Prince Albert II of Monaco. The queen who cannot escape: why marriage to the Prince of Monaco turned into a nightmare for swimmer Charlene Wittstock. The wife of the Prince of Monaco threatened the Russian figure skater

Marrying a prince is a dream that seems impossible to many. Seven years ago, former South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock managed to achieve it. But has the life of the Prince of Monaco’s wife turned into a reality fairy tale?

At the beginning of July, Princess Charlene and Prince Albert celebrated seven years of family life

A wedding is considered one of the most happy events in life. Well, if the groom is a prince, then the bride is automatically registered as the lucky one who managed to hit the jackpot - no less. However, Charlene Wittstock, who has proudly worn the title of Princess of Monaco for the past seven years, is ready to refute all these claims. The former professional swimmer would like to forget the day of her wedding with Prince Albert II of Monaco (and the events preceding it) as horrible dream.

At her own wedding, the bride, as if having forgotten about hundreds of high-ranking guests and cameramen and photographers recording every moment, burst into bitter tears and, it seems, never smiled. A couple of years after the celebration, the princess with a forced smile will tell reporters that she cried... from happiness. Like, in fact, she was moved by the emotional performance of the artists at the wedding.

Not everyone believed the words of Charlene, who after her marriage to Albert was almost always unusually sad. What is the ex-athlete so sad about, who made the dream of many come true and married the ruler of one of the richest states in the world? the site reconstructed the chain of events and tried to understand the reasons for Princess Charlene’s misfortune.

"Playboy" of the Monegasque court

Most representatives of the royal families of Europe try to avoid gossip and scandals so as not to spoil their reputation. However, Prince Albert III of Monaco in his youth was not very worried about his image in the press. He changed women almost every month. At one time, Kylie Minogue, Brooke Shields, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer and other world-famous beauties “claimed” the laurels of the future Princess of Monaco.

At the beginning of the 2000s, Russian figure skater Marina Anisina also dreamed of a title and luxurious jewelry. “Albert looked after me very beautifully. But why should I marry just for money? I rejected him and chose to connect my life with Nikita Dzhigurda,” said former athlete Lera Kudryavtseva in her show “Secret to a Million.”

In the 2000s, Prince Albert showed signs of attention to figure skater Marina Anisina, but she preferred his compatriot to him

Anisina, like many others, has repeatedly said that Albert is a wonderful, attentive lover. True, among those who spoke out on this subject were not only women, but also men... In the 1990s only son Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III accused of non-traditional sexual orientation. At first, the prince ignored these rumors, but his patience finally ran out.

“At first I found it funny. When everyone around me started discussing this topic, I became very angry. I’m tired of repeating that I’m not a homosexual,” Albert explained to Madame Figaro magazine.

Other facts also speak in favor of the prince. Suddenly, two women showed up and spoke in detail about the “fruits” of their meetings with Albert. Back in 1992, US real estate agent Tamara Rotolo announced that she gave birth to a daughter, Jasmine Grace, with him. Paternity was established only in 2006, when the Prince of Monaco finally agreed to undergo a DNA test. The caring father even invited his daughter to move in with him and promised to pay for her university education.

From time to time, the Prince of Monaco is discovered to have illegitimate children.

Before Albert recognized his illegitimate daughter, he had to recognize his son. A boy named Alexander was born in the summer of 2003. The child's mother, flight attendant Nicole Coste, endured it for a year and a half, and then sold the titled father of her child. It turns out that for several months she lived in the prince’s personal apartments in Paris and posed as the girlfriend of one of his friends. The prince was furious and immediately sued several reputable publications for digging through dirty laundry and unearthing something.

The scandal was so big that Albert had no choice but to declare himself the father of the boy.

After this, other women began to appear who claimed that the prince had “made them happy” too. True, they failed to achieve anything from the representative of the Grimaldi dynasty, taught by bitter experience. By that time, he had acquired a pool of the best lawyers in Europe and suddenly turned into a monogamous man.

Love at first swim?

Fans of the ruling family of Monaco were sure that Prince Albert would forever remain a bachelor. He had many women, but none of them managed to stay for long. His sister Caroline was incredibly happy about this, and back in the 2000s she mentally placed her eldest son, Andrea Casiraghi, on the throne.

No one around the prince took his passion for South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock seriously. The prince and the athlete met in Monaco in 2000 during a swimming competition. He immediately liked the pretty girl with a sporty figure, and they began to communicate.

We assume that the prince tried to conquer the swimmer with gallant courtship, but it did not work out: Miss Wittstock preferred to return home and focused on preparing for the next sporting event.

The girl dreamed of winning Olympic gold, but instead of the coveted medal, she got something more valuable - the heart of a prince.

