charlene’s poppy red jumpsuit has proved why this bright tone is a must-have for your wardrobe.

With the return of grey skies and rainy days in the UK the time has come to start packing away our favourite summer staples and focusing on our autumn capsule wardrobe, as well as those key pieces that will also see us through into winter. Of course, it’s perhaps a little too early to be getting massively excited for the festive season too, but plenty of tones double as autumnal and festive - including red. We’re huge fans of this surprisingly wearable statement colour and after seeing Princess Charlene of Monaco’s red jumpsuit outfit for the traditional Monaco annual picnic, we’re even more inspired to wear it a lot this season. 

The senior royal has often been spotted embracing scarlet clothes and her jumpsuit on this balmy day in Monaco would work just as well as a special occasion look in colder climes. Whilst the typical “wedding season” might be over, autumn and winter weddings are popular too and this would be one of the best jumpsuits to wear to something like this.

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Princess Charlene’s jumpsuit was a fabulous poppy red and had an asymmetric off-shoulder design. Not quite a boat neck, not quite bardot, it created a lovely drape to the fabric that led into the angel sleeve on the right. This was so feminine and beautiful and the jumpsuit had a softness to the silhouette too.

This likely made it very comfortable for the Princess of Monaco to wear, as well as ensuring it had a more relaxed feel to it for the picnic. The wide-leg cut accentuated this and mirrored the flowy right sleeve. If you’ve never been sure about wearing red, you’d be surprised how easy to style it is. Red is a bold hue but it could sensationally with neutral shades like black, white and camel and also looks amazing with denim.

For an evening out, an autumnal wedding or, dare we say it, a Christmas party, a red jumpsuit like this would be such a brilliant choice. Layer over a neutral blazer or longline coat to keep warm and your favourite heels or heeled boots. Metallic accessories would also give a red outfit a sprinkle of glamour ready for Christmas, but on the warm autumn day Princess Charlene finished off her look by simply wearing conker-brown court shoes and adding a matching waist belt.

Court shoes are classic and the Princess’s had a pointed toe and stiletto heel and the belt highlighted her waist and added a little more structure. They looked wonderful with her red jumpsuit and Princess Charlene even added an autumn/winter twist to her hair.

Known for her bright blonde bob, her hair for the picnic was more brunette-toned, with highlights and she wore it pushed back from her face, tucked behind her ears. Princess Charlene’s base makeup was very glowy and pared-back, though she tied in her lipstick colour to her red jumpsuit. 

She attended the picnic with her husband Prince Albert and their children Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, as well as around a thousand guests. The annual picnic has been likened to the British Royal Family’s garden parties and is a huge event in the social calendar in Monaco, so it’s no surprise that Princess Charlene went all-out with her red jumpsuit. 

Princess Charlene of Monaco swerved the classic little black dress and wore a dramatic black co-ord in Paris.

Some items will always be considered classic pieces we should have in our wardrobe, like a pair of the best white trainers, to the perfect jeans and a tailored blazer. Perhaps the most classic of all is the little black dress, but for those who don’t want to wear a shorter dress or just prefer more structured pieces, a black jumpsuit or co-ord is a beautiful alternative. A black co-ord has the same elegance as a LBD and Princess Charlene of Monaco showed this in style when she opted for an all-black outfit in Paris the night before the 2024 Olympics Opening Ceremony. 

The retired professional swimmer and her husband Prince Albert attended a gala dinner at the Louvre which was hosted by the International Olympic Committee and French Presidency. Going for glamour, Princess Charlene wore an Alexander McQueen black fitted top with a fabulous frill running from the back and down one shoulder. 

Recreate Princess Charlene's Co-Ord Look

There was ruching galore on this statement piece and it had a longline length and fell over the top of her Alexander McQueen trousers, creating the illusion that it was a jumpsuit. The trousers were wide leg and full length, with a bow that led into a train that would be worthy of any Hollywood red carpet. It draped downwards right to the floor and was a fashion-forward addition to this very timeless pair of trousers. 

The combination of the two together was inspired as not only did it look like one of the best jumpsuits out there, but it had real impact and keeping to one colour had a leg-lengthening effect. The Princess of Monaco’s co-ord is particularly luxurious and stunning, but it’s easy to take inspiration from her outfit in Paris and recreate it in a more wearable way.

