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Move over, Kate Middleton – there’s a new royal bride on the scene. Charlene Wittstock will be marrying Prince Albert of Monaco (he’s the son of Grace Kelly) in sure-to-be glamorous and glittery ceremony on July 2. So who is the woman who snared one of the world’s most eligible bachelors, and what do you need to know about her?
1. She’s from Zimbabwe.
Charlene was born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and is of German, South African, and Rhodesian heritage.
2. She’s an Olympian.
A champion swimmer, Charlene competed for South Africa in the backstroke. Her highest Olympic finish was in the 2000 games in Sydney, where she was a member of the 4×100 medley. The team finished in fifth place. Charlene met her future husband when she was in Monaco for a swim competition. A shoulder injury ended her career despite Charlene’s dreams of competing one last time in 2008′s Beijing Games.
3. She’s taking princess lessons.
Charlene and Albert were linked together as early as 2000, but they made few public appearances before announcing their engagement in 2010. Though Charlene grew up Protestant, she converted to Roman Catholicism (this was not a royal requirement, but her own decision). She has also been learning French and the Mongeanesque dialect, which is spoken in Monaco. She attended the royal wedding this April and has met and gotten to know many members of the European royal families.
4. She’s about to become a stepmother.
Albert has two children, Jazmin Grimaldi and Alexandre Coste. Though he acknowledges them both, they cannot ascend to the throne in Monaco because they were not conceived within a marriage.
5. She’s involved in charity work.
Like many royals, Charlene has expressed an interest in philanthropy and charity work. Her pet cause is the Special Olympics, which was founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, and is the patron for their Monaco chapter. She has also said that after her marriage she would like to do development work for athletes’ organizations. Although she no longer swims competitively, she has taken part in charity swimming events like the Midmar Mile.
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They fail to mention she is a high school drop out.
They fail to mention the dramatic before and after cosmetic surgery photos since 2001 to “turn her into Grace”.
They fail to highlight booty call where they first met as Charlene herself gushed details about in 2000 (when he was 42 and she only 22…gross)
They fail to mention her partying and smoking while she supposedly was in athletic training..until that illusion had to finally be admitted.
They fail to highlight the charity work is recent and part of PR campaign for Charlene’s image as one who contributes something…anything.
They fail to correct stories of her career as a teacher. Once again drop out and no job. Moves to Monaco and lives extremely expensive lifestyle with no visible means of support to do so…except Pr Albert.