Albert still managed to win Charlene’s favor, and at the beginning of 2006 they declared themselves a couple. The lovers arrived together at the opening of the Winter Olympic Games in Italy. Then journalists learned that Wittstock decided to move to Europe to spend more time with her boyfriend. She received a rather cold reception: the residents of Monaco found fault with the fact that she did not speak French (and was not eager to learn the language) and was generally too simple for the ruler of their state.

Meanwhile, the prince himself proudly showed off his beloved: he came with her to high-profile charity events, receptions and royal weddings. And in June 2010, Albert, who was then 52 years old, shocked the public with the news that he had finally decided to give up his bachelor life. In the official portraits on the occasion of the engagement, the prince and his bride looked happy - no one had any doubt that it was for love. In addition, the size precious stones Charlene's ring clearly signaled the giver's very serious intentions. The wedding was scheduled for July 2011.

Another of the Grimaldi family

A couple of months before the celebration, conflicting rumors began to appear in the foreign press that the bride had already changed her mind and was looking for an opportunity to return to her homeland without too much fuss. What could have changed so dramatically in just a few weeks? Was Charlene unable to come to terms with the rules of court protocol? Or did loving Albert cheat on her with someone else?

Prince Albert announced his engagement to Charlene Wittstock in the summer of 2010

Everything turned out to be much more complicated: another woman announced that she had given birth to the prince. The former swimmer was well aware that her fiancé had children out of wedlock. However, the appearance of another illegitimate offspring unsettled her, because it turned out that the prince was cheating on her. Everything was aggravated by the fact that even without illegitimate children, Miss Wittstock was not at all sweet. Princess Caroline immediately disliked her, and the people of Monaco constantly compared her to Grace Kelly (in favor of the late princess, of course). It seemed that the meek and patient Charlene would endure this, and would swallow and forget all the insults. However, Prince Albert’s bride turned out to be a rebel, even if all the “rebellions” were subsequently suppressed.

runaway Bride

At the end of June 2011, just a few days before royal wedding, it became known that the bride was ready to run away from the wedding. Charlene was detained at Nice airport while trying to fly out of the country. According to rumors, the girl only had a passport and a one-way ticket with her. She was heading to South Africa, but did not even have time to board the plane - the police had earlier sounded the alarm and confiscated documents from the would-be fugitive. The passport, of course, was handed over to Prince Albert, who was very dissatisfied with Charlene’s action.

A couple of days before the wedding, Charlene planned to run away from Albert. The third and final attempt was unsuccessful

The ruler had to persuade the former swimmer to marry him. He didn't want to cancel the wedding at the last minute because high-profile guests had already started arriving in Monaco. In addition, such a story would ultimately destroy the already not crystal clear reputation of the heir to Prince Rainier III.

Albert's representatives immediately stated that the whole story was made up by unscrupulous journalists.

“Do you even realize how stupid this gossip is? Believe me, there is not a grain of truth here. Such news is invented by envious individuals. Charlene never tried to fly anywhere and did not even think about canceling the wedding. She and Albert are very upset and cannot understand why someone would want to discredit their names,” said the head of the press service royal family Monaco Christina Stahl.

It soon became clear that this was not the first attempt to escape. Charlene began testing the waters two months before the wedding. She went to Paris, to the South African embassy, ​​and told those around her that she had flown to the French capital to try on the dress again and choose shoes to go with it. Alas, something didn’t work out, and the girl had to return to her groom. Two weeks later she tried to escape again, and again failed.

Representatives of the Prince of Monaco denied information that his bride tried to leave him on the eve of the wedding

Her father also spoke out in defense of Miss Wittstock. To at least slightly smooth out the unpleasant incident, he told about how it all happened on the air of one of the South African radio stations: “Charlene actually flew to Paris shortly before the wedding. She kept company with her mother, who could not find a hat for the celebration. This is the only time in the last few weeks that Charlene has flown anywhere.” Michael Wittstock also admitted that he adores his son-in-law and believes that his daughter pulled out a winning lottery ticket. Charlene herself clearly had a different opinion...

Married is not an abyss

“My life was filled with new meaning with the advent of Jacques and Gabriella. I will do everything in my power to make sure they grow up happy,” the new mother told the authoritative publication Paris Match.

Is loneliness boring?

After the birth of her son and daughter, the residents of Monaco, who had long refused to accept her, began to treat Charlene more favorably. Stories of escapes left an indelible imprint. “What did she want? She immediately made it clear that she would prefer to be anywhere in the world, just not here,” reasoned one of the residents of the state, talking with a journalist from The Daily Beast.

Charlene herself has repeatedly said that she is very lonely. She hardly communicates with anyone and cannot find friends.

Over the many years of living in Monaco, Charlene was never able to make friends

“I met a lot of wonderful people in Monaco, but they remained just acquaintances for me. I only have a couple of reliable friends,” the princess confessed in an interview with Tatler.