Styling a more unique black top, perhaps with one shoulder or a halterneck, with a pair of plain black wide leg trousers is a great alternative if you want a similar look for an evening out or event. Princess Charlene, who competed in the South African swimming team at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, kept to the same colour palette with her heels and accessories. Her bag was a Louis Vuitton Slim Trunk Bag which she carried by the chain like a top handle bag as she arrived for the gala dinner. 

The silver hardware on this bag added the only point of colour contrast in the royal’s outfit and she matched her silver-toned statement earrings to this. The pops of silver brightened up her look and oozed glamour. Princess Charlene has loved short bob hairstyles for many years now and wore her hair in a side parting and pushed behind her ears for the event, allowing her earrings to be even more visible. 

It was a fabulous outfit from Princess Charlene and it’s not clear how long she and Prince Albert will remain in Paris for and if they might stay to watch the Paris 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony on 26th July. The week before they travelled to France, the couple attended the 75th annual Monaco Red Cross Ball Gala charity event. 

For this special occasion Princess Charlene opted for a white bardot-neckline gown that was just as breath-taking as her black co-ord and added a gold waist belt and a gold and tortoiseshell mini bag. 

Princess Charlene’s cherry red outfit has proved why a vibrant jumpsuit should be your go-to occasion wear outfit this summer.

Occasionwear dressing can be tricky and sometimes we want something a little more tailored than our favourite floaty dresses but a bit bolder than a trouser suit. It’s times like this when we find ourselves reaching for our best jumpsuits and if you haven’t yet added one to your summer wardrobe, you’d be surprised at how easy they are to wear and style. A lightweight, neutral linen or cotton is perfect for summer days, but for events a bright one is perfect and the Princess of Monaco has showcased this in sensational style. Princess Charlene’s cherry red jumpsuit was her magnificent outfit of choice as she and Prince Albert visited an exhibition of 40 Olympic Torches in his private collection.

For this special evening out it’s hardly a surprise that Princess Charlene went for such a stand-out outfit. Her jumpsuit was the £2,191 Elie Saab Cady Jumpsuit which has fabulous flared trouser legs and a fitted bodice.

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It’s sleeveless, making it perfect for hot weather occasions and the gathered draped neckline is so pretty. Accentuating this particular design detail was an Elie Saab monogram brooch that added a touch more glamour to this already gorgeous outfit. Princess Charlene’s jumpsuit has practical side pockets and is luxuriously silk lined too. This piece would look stunning for any wedding, garden party or formal occasion no matter the colour, but this red shade elevates it to new heights.

It might seem daunting to style given how bright it is but a vivid red like this goes beautifully with white, beige, cream, black and navy which are all neutral tones many of us will already wear a lot of. Metallic shoes and bags would also look amazing with a red jumpsuit and unless you love clashing colours, keeping the rest of your look simple like Princess Charlene did is a great way to wear a red jumpsuit.

Alternatively if you have been inspired by the colour of Princess Charlene’s cherry red jumpsuit then accessories or perhaps a top or skirt in this shade can make wearing it a little easier. The Princess of Monaco, though, made her look even more bold by matching her lipstick to her jumpsuit. A red lip is a classic and reminds us of Hollywood icons, including Princess Charlene’s late mother-in-law, Grace Kelly. 

Princess Charlene’s shoes weren’t all that visible in photos taken during her and Prince Albert’s visit to the exhibition, but they looked to be open toe metallic sandals. Heeled sandals are timeless, though if you wanted to be comfier and dress down a red jumpsuit a little more, then your best white trainers would also be a great style accompaniment.

The Princess wore her short blonde hair sleek and straight, with a centre parting and wore very few jewellery pieces which helped to ensure that Princess Charlene’s cherry red jumpsuit was the star of this fashion show. It’s a vibrant look from her and we loved seeing this style switch-up from the Princess of Monaco, who has recently been pictured in more neutral outfits like the beautiful white one-shoulder gown she wore at the 63rd Monte-Carlo Television Festival in June.

Princess Charlene of Monaco is fast becoming a royal fashion icon. With a packed diary of glamorous events and appearances, the royal is regularly pictured in polished and stylish outfits. Charlene always manages to perfect regal style, even when wearing jeans. 

