Happy Birthday Princess Charlene of Monaco!
As Princess Charlene celebrates her birthday January 25, 2014, it has now been two and a half years since she became Princess of Monaco. It might be every girl’s dream to marry a real prince, but it cannot be easy to follow in the footsteps of Grace Kelly, one of the world’s most enduring icons. There are many similarities between these blonde beauties, although Princess Charlene is more athletic and statuesque than her late mother-in-law. Both Princess Charlene and Princess Grace experienced the overwhelming pressure of having all the world’s eyes on them for their weddings, and both had to adjust to the responsibilities of becoming Princess of Monaco, married to the head of a small nation whose responsibilities of running a country means that he can’t always be at her side to comfort and guide her. It took Princess Grace quite some time to become comfortable in her role, and as both Grace and Charlene are English speaking commoners, they both have to learn all the rules of protocol, adopt ancient customs and speak French.
It is clearly evident in the more casual photos of Princess Charlene with Prince Albert that they look at each other with adoration, just as Grace and Rainier did when not having to present the formality of royal decorum during solemn occasions. Grace Kelly was used to performing as an actress in front of many people, and as an Olympian, Charlene would also have competed in front of a worldwide audience. Charlene was an Olympic swimmer – although Grace’s father and brother were both Olympic rowers, Grace was not terribly athletic, but she loved to swim. Princess Charlene is trying to save some of the thousands of people who die every year from drowning, by forming a charitable foundation to teach French and Monegasque children to swim. Her foundation offers free swim lessons and water safety, which is very valuable in the seaside area of the French Riviera. This is a cause dear to her heart after her 5 year old cousin drowned in a neighbor’s pool. Princess Grace also started a foundation to aid children and orphans, and created the first daycare center in Monaco to allow mothers to work.
Neither Princess Grace nor Princess Charlene wear much jewelry, other than their large diamond engagement rings, although they prefer tiaras that are versatile. Princess Grace had a tiara by Cartier which featured 3 ruby cabochons surrounded by diamonds that could be detached as clips to be worn in a variety of ways. Because of Princess Charlene’s love of the water, Prince Albert commissioned Van Cleef & Arpels to make a diamond and sapphire tiara called “Ocean” that can also be worn as a necklace. On the fashion side of things, both Princess Grace and Princess Charlene have appeared in Vogue, with Charlene recently gracing the cover of Vogue in Japan. Charlene’s clothing is elegant and sophisticated, even in casual wear; like Princess Grace, her choice of hats is exquisite and she is often breathtaking in eveningwear. Also like Grace, Charlene is a stunning beauty who is equally lovely wearing little makeup – and both women seem to glow when they smile. They are both regal beauties who exude true Grace, no matter what the occasion is, and both deserve to be admired for taking on the very real job of being a princess under constant pressure of public scrutiny.
May Princess Charlene’s birthday be a happy one this year, and for all the years to come!
PS. more on Princess Grace / Grace Kelly birthday