Charlene, it seems, is no longer very sad about life in a gilded cage: over the past seven years, she seems to have gotten used to her situation. I wonder if the princess will decide to divorce her unloved husband when their children grow up?

It turns out that the twins are prince Jacques(8 months) and princess Gabriella(8 months) – not the only children prince Monaco Albert II(57). Before marrying Charlene Wittstock(37) He had a very busy personal life, which resulted in two more illegitimate children. One of them is called Grimaldi(23), which will be discussed.

Jasmine Grace Grimaldi- older illegitimate daughter prince Monaco Albert II and former waitress Tamara Rotolo.

She was born in Palm Springs (California, USA), and grew up in Palm Desert And Orange County (California, USA).

Jasmine's mother Tamara met Prince Albert II in 1991 while on vacation Cote d'Azur . Holiday romance between a royal person and a waitress from California ended as quickly as it began. After the girl informed the head of state about her pregnancy, he hastened to break off all contacts with her. Therefore, Tamara had to return to USA and raise my daughter alone.

Jasmine met her father only when she was 11 years old. About the fact that she is the daughter of a prince Monaco, was officially announced on June 1, 2006, when the girl turned 14. “I dreamed of meeting my father, getting to know him better, telling him about myself. I missed my dad. I'm glad we met, even if it was so late. In any case, we now have a wonderful relationship,” the girl shared.

Granddaughter of the legendary Grace Kelly(1929-1982) knows his famous grandmother only from films, and in Monaco she visited for the first time at the age of 11. “When I was little, my mother showed photographs of my grandmother, but I did not understand at all that she was an icon. Most of all I love the photos in which she smiles. Among them there is one shot where a grandmother is standing in a swimsuit, holding an orange on a stick with such an enthusiastic look! She looks so natural and carefree,” Jasmine shares her memories. – The first time I felt that there was a connection between us was when I saw the film "High Society" with her participation. I was fascinated by her talent."

The girl graduated from an elite Catholic school in Palm Springs, where her famous father arranged for her.

As a teenager, Jasmine is like her grandmother Grace Kelly, played basketball, sang in the church choir and acted in theater productions.

Now the daughter of a prince Monaco lives in New York. She is studying at the theater department Fordham University and takes the first steps in the career of a singer and actress. ABOUT modeling business Grimaldi, 23, by her own admission, doesn't think twice about it.

Jasmine trained in vocals professionally. In college, I even sang in a friend’s band, and last February I started performing solo. According to Jasmine herself, her choice professional path grandmother indirectly influenced.

Biography

Albert has been fond of sports since childhood, and such different types like football, swimming and judo. He is a 5-time participant in the Winter Olympic Games (bobsled). Since 1985 - member of the IOC. Participant of the 1985 Dakar Rally (retired on stage 9 due to technical problems). Albert became the first sitting monarch to visit the North Pole (April 16, 2006). He actively cooperates with the UN and has won the respect of this organization, in particular, in 2006 he was appointed patron of the “Year of the Dolphin” and officially opened it on September 17, 2006.

Albert is Honorary President of the International Napoleonic Society.

Family life

Albert for a long time did not have a permanent life partner and remained single. He has two officially recognized illegitimate children (from different mothers), but they cannot inherit the throne.

In June 2010, it was announced that Albert was engaged to his fiancee Charlene Wittstock, a former swimmer and school teacher from South Africa, whose wedding took place on July 1, 2011. On July 1, 2011, a civil marriage ceremony took place, and the wedding of the newlyweds took place on July 2, 2011.

On May 30, 2014, it became known that Princess Charlene was pregnant, and on December 10 she gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. The birth took place by caesarean section. The children were named Jacques Honore Rainier and Gabriella Teresa Maria. The son received the titles Crown Prince of Monaco and Marquis de Beau, and the daughter received the titles Princess of Monaco and Countess de Carladez.

Succession to the throne

From December 10, 2014 crown prince Monaco is the son of Prince Albert Jacques.

In popular culture

James Shanklin played Prince Albert in the film "Social network" in 2010 year.

Awards

The lovely Charlene is compared by many to Albert's mother, Princess Grace. They are similar not only in appearance, but also in style and demeanor. When choosing a bride, Albert did not give in at all to his previous principles - he knew how to choose before beautiful women. Among him former lovers— Brooke Shields, Naomi Campbell, Gwyneth Paltrow and Claudia Schiffer.

For my long bachelor life The Prince of Monaco managed to have two children. His 18-year-old daughter from a fleeting relationship lives in California. A Togolese Air France flight attendant is raising a 6-year-old son. By law, these children cannot be heirs to the throne of Monaco, although DNA tests have convincingly proven Albert's paternity. The legal heirs to the throne were to be presented to Prince Albert by his future wife.

