You might assume that Princess Charlene had a privileged upbringing, like most European princesses.
If anything, her roots reveal a world of struggle.
Born in now-Zimbabwe in 1978, Charlene came into the world during a tumultuous time.
Through it all, the Zimbabwean beauty developed a strong sense of resilience.
As one of the princess' close friends once toldPeople, “She’s a tough cookie.”
She was a little red thing in a big glass case with pipes everywhere.
It’s amazing that she has turned out so fit and strong."
It was 1978, when the country was still called Southern Rhodesia.
She was born two months premature, and survived."
In Wittstock’s view, this early sense of tenacity has defined Charlene’s personality throughout the years.
Interestingly, this experience would have a profound impact on the princess.
Luckily, the tiny athlete had already learned some water safety basics.
After all, her mother, Lynette Wittstock, had experience working as a swimming instructor.
Sadly, though, not everybody in the Olympian’s family was so fortunate.
He was just 3 years old at the time.
These tragic experiences motivated the princess to start water safety programs through The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.
Reflecting on this difficult time, Mike would later tellParis Matchthat Charlene’s childhood “was pretty rough.”
So, I wasn’t always there.
I was going to the front for six weeks."
Sadly, though, this assertion was not entirely true.
As the future princess was growing up, she experienced a tremendous amount of fear.
On one occasion, Charlene’s mother spotted soldiers in the family’s backyard.
In the heat of the moment, Lynette concocted a plan to keep her daughter safe.
Although Charlene survived this terrifying encounter, not all of her playmates were so lucky.
In the same interview, the princess revealed that two of her friends died in the conflict.
She recalled, “So I remember [my childhood days] filled with fear, but also carelessness.
During this time, the Wittstocks' future was uncertain.
Eventually, Mike and Lynette Wittstock realized that they could not remain in Zimbabwe forever.
The Wittstocks packed their few belongings and headed to Benoni, a town located outside of Johannesburg.
Even so, it was far from being safe.
As a result, violence continued to be a part of the Wittstocks' daily life.
“I worry about them a lot.
I worry about the fact that people break into the house and they’ve been robbed many times.
There have been a lot of killings on our street.”
She went on to explain how her parents' financial situation prevented them from finding somewhere safer to live.
Her coaches remember her as an extremely hard-working swimmer.
She was very dedicated and a very serious swimmer.
She worked really hard and was a nice and fun person to have around.”
Nevertheless, Charlene’s commitment to athletics came at a cost.
Whereas other teenagers were out being social and having fun, Charlene was almost always in the water.
She was always in training, at the swimming pool or going to a competition."
The insider explained that Charlene’s father “pushed his children to be the best and to excel.
He could be quite a difficult man but he pushed them and demanded discipline.”
Because her training schedule was so intense, Charlene did not have a lot of time for boys.
Charlene always knew what she wanted and she gave it the means."
Unfortunately, though, this prevented the future princess from getting very much dating experience.
“It’s very hard to have relationships because they don’t understand that you have to travel.
I’ve had boyfriends that would have other girlfriends by the time I get back from my trips …
I get heartbroken.”
Unfortunately, these differences have limited her social life, leaving her in a situation where she feels isolated.
Charlene went on to share, “I have made two close friends in Monaco.”
