Prince Albert has opened up on his relationship with Princess Charlene of Monaco in a new interview.
Albert, 66, has admitted he did not fall in love with Princess Charlene when they first met.
In a new interview, Princess Charlene, 46, joined her husband to discuss the early years of their relationship.
Albert’s comments echoed similar ones made by King Charles about his former wife, Princess Diana, during their 1981 engagement interview.
When asked if he was “in love” with the future Princess of Wales, Charles famously replied: “Whatever in love means.”
Prince Albert was asked about his first meeting with Charlene, to which he said: “I don’t know if we fell in love back then.
“You know, after that, I didn’t see Charlene again for several years.”
He continued to tell Paris Match: “First of all, I thought that she was an excellent swimmer and that she was friendly, cheerful and approachable. We had a great time.
Princess Charlene and Prince Albert have had a tumultuous relationship
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“I don’t know if I should say this, but that night I got her into a bit of trouble because I didn’t get her ‘home’ in time.”
Princess Charlene replied: “Yes, I did get into a bit of trouble that night, but we won’t go into that!”
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene have been together for almost 15 years and have two children together, twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, both nine.
They first met at a swimming competition in Monaco called the Mare Nostrum.
Princess Charlene of Monaco suffered an ear, nose and throat infection
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Prince Albert and Princess Charlene at the Winter Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in Italy, 2006
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Their public relationship has gone through its ups and downs, including when Charlene was forced to explain why she was visibly upset on her wedding day.
The princess insisted that all brides are emotional on their wedding day, brushing off any negative rumours.
Most notably, Princess Charlene spent the majority of 2021 in South Africa due to suffering from an ear, nose and throat infection, while Prince Albert remained in Monaco with their children.
In early 2023, Princess Charlene and Prince Albert found their relationship back in the spotlight again after a French magazine inaccurately claimed the couple had started to separate. But the royal couple issued a statement dismissing the “malicious rumours”.
