down Charlene refused to step away from the
fray and in turn began to fulfil her own desires
of wanting to work with charities and people
with needs greater than her own. It is with this
that at a gala event held in May 2011 at the
Amber Lounge Charity Fashion show hosted
while the buzzing of Formula 1 cars took to
the streets of Monaco, the Special Olympics
committee heralded Charlene as the global
ambassador for the Special Olympics.
aspects of promoting respect and inclusion
for all people with intellectual disabilities to
a whole new level, using both her position
in the community as well as her grace and
eloquence to aid in its promotion.
Olympics holds a special place in her heart,
as a former athlete she believes in the notion
that sport can change lives, and she uses it to
do just that.
would influence her future and bring her to
the arms of the love of her life. It was at the
Mare Nostrum swimming meet in 2000 that
Charlene met Prince Albert of Monaco but it
wasn't until much later, in 2006 at the opening
ceremony of the Winter Olympics to be exact,
that they were officially seen together as a
couple on a number of Albert's official duties
as prince.
was at the wedding of Victoria Crown
Princess of Sweden in 2010 and then again
in 2011 at the wedding of Prince William the
Duke of Cambridge.
planning their wedding for 1 July 2011.
wedding, Charlene who was raised as a
Protestant had to convert to Roman Catholic
before their wedding, she also had to learn
French the chosen language of Monaco and
in particular the Monégasque dialect, as well
as had to receive instruction on a number
of European legal and cultural elements.
Duties, which she took on with the same
grace and decorum of Albert's mother the
late Princess Grace.