Although Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco have been married for 13 years, their relationship didn’t start with a love-at-first-sight moment.
They first met at the Mare Nostrum swim meet in 2000, where Charlene was competing as a professional swimmer and Albert attended because the event was held in Monaco.
Albert shared with Paris Match, “I don’t know if we fell in love back then. After that, I didn’t see Charlene again for several years.”
Albert and Charlene began dating in 2005 and made their public debut as a couple at the opening ceremony of the 2006 Winter Olympics. Despite the initial lack of a romantic spark, Albert was impressed by Charlene’s skills and personality, noting, “I thought she was an excellent swimmer and found her friendly, cheerful, and approachable.”
The couple also shared a glimpse into their early relationship, with Albert humorously recalling getting into trouble for not “getting her ‘home’ in time.” Both royals are former Olympians—Albert competed in bobsledding across five consecutive Games, while Charlene participated in the 2000 Olympics.
In the interview, they hinted that their twin children, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, might follow in their athletic footsteps, mentioning their interests in various sports. Albert noted, “They’ve tried swimming, gymnastics, fencing, tennis, and volleyball. Jacques is also into taekwondo.”
Last month, to celebrate their 13th anniversary, the couple posted a heartfelt photo on the Palais Princier de Monaco Instagram account. The image showed Albert affectionately resting his arm on Charlene’s back while smiling at her during a balcony appearance with their twins.
Charlene wore a knitted grey bodycon dress with a wraparound bodice, while Gabriella was dressed in white and Jacques was seen in a dark jacket, standing in front of his mother.
