Princess Charlene Of Monaco Has Two New Royals On The Way — But Which One Will Take Prince Albert’s Crown?
Princess Charlene of Monaco announced that she was pregnant with the child of her husband Prince Albert back in May, but on Monday she revealed that’s there more to the story — one more thing, in fact. Princess Charlene is pregnant with twins, she told Hello! Magazine on Monday.
“I feel absolutely great.”
Because of constitutional law, one of the two of Princess Charlene’s babies will take their father’s position upon his death. Prince Albert’s first two children, 10-year-old Alexandre and 22-year-old Jazmin, are both ineligible for the title because they were conceived out of wedlock. Instead, Princess Charlene’s twins stand to become the next royals, though it’s not entirely certain in what order. The late Prince Rainier took precautions to assure a proper heir while Prince Albert was still living his heady days before marrying Princess Charlene. These changes opened up the throne to a female monarch, according to the Daily Mail.
“In 2002, when Albert was still single, his father Prince Rainier quietly changed Monaco’s constitutional laws to allow his daughters, Caroline and Stephanie, and their children to inherit the throne should Albert fail to marry and produce an heir… According to the Constitution of the Principality, the first born baby is the closest in line to the throne, with priority given to males. What remains unclear is what will happen if the first born is a girl.”
Prince Albert is the son of American actress Grace Kelly, a trend you can see mirrored in his decision to make a celebrity of a different kind the princess of Monaco — Princess Charlene is a former South African Olympic swimmer. Prince Albert told People Magazine earlier this month that he and Princess Charlene’s home will be much like the one he grew up in with his his mother.
“Our parents made sure it felt like a normal home. Not palace-y… [My mother] was a wonderful mother and a wonderful person. It was deeply engrained in her to help others.”
Before the announcement, Princess Charlene had spoken openly in the past about her excitement to become a mother, though she told Italian Vanity Fair that “everything was in God’s hands” in reference to her and Prince Albert’s future children. In the interview, Princess Charlene called her husband her “best friend” and a constant source of strength in her life.
“As a couple we have been through many difficult moments and profound changes in our personal lives, but being together has always been a challenge that has brought us together. I have boundless confidence in our love.”
Princess Charlene and Prince Albert were married in a lavish July 2011 wedding at the Prince’s Palace in Monaco. Their marriage was one of the the country’s biggest press events of the century.
[Image via Flickr and ThePlace2]
