Saturday, 16 July 2011

Prince Albert's runaway bride Princess Charlene feels she has no friends in Monaco

Charlene faces lonely future

Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco | Pictures | Photos | New

Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco got together in 2006

Prince Albert II of Monaco, 53, and Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock, 33, began dating in 2006.

But Charlene - who was born in Zimbabwe and moved to South Africa as a child - believes that she hasn't been entirely accepted in her new home.

In an interview earlier this year she revealed that she'd experienced jealousy from Monaco's in-crowd who, she maintains, don't relate to her South African mentality and humour.

‘I only have two people I consider friends here,' she admitted.

Now she faces a life of social functions and public appearances as Albert's consort.

She'll be expected to host and attend masses of charity dinners and parties - often by herself.

‘Albert is away a lot attending trade functions,' explains one source. ‘It can be quite lonely.'

Insiders claim that a ‘deal' was brokered between the Prince and his reluctant bride just before the wedding that'll see her provide her new husband with a legitimate heir.

 In return, if things don't go well, Charlene will receive a generous divorce settlement once, as one source puts it: ‘she's served a decent amount of time'.

Whatever happens, it seems far from the traditional happy ever after.

Read the full story about Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco in Now Magazine dated 18 July 2011 - out now.

Now cover 18 July 2011