What a charming couple! GALA had the exclusive experience of seeing Princess Charlène and Prince Albert at the grand Red Cross Gala in Monaco. It was a night filled with happy moments.
Monaco sparkled, even more than usual, because the theme of this year’s Red Cross Gala was “A Night Under the Southern French Sky.” The blue carpet shimmered as if stardust had fallen on it. It was the perfect fairytale setting for the royal couple, who arrived shortly after the official start. A convoy of motorcycles and cars with flashing lights escorted them from the palace to the event in just fifteen minutes. For the last stretch of the congested route, Prince Albert, 66, and Princess Charlène, 46, conveniently used a lane reserved just for them.
Upon arrival, the couple zigzagged through the venue, greeting important guests with handshakes (or hand kisses) along the way. How did they handle this parade? Wonderfully. It was clear that Albert and Charlène are now a well-practiced team. Albert gallantly guided his wife from one guest to the next, and then Charlène would take the lead, initiating the greetings.
Princess Charlène Shines Again Like She Used To
Princess Charlène looked fantastic in her white Louis Vuitton gown, which highlighted her swimmer’s shoulders. Interestingly, the dress’s cut was strikingly similar to her wedding dress. Could it be a tribute to that special moment in a couple’s life? Quite possibly. Recently, Albert and Charlène celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary and posted a special photo on the official palace page.
Another notable change is that the reserve Charlène once showed at public events has given way to a newfound ease. Here, in the Salle des Étoiles, she presented herself as the woman she has always been inside: a proud and beautiful South African, confident and relaxed. Her demeanor and look reminded many of her predecessor Grace Kelly, Albert’s mother, who passed away too soon.
A Well-Coordinated Team
GALA witnessed firsthand how well the prince and his wife work together: they often instinctively reached for each other’s hand or arm. Even their secret signals, the hallmark of any good relationship, were effective. When Charlène felt they were posing for photos for too long, she gently tapped Albert’s back in a light staccato rhythm. It was a gentle signal to move on, which Albert immediately recognized and acted upon. Charlène’s needs were Albert’s top priority that night.
The Couple Seems Newly in Love
At times, they appeared almost playfully happy, as if they had just met. When they left the reception room where they had their first cocktail, Albert walked backward in front of Charlène, taking photos of her with his phone.
The two have come a long way to reach this point, a journey that was often difficult. But it’s clear it was worth it. For Charlène, it certainly wasn’t easy to fight her way back to life in Monaco after nearly three years away due to illness and several surgeries in South Africa. She returned to the Côte d’Azur by helicopter, looking very thin and pale, with a new comfort dog in tow. Shortly afterward, she moved to a Swiss clinic for further recovery.
Yet, Charlène also experienced some joyful moments, such as the support from the Grimaldi family. Albert’s nephew Andrea Casiraghi, 40, visited her at Lake Geneva with his twins. After her return to the palace, her sister-in-law Princess Stéphanie, 59, who has always been a strong supporter of Charlène, took care of her.
Some relationships break under such challenges. But others, like Charlène and Albert’s, grow stronger. The prince always stood protectively by his wife during difficult times, assuring everyone that she was slowly getting better. He firmly dismissed any rumors of separation that kept cropping up. “These rumors hurt me,” he told the Italian newspaper “Corriere della Sera,” clearly upset.
An Evening for Charity
Today, all that is in the past. At the gala, Albert and Charlène sat across from each other at the head table, enjoying the event, which raised funds for the Monaco Red Cross. Tickets cost 1,500 euros each, including a menu, with drinks like Ruinart Champagne (360 euros a bottle) costing extra. The event featured a jewelry raffle, a concert by the band Jamiroquai, and even fireworks, with the venue’s roof opening up for the display.
The gala also showcased the “Riviera style” of most of the ladies, who displayed extremely delicate silhouettes and other enhancements. Yet, all eyes kept turning back to Charlène, who outshone everyone that night.
