Monaco's RUNAWAY BRIDE

A LOOK AT THE LIFE OF CHARLENE WITTSTOCK, A DECADE AFTER SHE ALLEGEDLY TRIED TO FLEE HER WEDDING TO PRINCE ALBERT

- Kylie Walters

It’s not uncommon for a bride to shed a few tears on her wedding day. But when Charlene Wittstock made her way down the aisle to marry Prince Albert of Monaco, the Olympic swimmer appeared to sob as she dabbed at her eyes with a tissue, while the prince begged of her, “Don’t cry.”

The dramatic scenes followed days of reports that Charlene, now 43, had tried to flee the principality three times in the weeks leading up to the big day after Albert, 63, was hit with a paternity suit alleging he’d fathered a child during their relationship.

As the couple prepares to mark their milestone 10th wedding anniversary on July 1, Charlene’s life is still no fairytale. She has continued to be mired in scandal, with further rumours of Albert’s infidelity haunting her. Yet through all her heartache, Charlene has rarely shown emotion, leading to criticism she is too distant and stoic.

“People are very quick to say, ‘Oh, why isn’t she smiling in the photos?’” the princess acknowledged to South African magazine Huisgenoot. “Well, sometimes it’s hard to smile. They don’t know what’s going on in the background,” she explained.

Here, WHO looks at the life of the woman who’s become known as the “sad princess”.

A ROCKY START