Princess Charlene of Monaco greets members of the Red Cross of Monaco and Italy ahead of the third practice session at the Monaco street circuit on 25 May 2019 in Monaco, ahead of the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Princess Charlene of Monaco greets members of the Red Cross of Monaco and Italy ahead of the third practice session at the Monaco street circuit on 25 May 2019 in Monaco, ahead of the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix. Image: Andrej Isakovic/AFP.

‘Charlene is no Princess Di’: Friends open up about Monaco royal

People who knew Princess Charlene back in the day says that she knew exactly what she was doing when she married Prince Albert.

Princess Charlene of Monaco greets members of the Red Cross of Monaco and Italy ahead of the third practice session at the Monaco street circuit on 25 May 2019 in Monaco, ahead of the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix.

Princess Charlene of Monaco greets members of the Red Cross of Monaco and Italy ahead of the third practice session at the Monaco street circuit on 25 May 2019 in Monaco, ahead of the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix. Image: Andrej Isakovic/AFP.

After Prince Albert had to admit that Princess Charlene is not in Monaco as she is dealing with “severe fatigue”,  the London-based publication Tatler has dedicated their January 2022 cover story to the princess.

Princess Charlene in the spotlight

While the former Olympic swimmer, Princess Charlene and her husband, Prince Albert have been in the spotlight over the past 12 months due to infidelity rumours, Charlene’s health and her prolonged stay in South Africa, the magazine decided to speak to those closest to her:

The Daily Mail has seen the full report, saying that unnamed friends have shared their impressions of the young Charlene, branding her an “ambitious” swimmer determined to be the best at her sport, and a force who should not be “underestimated”.

One source rubbished any public perception that Charlene is “naive” and trapped in an unhappy marriage with Albert, saying: “I don’t for one second think she did not know what she was doing when she married him”.

From Olympic Swimmer to Princess of Monaco

Fellow swimmers who trained with Charlene in South Africa in the noughties remembered her as ambitious, laser-focused and dedicated to the sport.  

They said Charlene would spend her time practicing when other children would be playing, and could be ‘”hard on herself” when she did not perform well. 

Friends who witnessed her meet Prince Albert for the first time admitted they did not think anything suggested they’d have a romantic connection. 

People who knew the royal in her swimming days told the magazine they still hold her in high esteem today even though she has restricted her social circle. 

But one warned that she is not the type to be blindly controlled by the Monaco royal household.

“Charlene is no Princess Di,” one said. “She may come across as being extremely naïve, but nothing could be further from the truth. She is very good at keeping her smarts under wraps. I don’t for one second think she did not know what she was doing when she married him.”

Princess Charlene’s health issues

Apart from Princess Charlene’s marriage rumours, many believe that the palace of Monaco is downplaying her health problems. While she was in South Africa, the palace said that she had undergone various surgeries due to an ear, nose and throat infection.

But a source spoke to Page Six saying that her health complications are being “downplayed” and the mother-of-two has lost “half of her body weight”.

“It is unfair that she is being portrayed as having some kind of mental or emotional issue. We don’t know why the palace is downplaying that she almost died in South Africa.”