Princess Charlene of Monaco has offered a glimpse into her life as a royal, former Olympian and mother of twins, revealing how the discipline she developed as an elite swimmer continues to shape her approach to royal responsibilities.
In a recent interview, the former South African Olympic swimmer spoke about balancing her official duties as the Princess of Monaco with raising her 11-year-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella.
Charlene, who married Prince Albert II in 2011, said her sporting career taught her valuable lessons about discipline, resilience and taking on challenges one step at a time.
“As an athlete, I have learned to be disciplined and to tackle one thing after the other,” she said.
She added that her official obligations provide the framework for her daily routine and that she takes pleasure in serving Monaco.
From Olympic swimmer to Monaco royal
Born Charlene Wittstock in Bulawayo, then Rhodesia, in 1978, Charlene moved to South Africa as a child and went on to establish herself as a competitive swimmer.
She represented South Africa at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games, where she competed in the 4×100-metre medley relay. Her sporting career also brought her to Monaco, where she met Prince Albert II during a swimming competition in 2000.
The couple married in a high-profile ceremony on July 1 and 2, 2011.
Three years later, they welcomed twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, born on December 10, 2014.
Family time remains a priority
Despite the demands of royal life, Charlene said spending time with her children remains important to her.
She explained that she makes sure she has enough time to care for Jacques and Gabriella and help them grow up feeling comfortable and secure.
The family also enjoys spending time outdoors.
“We enjoy joint activities, especially outdoors,” she said, highlighting the importance of connecting her children with Monaco’s Mediterranean surroundings and natural environment.
Charlene continues her Olympic connection
Charlene’s association with sport did not end after her competitive swimming career.
She serves as vice president of the Monegasque Olympic Committee, working alongside Prince Albert II, who himself competed in five Winter Olympic Games as a bobsledder.
For Charlene, the position combines her personal sporting experience with her responsibilities as a royal.
She said her experience as an Olympic athlete gives her an understanding of the pressure and expectations faced by high-level competitors.
That perspective, she added, allows her to listen to athletes and contribute to the sporting community in a meaningful way.
Lessons from sport continue inside the palace
Charlene believes many of the qualities required in elite sport are equally valuable in public life.
She pointed to resilience, humility, solidarity and teamwork as lessons that have stayed with her beyond the swimming pool.
For the Monaco royal, the transition from Olympic competition to palace life may have brought a very different kind of spotlight, but the principles remain familiar: discipline, perseverance and the ability to work as part of a team.