For the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, held at the prestigious Monte-Carlo Country Club the royal gave us a masterclass on how to style white jeans in a chic and sophisticated way, pairing her straight-leg denim with a double-breasted blazer and a classic striped shirt. 

Pointed black kitten heels added some height and elegance to the finished look. It was power dressing with a more relaxed Monte Carlo spin and Charlene looked as effortlessly chic as usual.

White jeans, once viewed as one of the more intimidating fashion trends, have been given an integral place in our spring capsule wardrobes. White jeans outfits can be worn all year round, but as in Princess Charlene's case, they lend themselves to spring dressing perfectly. 

Charlene visited the Monte-Carlo Masters alongside Prince Albert and her son Prince Jacques, with the whole family showing their sartorial prowess in complementary tones. Jaques looked smart in a white shirt tucked into cream trousers, with a dark blue blazer similar to his mother's. You can certainly see the family resemblance!

While it's not clear exactly which designer the Princess favours when it comes to shopping for the best jeans, there are plenty of lookalike options on the high street if you want to mimic Charlene's spring look. 

Replicate Princess Charlene's White Jeans Outfit

Princess Charlene showed off her style expertise again recently when she stepped out in a pair of white cargo pants. 

While cargos can be synonymous with laid-back looks, often paired with the likes of trainers, Princess Charlene demonstrated that they can be sported as part of a super sophisticated outfit. 

The loose-fitting trousers with utility-esque pocket detailing added a casual touch to Charlene's look - but she made sure to elevate it with a pair of classic black stiletto heels. 

Adding a timeless black jacket, Charlene kept the silhouette of her top half form-fitting and sleek, creating a look that we'll be taking notes on next time we have a smart-casual dressing brief. 

It’s rare to see royalty dress in contemporary staples such as cargo pants, but Princess Charlene of Monaco has shown exactly how to elevate the everyday, casual trousers to something far more elegant. 

Cargo pants are one of the nostalgic items from the noughties that have had a resurgence in recent years and made their way back into mainstream fashion, becoming one of the biggest spring/summer fashion trends for 2024. 

On Saturday 27th April, Princess Charlene attended the E-Prix at Circuit de Monaco in Monte-Carlo and stepped out in a twist on the classic cargo pant in a chic monochrome outfit. Her majesty wore Louis Vuitton cargos in the shade, Blanc Casse, which retail for £1,830. 

These high-end military inspired trousers are a twist on the staple, everyday cargos as they boast a tailored look with utility detailing and a loose straight-cut silhouette. They’re both comfortable and chic option with a thick adjustable waistband to provide a tapered fit around the waist.

Cargos provide that streetwear style look without being too casual, making them the ideal alternative for a pair of your best jeans.  Princess Charlene paired hers with another iconic piece from the same designer, the Wetsuit Pull Tailored Jacket. 

At £3,000, it’s a striking, smart jacket that has been inspired by scuba suits with its front fastening and functional appearance.  

The hemline also boasts sharp points for a formal finish to the jacket through its clean lines that add a smart edge on top of these structured cargo pants. She matched her jacket to her pointed-toe black leather Louis Vuitton pumps, which are a firm favourite in the princess’ wardrobe. 

Every woman needs a staple pair of go-to heels to dress up an outfit, and these scrappy stiletto heels are a timeless investment piece - just like JLo's coffee-coloured slingbacks. 

It’s not the first time Princess Charlene has shown how chic and versatile her style is, as she stepped out in a pin striped blazer and cat eye sunglasses at the Sainte Devote Rugby Tournament with her husband Prince Albert earlier this month.

One of this season’s staples is a linen-blend blazer another trend that is so popular even royalty are finding ways to wear them. 

Princess Charlene's white pinstripe blazer looked unbelievably chic with her ultra blonde pixie cut and cat eye sunnies.

The Royal Families of Europe are embracing spring styling with open arms and Princess Charlene has made a case for having not only a striped blazer but also a classic pair of cat eye sunglasses in your spring capsule wardrobe. Stepping out with her husband Prince Albert of Monaco on Saturday 20th April, Princess Charlene was the epitome of chic as she attended the Sainte Devote Rugby Tournament. For this sunny spring day in Monaco, Princess Charlene opted for a transitional look that expertly blended denim and tailoring.

