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No more extravagant hairstyles, but elegant Dior suits and appearances alongside her husband at official events: Princess Charlene of Monaco seems to have gradually settled into her role as a royal. Yet behind the outward transformation lies a complicated story of adaptation, family rumors and scandals surrounding the princely court, The Telegraph reports.

In recent years, Princess Charlene has frequently surprised conservative audiences with unconventional outfits and daring hairstyles, including an undercut with half her head shaved. Her reserved manner at official engagements and reluctance to be constantly seen alongside her husband, Prince Albert II, led many to believe that the former Olympic swimmer had never truly adapted to life at court.

Recently, however, Charlene’s image has undergone a noticeable change. For a meeting with the Pope, she chose an elegant ivory Dior suit. Soon afterward, she joined her husband in welcoming Italian President Sergio Mattarella to the Prince’s Palace, where a state dinner was held in his honor.

One of the most striking moments came at the Red Cross’s charity gala in July 2025. Usually sparing with words, Charlene unexpectedly rose from her seat and delivered a heartfelt speech in honor of Albert, who was celebrating 20 years on the throne.

According to society journalist Eilidh Hargreaves, who attended the event, Charlene’s gesture became the talk of the evening. The public was accustomed to seeing the princess rarely express her feelings in public.

The changes have also extended to the family’s public image. At Monaco’s traditional picnic, Charlene chose a soft pink outfit for her daughter, Princess Gabriella, matching her own look. The coordinated styling, reminiscent of the Princess of Wales’s approach, helped project an image of family unity.

When South African-born Charlene Wittstock married Albert II in July 2011, the wedding was presented as the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Monaco’s ruling dynasty. But the celebrations were overshadowed by rumors that the bride had tried to flee Monaco before the ceremony. The palace denied the reports, yet photographs of Charlene in tears fueled further speculation that she was unhappy.

The princess later explained that she had cried because of the rumors and the tension that had built up around her. Nevertheless, she described the wedding itself as “three wonderful days.”

The transition from professional sport to life in one of Europe’s most exclusive and luxurious principalities proved a considerable challenge. For years, Charlene had trained in the pool and grown accustomed to a disciplined, relatively solitary life. After her marriage, she was expected to become the face of Monaco, where public life revolves around balls, receptions and society events.

The French language presented another challenge. According to the article’s author, Charlene still does not speak it entirely fluently. Nor did she become part of the familiar circle of society friends, preferring for a long time to keep to herself at the palace or at the Grimaldi family’s country residence. Acquaintances described her as consistently reserved and someone who found it difficult to express her emotions. Against this backdrop, Albert and Charlene’s relationship was often compared with the more openly affectionate and united partnership of Prince William and Catherine.

The couple welcomed twins, Jacques and Gabriella, in 2014. But family life did not shield the princess from intense media scrutiny. In 2021, while visiting South Africa, she developed a serious ear, nose and throat infection that left her unable to fly. She did not return to Monaco until November. The prolonged separation from her husband and children once again sparked rumors of marital trouble, which the couple repeatedly denied.

Meanwhile, the princely family was facing serious reputational challenges. In 2021, an anonymous website began publishing allegations of corruption involving some of Albert’s closest advisers. In 2023, the prince dismissed four senior officials, including Claude Palmero, who had managed the family’s finances and assets for many years. All those implicated denied the allegations, claiming that the published documents were forged. None was charged with a criminal offense.

In 2024, Le Monde obtained copies of Palmero’s financial records. According to the published material, his notes alleged that Charlene had spent around €15 million since her wedding, repeatedly exceeding her annual allowance of €1.5 million. The expenses reportedly included €860,000 for renovating her office and €900,000 to purchase a house for her brother. Albert’s lawyers said that any overspending had been covered by the family’s private wealth rather than public funds.

The financial scandal also damaged Monaco’s reputation. After ascending to the throne in 2005, Albert had pledged to fight the perception of the principality as a tax haven for dubious wealthy individuals. In 2009, Monaco was removed from the OECD’s list of uncooperative tax jurisdictions. However, in June 2024, it was placed on the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list because of shortcomings in its system for combating financial crime.

According to sources who spoke to The Telegraph, the accumulation of scandals left the princely court under pressure to demonstrate stability and family unity. Around the same time, Charlene changed her team and was given the freedom to choose her own staff. Soon afterward, her public appearances became warmer, and she began appearing alongside her husband more frequently.

Still, changes in appearance do not necessarily mean that the princess has completely transformed. As Hargreaves observes, Charlene now seems more cheerful, although she would stop short of describing her as truly happy. Rather, the princess may finally be coming to terms with the fact that life at court is her reality.

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