Charlène Lynette Grimaldi, Fürstin von Monaco (* 25. She also bears all historical titles vested in the Prince, in the feminine.[37]. Charlene Lynette Wittstock (Bulawayo, 25 de janeiro de 1978) é uma ex-nadadora olímpica do Zimbabwe, a esposa do príncipe Alberto II e princesa consorte de Mônaco desde 2011. Michael Wittstock said in April 2011 that he was considering moving the family from Benoni to Monaco because of South Africa's crime rate. Trivia. The ring was reported to be created by Parisian jeweller Repossi. Charlene Lynette Wittstock (Bulawayo, 25 januari 1978), een voormalige rugslagzwemster uit Zuid-Afrika, is sinds 1 juli 2011 de echtgenote van vorst Albert II van Monaco.. Ze werd geboren in de Rhodesische (het huidige Zimbabwe) stad Bulawayo als dochter van Michael Kenneth Wittstock, eigenaar van een computerbedrijf, en Lynette Humberstone, een voormalige competitiezwemster. The Wittstock family is of German origin; Charlene's great-great-grandparents Martin Gottlieb Wittstock and Louise Wittstock (née Schönknecht) emigrated to South Africa from the Pomeranian village of Zerrenthin in northern Germany in 1861 to escape hardship. On 30 May 2014, it was announced that the Princess was pregnant. [18][19][20][21] Her engagement ring featuring a pear-shaped three-carat diamond at the center and surrounding diamond brilliants. [1] The couple married on 1 July 2011. Wittstock won three gold medals and a silver medal at the 1999 All-Africa Games in Johannesburg. [24], The wedding was originally scheduled for 8 and 9 July 2011, but was moved forward to prevent a conflict with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) meeting in Durban on 5–9 July, which they both attended. ), bivša južnoafrička olimpijska plivačica, rođena u Zimbabveu, i supruga monegaškog kneza Alberta II. Select from premium Michael Kenneth Wittstock of the highest quality. 2002 FINA Short Course World Championships, Wedding of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and Charlene Wittstock, opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics, 10th Annual Clinton Global Initiative Meeting, List of honours of the Monegasque Princely Family by country, "Monaco's Prince Albert weds South African Charlene Wittstock", "Biographical details for Ms. Charlene Wittstock", "After William and Kate's wedding, preparations for royal wedding of Prince Albert of Monaco begin", "Charlenes Wurzeln Vorfahren kommen aus Zerrenthin", "Princess Charlene of Monaco's Irish ancestry revealed", "Qui est Gareth Wittstock, le parrain de la princesse Gabriella ? She decided to leave Pretoria in January 2005 and returned to Durban; she then went to the north coast of KwaZulu-Natal, where she joined a former Tuks swimming coach, Brannislav Ivkovic. Princess of Monaco. Wedding of Albert II, Prince of Monaco, and Charlene Wittstock, https://royalty.fandom.com/wiki/Charlene,_Princess_of_Monaco?oldid=26039. Januar 1978 als Charlene Lynette Wittstock in Bulawayo, Rhodesien)[1] ist eine ehemalige südafrikanische Schwimmerin und seit ihrer Heirat mit Fürst Albert II. [7][8] The Wittstock family is of German origin; Wittstock's great-great-grandparents Martin Gottlieb Wittstock and Johanne Luise née Schönknecht emigrated to South Africa from the Pomeranian village of Zerrenthin in northern Germany in 1861 to escape hardship. The couple were married in a civil ceremony on 1 July 2011 in the Throne Room of the Prince's Palace. In South Africa the Wittstocks worked as handymen and unsuccessfully hunted for diamonds. Princess Charlene also took meetings with Paralympic athletes and visited the Ai la foundation, a rehabilitation centre for children with hearing loss. ... Lynette Wittstock's daughter is Princess Charlene Of Monaco Lynette Wittstock's son is Gareth Wittstock Lynette Wittstock's son is Sean Wittstock. Wittstock finished sixth at the 2002 FINA Short Course World Championships for the 200 m breaststroke. Age. Su madre, Lynette Wittstock (nacida Lynette Humberstone en 1959), es instructora de natación retirada. Charlene attended lunch with Salome Zourabichvili, the President of Georgia, at the Ceremonial Palace of Georgia, discussing diplomatic and philanthropic matters. ", "Monaco confirms: Princess Charlene is pregnant with twins", "Monaco's Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene expecting baby", "La princesse Charlène est sur le point d'accoucher à Monaco", "Monaco's Princess Charlene, Prince Albert, welcome twins! Lynette Wittstock. Gottlieb's son Heinrich