She shied away from the spring/summer fashion colour trends for 2024 with her choice of a pair of dark blue ankle-grazer jeans, a white crew-neck top and a cream and navy pinstripe blazer. Designed by Ralph Lauren, Princess Charlene’s blazer is crafted from a cotton-linen blend and has an elegant longline cut.

This worked perfectly with her high-waisted jeans to give a leg-lengthening effect, whilst the subtle pinstripe pattern brought the two main shades of her outfit together cohesively. The structure of the tailoring was offset slightly by the fabric which softened the blazer and meant it didn’t have an overwhelmingly formal appearance.

Princess Charlene continued her smart-casual look with some equally stand-out accessories, including an Hermes belt and Manolo Blahnik pointed toe pumps, as well as her fabulous cat eye sunglasses from Louis Vuitton. These feature a gold-toned brand logo down the side and a matching gold-toned section on the arms.

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The hardware coordinated perfectly with her belt and the darker sunglasses added an edge to Princess Charlene’s outfit and echoed the blue-black of her jeans. Cat eye sunglasses naturally evoke a sense of glamour and whilst they are one of the biggest sunglasses trends for 2024, this shape has an inherent timelessness to it.

Hamish Tame, Chief Creative & Commercial Officer at Le Specs, previously told woman&home, “Feminine, chic, and fabulous for every day, a pair of cat eye sunglasses will last you for many seasons to come. Try a slimline version for a more directional, sleek look, or go for an oversized version if you want something more glam.”

The Princess of Monaco’s glasses were slightly more oversized and hers worked beautifully with her ultra-blonde pixie cut. Over the years Princess Charlene has loved switching up her hairstyle and after her style transformation in May last year when she dyed her hair brown, she’s returned to her favoured bright blonde shade.

Short at the back with longer lengths on top swept into a side-parting, Princess Charlene’s shiny blonde hair accentuates her gorgeous face shape - as do her cat eye sunglasses. Her outfit for a day at the rugby was a fabulous example of spring dressing, with enough layers to keep her warm in case of a chilly breeze.

She also showcased how effective it can be to keep within a limited colour palette and opt for classic designs over trend-lead pieces. The Sainte Dévote Rugby Tournament she attended was organised by the Monegasque Rugby Federation in partnership with the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation. It invites under 12 rugby 7s teams from around the world to participate in a day of competition and activities.

Recently, Princess Charlene of Monaco wore a really incredible ensemble of a herringbone coat with some simple gold hoop earrings, which perfectly complemented her sophisticated pixie cut.

The Rugby World Cup final game had everyone on the edge of their seats on Saturday, including Princess Charlene of Monaco - who no doubt was super proud of her African heritage as she celebrated the Springboks' triumphant win against New Zealand. She glowed from pride for her home team - and from the incredible outfit she was wearing for the nail-biting match in Paris. 

For the event, she wore a truly stunning ensemble of a structured, oversized herringbone coat, which featured some chic black buttons on the sleeves and on the lapels of the coat.

Underneath of the super chic coat, she wore a stunning black turtleneck top and some sleek black cigarette trousers, which stuck a perfect balance between casual and sophisticated for the big game. 

Aside from her fashionable winter coat, she also styled her pixie cut perfectly, which she just recently dyed a lighter colour. Before, she was rocking a darker, ashy brunette, but now the Princess is wearing a lighter, blonder shade. Either way, she looks gorgeous - but we're totally digging the blonde pixie on her. 

She perfectly complemented the pixie cut by pairing it with some simple gold hoop earrings, which were the perfect addition of elegance to her already very chic outfit. 

Prince Albert of Monaco also looked rather dapper, wearing a navy blue suit and red tie for the match - and he wasn't shy about sharing affection with the Princess in regards to their excitement about the Springboks' taking the lead. 

Earlier this year, the royal mysteriously deactivated her Instagram account, causing royal fans to gossip about the ins and outs of Princess Charlene's private life - especially her marriage. She addressed any incoming rumours head on to the South African news outlet, News24. 

"I find the rumours [about my marriage] tiring and exhausting," she told the outlet. "There's nothing wrong with our marriage."

She confirmed that she deactivated her Instagram account in an effort to protect the privacy of her children as they began school back in September. 

Looking for staples that will help you achieve that same simple elegance energy that Princess Charlene so effortlessly pulls off? Look no further - we've found some great pieces that can help you recreate the look.