See Princess Charlene's style evolution in 32 photos: swimming star to belle of the ball

The South African Olympian is married to Prince Albert II of Monaco

Charlene Wittstock, left, in South Africa's swimming team training kit, at the Commonwealth Games on August 4, 2002, in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Charlene Wittstock, in a green lace gown, arrives at the Monaco Red Cross Ball, on August 4, 2006. Getty Images

Charlene Wittstock, in a pink one-shouldered gown, and Prince Albert II of Monaco arrive at a gala dinner during the 2007 Monaco Formula One Grand Prix on May 27, 2007. Getty Images

Charlene Wittstock, in a blush and black lace dress, with Prince Albert II of Monaco and actress Viktor Lazlo, attends a reception during the 2007 Monte Carlo Television Festival on June 13, 2007. Getty Images

Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock, in a white strapless dress, attend the Red Cross Ball in Monte Carlo on July 27, 2007. Getty Images

Charlene Wittstock, in a black strapless dress, with Prince Albert II of Monaco and Naomi Campbell, attends the Unite For A Better World Gala Dinner, in Monte Carlo on September 2, 2007. Getty Images

Charlene Wittstock, in a yellow and purple gown, and Prince Albert II of Monaco attend the 60th Monte Carlo Red Cross Ball on August 1, 2008. Getty Images

Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock, in a black dress with sequin detailing, arrive at the 2009 Monte Carlo Rock' N Rose Ball on March 28, 2009. Getty Images

Charlene Wittstock, in a broad striped sequinned dress, attends the Amber Fashion Show and Auction held on May 22, 2009 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Getty Images

Charlene Wittstock, in a red one-shouldered gown, and Prince Albert II of Monaco attend the 61st Monaco Red Cross Ball on July 31, 2009. Getty Images

Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock, in a champagne gown with turquoise beaded detail, attend the Monte Carlo Morocco Rose Ball 2010 on March 27, 2010. Getty Images

Charlene Wittstock, in a grey strapless gown, and Jennifer Lopez arrive at amfAR's Cinema Against AIDS 2010 benefit gala on May 20, 2010 in Antibes, France. Getty Images

Prince Albert of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock, in a taupe gown, attend the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling on June 19, 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden. Getty Images

Charlene Wittstock, in a ombre brown Armani Prive gown, arrives at the Monaco National Day Gala Concert on November 19, 2010. Getty Images

Charlene Wittstock, in a polo shirt and shorts, during the Special Olympics on February 12, 2011 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Getty Images

Charlene Wittstock, in a matt grey gown, attends a state dinner in Dublin, Ireland on April 4, 2011. Getty Images

Princess Charlene of Monaco, in a Giorgio Armani wedding dress, arrives at the religious ceremony of her wedding to Prince Albert II of Monaco on July 2, 2011 in Monaco. Getty Images

Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene, in a gold flower-print dress, attend the Yorkshire Variety Club Golden Ball on September 4, 2011. Getty Images

Princess Charlene, in a mint green jump suit, visits Schloss Bellevue Palace in Berlin, Germany on July 9, 2012. Getty Images

Princess Charlene, in a cream dress and cardigan, and Prince Albert II of Monaco attend the Monaco National Day Gala Concert on November 19, 2012. Getty Images

Princess Charlene, in purple Ralph Lauren, attends a Ralph Lauren Collection Show in Paris, France on October 8, 2013. Getty Images

Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene, in a Dior shirt and top, attend the christening of their children, Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques of Monaco on May 10, 2015 in Monaco. Getty Images

Princess Charlene, in a black and red Christian Dior gown, attends the 2015 Princess Grace Awards Gala in Monaco on September 5, 2015. Getty Images

Princess Charlene, in multi-coloured Akris, jokes with Daniel Ricciardo after the Monaco Formual One Grand Prix on May 27, 2018. Reuters

Princess Charlene, in a champagne gown, attends the closing ceremony of the 58th Monte Carlo TV Festival on June 19, 2018. Getty Images

Princess Charlene, in a custom Akris monochrome coat and black hat, with Princess Caroline of Hanover, attends the Monaco National Day Celebrations on November 19, 2018. Getty Images

Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene, in a green caped gown, attend the 71th Monaco Red Cross Ball Gala on July 26, 2019. Getty Images

Princess Charlene, in a silver sequinned Jenny Packham gown, attends the Monte-Carlo Gala For Planetary Health on September 24, 2020. Getty Images

Princess Charlene, in a gold and black coat, attends a Christmas gift distribution on December 16, 2020 in Monaco. Getty Images

Princess Charlene, in a red and black coat, with Prince Albert II of Monaco, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella attend the ceremony of Sainte-Devote on January 26, 2021 in Monaco. Getty Images

Princess Charlene, in a black coat and raspberry beret, attends the Sainte Devote Ceremony on January 27, 2021 in Monaco. Getty Images

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene, wearing a floral silk Celine dress, pose for an Easter family portrait with children Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella. Photo: Eric Mathon / Palais Princier de Monaco

Princess Charlene has evolved from an athlete, most commonly seen in tracksuits and fresh from laps in the pool, to the belle of the ball at Monte Carlo's many gala events.

Born Charlene Wittstock, the former Olympian, 43, married Prince Albert II of Monaco in 2011. Since first stepping out with the royal in 2006, she has become known for her glittering wardrobe of red carpet looks.

Dior, Akris, Ralph Lauren and Armani are among her favourite designers, with Armani creating the dress for her 2011 wedding.

In December 2020, Princess Charlene hit headlines with her half-hawk haircut, which she debuted at Monaco's annual Christmas gift-giving ceremony.

In January she told Point de Vue the haircut was her decision.

"I wanted it for a long time. The style pleases me. That’s all," she said. Her twin children, Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques, 7, like her hair, she said, "after the initial surprise wore off".

"Certainly, of all the members of royal families, I’m probably the one who has tried the most different hairstyles, and I’ll continue," said Princess Charlene. "That’s my choice. What counts is that Jacques and Gabriella adore seeing their mother with her new style."

Princess Charlene has recently been treated for physical and emotional exhaustion.

Prince Albert II told People she was in a treatment centre "outside of Monaco" after spending six months in South Africa this year. He said his wife “was clearly exhausted, physically and emotionally. She was overwhelmed and couldn’t face official duties, life in general or even family life.”

In March, she finally returned to Monaco, in time for Prince Albert's 45th birthday celebrations on Tuesday. This week, she posed for a family portrait with Prince Albert and their children.

In the photo bt Eric Mathon, which was shared on the Palais Princier de Monaco Instagram, Princess Charlene is wearing a cream silk dress by Celine, which has a floral print.

A version of this article was originally published in November 2021