Carl Wittstock would marry Olive Florence Caldwell, of English origin. On 13 April 2007, Wittstock regained her title as South Africa's 50-metreme women's backstroke champion when she completed the 50 m backstroke final at the Telkom SA National Aquatic Championships in 30:16 seconds, to finish third behind Australia's Sophie Edington and Brazil's Fabíola Molina. Find the perfect Michael Kenneth Wittstock stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. The couple attended the IOC meeting; hence Charlene's first foreign visit as Princess was to her childhood home, South Africa. [32] The Princess regularly participates in fundraising events for amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research. As Monaco's first lady, Charlene presides at the principality's National Day celebrations, the Monaco Grand Prix, the Rose Ball (Bal de la Rose) held to raise funds for the Princess Grace Foundation, and the annual Red Cross Ball. She has been Honorary President of Ladies Lunch Monte Carlo since 2009, and associated with the Nelson Mandela Foundation since 2010. Dual Cypher of Charlene and her husbandOn 23 June 2010, the palace announced the engagement of Charlene and the Prince. HSH Princess Stéphanie. She has won several national titles over the years. HRH The Princess of Hanover By WENN ; Jul 04, 2011 She was never enrolled for any academic courses at the University of Pretoria and therefore never graduated from the University; the Club sponsored her by providing her with free access to their pools, free coaching, accommodations, and gymnasium access. [34] In June 2020, the Foundation made masks for residents of Monaco amidst COVID-19 pandemic. Age. Michael Kenneth Wittstock. They were first seen together at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics. [2] In September 2014, the Princess formerly presented her foundation at the 10th Annual Clinton Global Initiative Meeting in New York City. She has two brothers: Gareth and Sean. [7][12] The family relocated to South Africa in 1989, when Wittstock was 12 years old. Charlene Wittstock Siblings She visited the Olympic Village and sports facilities in conjunction with government officials, and later donated a travel bus to the Tbilsi Rugby Club Team. By WENN ; Jul 04, 2011 In November 2015, Charlene partnered with the Pontifical Council and attended the 20th Annual Conference for Healthcare Workers at the Vatican, where she spoke about efforts against the global downing epidemic. Princess Charlene Of Monaco. Charlene Lynette Wittstock was born on the 25th of January 1978 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe which is the former British colony of Rhodesia.. She is the daughter of Michael Kenneth Wittstock, a sales manager born in 1948, and Lynette Wittstock who is a is a retired swimming instructor born in 1957. [35] In October 2020, Princess Charlene undertook a trip to Tbilisi, Georgia, on behalf of the Foundation. Take your favorite fandoms with you and never miss a beat. The future princess was also instructed in the French language and the Monégasque dialect, and became familiar with European court protocol. Charlene said she would be swimming in Europe in the near future, hoping to better her times. [30], Charlene's advisor is Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein. Michael Kenneth Wittstock Majka Lynette Humberstone Rođenje 25. siječnja 1978. [10], She has two younger brothers: Gareth, a coffeehouses businessman in Monaco,[11] and Sean, a promotions and events businessman in South Africa. On Friday, 27 May at an Amber Lounge charity fashion show during the 2011 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix weekend, Special Olympics announced that Charlene has become a global ambassador for the movement, charged with promoting respect and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities to a worldwide audience. Gender. As a civilian, she began her swimming career in 1996, winning the South African Championship, and represented South Africa at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, with her team finishing fifth in the 4 × 100 metre medley relay. French weekly L'Express reported that Charlene tried to leave Monaco on Tuesday, 28 June, after rumours surfaced that Albert had fathered a third illegitimate child. MONACO - JULY 02: Princess Charlene of Monaco and Michael Kenneth Wittstock attend the religious ceremony of the Royal Wedding of Prince Albert II of Monaco to Princess Charlene of Monaco in the main