Charlene Wittstock, who became HRH Princess of Monaco, was born in Zimbabwe in 1978. When she was a teenager, their family moved to South Africa. From a young age, Charlene was a very good swimmer, and at the age of 8 she was already training seriously for several hours a day. The highlight of her sporting career was a place on the South African Olympic team at the Sydney Olympics in 2000. A year later, she met the prince at a swimming competition in Monaco. “I was 22, I was completely focused on sports and was not ready for any relationship. But when I met Albert, I realized that this was fate. I immediately felt that he was the one.”

Albert followed her to South Africa, after which they kept in constant contact, but did not appear as a couple until the Winter Olympics in Turin in 2006. She remained seriously involved in sports, and in 2007 she became the South African champion in 50m backstroke.

However, in 2008, Charlene suffered an ankle injury which ended her sports career. At the invitation of the prince, she moved to Monaco.

Albert took three many years to decide to get married. During this time, Charlene had no official status and did not build any career. She seemed to have no doubt that Day X would eventually come, but she clearly did not enjoy waiting for so long. Moreover, the people she had to communicate with in Monaco did not understand her South African humor and manners. she is frank, funny and self-critical. In addition, she still does not speak French, although she is already learning the language.

Residents of the principality hoped that their prince would marry a Catholic aristocrat of European origin, but a sporty and simple South African girl came to them. The high society of Monaco simply did not know what to do with her directness and honesty. What did the prince and the sportswoman from South Africa? First of all, sports. Albert is also a former olympic athlete, participated in four winter Olympic Games as a member of the bobsled team, and since 1985 has been a member of the International Olympic Committee. The prince also plays tennis, squash and handball, and loves judo, sailing, skiing and other sports.

Another one common topic for Albert and Charlene - protection environment. They both pay a lot of attention to the future of our planet. Given their common interests, this family had a good chance of success - even despite the prince’s turbulent past.

Today is a special day in Monaco: the reigning prince of the state, Albert II, celebrates his 54th birthday. Let us remember on this occasion the main milestones of his biography.

Albert Alexandre Louis Pierre Grimaldi was born on March 14, 1958 in Monaco at the Grimaldi Palace. He is the son of Prince Rainier III and Hollywood star Grace Kelly.

Currently, Prince Albert is one of the richest monarchs in the world: his fortune is more than a billion dollars, not counting the property of the rest of the Grimaldi family.

1967

Grace Kelly with children

Prince Albert with his sisters Caroline and Stephanie

As a child, the future prince was actively involved in sports - football, swimming, judo, tennis, rowing, fencing and other sports. And the training did not go unnoticed: greatest success Albert achieved success in bobsleigh and competed several times at the Olympic Games in this sport, then becoming a member of the International Olympic Committee. He followed a family tradition: Albert's maternal grandfather and uncle were Olympic medalists in rowing.

At the age of 28, Albert also took part in the Dakar Rally, but he never made it to the end of the race due to technical problems. And in 2006 he visited North Pole, becoming the first sitting royal to make such a journey.

Of course, as befits a monarch, Prince Albert received an excellent education. He attended Albert I High School, graduating in 1976 with honors. Then he spent a year engaged in various royal duties, and from 1977 to 1981 he was a student at Amherst College in Massachusetts, where he studied politics, economics, English literature, music and other disciplines. The prince speaks four languages ​​- French, English, German and Italian.

At the same time, Albert has always actively collaborated with many organizations, including the UN. In 2006, the prince was appointed by her as the patron of the year, which was considered the “Year of the Dolphin.” By the way, Albert II is also the Honorary President of the International Napoleonic Society.

Albert II became the reigning monarch in 2005.

On March 7, 2005, Albert's father, Rainier III, was hospitalized. And on March 31, it was announced that Albert would take over the responsibilities of his father, which he was no longer able to perform. The 47-year-old prince spent his first day as regent caring for his 81-year-old father, who was already in critical condition.

A week later - on April 6, 2005 - Prince Rainier, who ruled Monaco for more than 55 years, died, and Albert II became the new reigning prince. He ascended the throne at the end of three months of mourning - on July 12.

There was, however, a scandal. Shortly before Albert's accession to the throne, a black flight attendant named Nicole Coste announced that the future prince was the father of her two-year-old son. Albert was not afraid to recognize the child, but stated that he had illegitimate son will not affect the fate of the throne in any way. By the way, this is not the only one bastard Prince: he also has a daughter, Jazmine, from American Tamara Rotolo.

The prince's personal life - namely, his lack of a wife and legal heirs to the throne - has long caused general concern. Meanwhile, photographs of Albert in company appeared every now and then in the press different girls, among which were famous models and actresses.

The prince settled down quite recently - long-awaited wedding in July 2011. Albert's chosen one was South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock, with whom he first appeared publicly in February 2006.

Albert and Charlene