Before she married Prince Albert of Monaco, Princess Charlene was a professional swimmer who represented South Africa at the Olympics. Since becoming a member of Monaco's Royal Family, Charlene has used her voice to advocate for water safety, and shared her belief that all children should learn to swim. In a new interview, the princess discussed the "devastating" personal motivation behind her quest to improve water safety for everyone.
In an interview with French newspaper Ouest-France (via Monaco Tribune), Princess Charlene opened up about the tragic loss she endured as a child when her young cousin died. "Richard drowned in a river, very close to my uncle's house," Charlene said of the horrifying incident. "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."