courtyard at the Prince's Palace on July 2, 2011 in Monaco. On 13 April 2007 Charlene regained her title as South Africa’s 50 m women’s backstroke champion when she completed the 50 m backstroke final at the Telkom SA National Aquatic Championships in 30:16 seconds, to finish third behind Australia’s Sophie Edington and Brazil’s Fabíola Molina. [5] Wittstock was reported to be in tears during the wedding. Épouse du prince souverain Albert II de Monaco, elle est désormais connue comme la princesse Charlène de Monaco1. She was born in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) to a family of German, English, South African, and Rhodesian descent. These reports fueled rumours about the couple's marital crisis that was sparked off even before their wedding. [27][28] On 10 December 2014, her twins were born at The Princess Grace Hospital Centre. 72 (approx.) The family was based in Rhodesia. 1946. Charlene Lynette Wittstock est née le 25 janvier 1978 à Bulawayo, en Rhodésie, actuel Zimbabwe . Charlene, who was raised a Protestant, converted to Roman Catholicism, even though this is not a requirement of the Constitution of Monaco. Sales Manager. Her family relocated to South Africa in 1989 when she was 11 years old. Charlene[1] (née Charlene Lynette Wittstock; French: Charlène;[2][fn 1] born 25 January 1978) is the princess of Monaco and a former Olympic swimmer. Charlene was born in Bulawayo, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). In June 2012, Princess Charlene became the patron of AS Rugby Monaco. Charlene tiene dos hermanos varones: Gareth (1980), técnico informático; y Sean (1983), representante comercial. "I have a year left of competitive swimming, and I just want to be the best I can be in that time. Male. On 10 December 2014, she gave birth to fraternal twins Princess Gabriella and Hereditary Prince Jacques. She is the daughter of Michael Kenneth Wittstock (born 1946), a sales manager, and Lynette Wittstock (née Humberstone, born 1957), a former competitive diver and swimming coach. On Friday, 27 May at an Amber Lounge charity fashion show during the 2011 Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix weekend, Special Olympics announced that Charlene has become a global ambassador for the movement, charged with promoting respect and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities to a worldwide audience. She represented South Africa at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, with her team finishing fifth in the Women's 4x100 m Medley. In September 2016, Charlene attended World First Aid Day in Geneva as an ambassador for the event. Image: instagram.com, @charleneofmonaco ... Rhodesia (currently Zimbabwe) to Michael Kenneth Wittstock (born 1946), a sales manager, and Lynette Wittstock (born 1957), formerly a competitive director and swimming coach. In South Africa, the Wittstocks worked as handyworkers and unsuccessfully prospected for diamonds. [9] She was given a certificate in 2014 which verified her Irish ancestry. [5] The couple honeymooned in Mozambique. She left her Durban-based team (the Seagulls) to join the Tuks Swimming Club at the High Performance Centre at the University of Pretoria. Charlene Lynette Wittstock, née le 25 janvier 1978 à Bulawayo (Rhodésie, actuel Zimbabwe), émigrée à Benoni (Afrique du Sud), est une ancienne nageuse sud-africaine devenue membre de la famille princière monégasque. Born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, she is the daughter of Michael Kenneth Wittstock, a sales manager, and Lynette Humberstone, a former competitive diver and swimming coach. The future princess was also instructed in the French language and the Monégasque dialect, and became familiar with European court protocol. Male. [citation needed] In May 2011, Princess Charlene became a global ambassador for the Special Olympics, promoting 'respect and inclusion' for people with intellectual disabilities worldwide. Charlene Wittstock Parents . The Nuptial Mass on 2 July was a lavish affair. The palace called the stories "ugly rumours" born out of jealousy. Charlene has said that the Special Olympics movement is close to her heart because, as a former athlete, she values its role in "using the power of sport to change lives". Gareth Wittstock accède à la notoriété le 1er juillet 2011, lorsque sa sœur se marie au prince Albert et devient officiellement Charlène de Monaco. Since her marriage, her name has been Gallicised by adding a grave accent to her name in French documents.