Royal couple shares surprising admission amid marriage rumours
By
Seia Ibanez
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The world of royalty often seems like a fairy tale from the outside, but even the most regal of romances can be subject to the same trials and tribulations as any other.
The latest chapter in the saga of Monaco's royal couple, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene, has taken a candid turn, with the prince making a surprising admission amidst a whirlwind of marriage speculation.
The story of Prince Albert and Princess Charlene has captured the public's imagination since they first crossed paths at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
Charlene, a professional swimmer representing South Africa, caught the eye of the Monegasque prince, but it wasn't until five years later that their relationship began to blossom.
Despite the 20-year age gap, the couple's romance led to a lavish royal wedding in 2011.
However, the path of true love never ran smoothly, and the royal couple has faced their share of challenges, both public and private.
Recently, Prince Albert, now 66, made a refreshingly frank statement to Paris Match, revealing that it wasn't love at first sight when he met Charlene.
'I don't know if we fell in love back then,' he confessed.
‘You know, after that, I didn’t see Charlene again for several years. I thought that she was an excellent swimmer and that she was friendly, cheerful and approachable.’
‘We had a great time. I don’t know if I should say this, but…I got her into a bit of trouble because I didn’t get her “home” in time,’ he candidly admitted.
The prince's unexpected remark comes amid frenzied rumours about their marriage, circulating since their wedding day.
Rumours about the royal couple's relationship started swirling around their wedding when a Parisian magazine claimed Charlene was halted at Nice airport after uncovering a 'troubling' secret about her future husband.
‘Charlene had her passport confiscated so that the Prince’s entourage could persuade her to stay,’ a senior Monaco detective said.
She dismissed the ‘hilarious’ rumours, saying, ‘Why would he go through all this effort to have our dearest friends come join us, for us to be reluctant?’
The three-day wedding, which reportedly cost $102 million, was overshadowed by images of a tearful Charlene, leading to speculation about her happiness.
Charlene herself later addressed the emotional display, attributing it to the overwhelming nature of the event and the stress of the circulating rumours
‘Everything was just so overwhelming, and there were all the mixed emotions because of the rumours, and obviously, the tension built up, and I burst into tears [immediately after the ceremony],’ Charlene explained.
‘And then I burst into tears some more because I was thinking, “Oh no, now the whole world has seen me cry”.’
The rumour mill went into overdrive in May 2021 when Princess Charlene's 10-day charity trip to South Africa unexpectedly turned into a six-month stay due to health complications from an ENT procedure.
Her prolonged absence from Monaco fueled further speculation, with some sources alleging she had 'no intention of returning’.
Despite the whispers and allegations, both Albert and Charlene have consistently denied any issues within their marriage.
‘There’s nothing wrong with our marriage, and I find the rumours to be draining and exhausting,’ Charlene said.
‘I simply cannot understand where they come from. It feels to me like certain media or people want to see us split.’
Prince Albert has also defended their relationship, explaining Charlene's extended stay in South Africa as a result of medical complications, not marital discord.
Yet, Prince Albert has acknowledged that he ‘probably should have addressed’ the rumours, admitting that he focused on caring for their children during Charlene's absence.
‘And I thought it would just probably go [away]. You know, if you try to answer everything that comes out, then you’re constantly [responding], you’re wasting your time…Of course, it affects her, of course, it affects me. Misreading events is always detrimental…We’re an easy target, easily hit, because we’re in the public eye a lot,’ he said.
What are your thoughts on the challenges faced by Prince Albert and Princess Charlene? Do you think the media scrutiny of royal couples is fair, or does it cross a line? Share your insights and experiences in the comments below!
The latest chapter in the saga of Monaco's royal couple, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene, has taken a candid turn, with the prince making a surprising admission amidst a whirlwind of marriage speculation.
The story of Prince Albert and Princess Charlene has captured the public's imagination since they first crossed paths at the Sydney Olympics in 2000.
Charlene, a professional swimmer representing South Africa, caught the eye of the Monegasque prince, but it wasn't until five years later that their relationship began to blossom.
Despite the 20-year age gap, the couple's romance led to a lavish royal wedding in 2011.
However, the path of true love never ran smoothly, and the royal couple has faced their share of challenges, both public and private.
Recently, Prince Albert, now 66, made a refreshingly frank statement to Paris Match, revealing that it wasn't love at first sight when he met Charlene.
'I don't know if we fell in love back then,' he confessed.
‘You know, after that, I didn’t see Charlene again for several years. I thought that she was an excellent swimmer and that she was friendly, cheerful and approachable.’
‘We had a great time. I don’t know if I should say this, but…I got her into a bit of trouble because I didn’t get her “home” in time,’ he candidly admitted.
The prince's unexpected remark comes amid frenzied rumours about their marriage, circulating since their wedding day.
Rumours about the royal couple's relationship started swirling around their wedding when a Parisian magazine claimed Charlene was halted at Nice airport after uncovering a 'troubling' secret about her future husband.
‘Charlene had her passport confiscated so that the Prince’s entourage could persuade her to stay,’ a senior Monaco detective said.
She dismissed the ‘hilarious’ rumours, saying, ‘Why would he go through all this effort to have our dearest friends come join us, for us to be reluctant?’
The three-day wedding, which reportedly cost $102 million, was overshadowed by images of a tearful Charlene, leading to speculation about her happiness.
Charlene herself later addressed the emotional display, attributing it to the overwhelming nature of the event and the stress of the circulating rumours
‘Everything was just so overwhelming, and there were all the mixed emotions because of the rumours, and obviously, the tension built up, and I burst into tears [immediately after the ceremony],’ Charlene explained.
‘And then I burst into tears some more because I was thinking, “Oh no, now the whole world has seen me cry”.’
The rumour mill went into overdrive in May 2021 when Princess Charlene's 10-day charity trip to South Africa unexpectedly turned into a six-month stay due to health complications from an ENT procedure.
Her prolonged absence from Monaco fueled further speculation, with some sources alleging she had 'no intention of returning’.
Despite the whispers and allegations, both Albert and Charlene have consistently denied any issues within their marriage.
‘There’s nothing wrong with our marriage, and I find the rumours to be draining and exhausting,’ Charlene said.
‘I simply cannot understand where they come from. It feels to me like certain media or people want to see us split.’
Prince Albert has also defended their relationship, explaining Charlene's extended stay in South Africa as a result of medical complications, not marital discord.
Yet, Prince Albert has acknowledged that he ‘probably should have addressed’ the rumours, admitting that he focused on caring for their children during Charlene's absence.
‘And I thought it would just probably go [away]. You know, if you try to answer everything that comes out, then you’re constantly [responding], you’re wasting your time…Of course, it affects her, of course, it affects me. Misreading events is always detrimental…We’re an easy target, easily hit, because we’re in the public eye a lot,’ he said.
Key Takeaways
- Prince Albert of Monaco candidly shared it wasn't love at first sight with Princess Charlene amid ongoing marriage rumours.
- The couple met at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 but only began their relationship years later and married in 2011.
- Speculation about their marriage has been ongoing since around the time of their wedding and was reignited by Princess Charlene's extended absence from Monaco due to health issues.
- Both Prince Albert and Princess Charlene have strongly denied any issues within their marriage, attributing her absence to medical reasons and dismissing separation rumours.