By Molly Claire Goddard
5:22pm PDT, Aug 20, 2025
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Princess Charlene of Monaco is using her royal platform for a cause that hits close to home.
Prince Albert's wife opened up in
a new interview about the devastating childhood event that propelled her toward becoming a water safety advocate.
Keep reading to learn about the tragic family event that made Charlene want to spread awareness…MORE:
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During the chat, Princess Charlene — who was an Olympic swimmer before she married Prince Albert — got candid about losing her cousin Richard when they were both children. "Richard drowned in a river very close to my uncle's house. He was only 5 years old. It was devastating for our whole family. I don't think that kind of pain ever really goes away," she said.
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Princess Charlene is now determined to turn her trauma into activism. The 47-year-old emphasized how water safety "should be a fundamental right, just like learning to read." Insisted the former Olympian, "Cost should never be a barrier to acquiring a life-saving skill."
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Princess Charlene also said she's "deeply concerned by the sharp rise in the number of drownings" during the summer months. While the former athlete acknowledges how fortunate the city of Monaco is to have "high-quality facilities and supervision," she feels even more precautions should be put in place. "Vigilance is still necessary," she said, adding that "nowhere is totally safe."
