Why did Princess Charlene try to escape Monaco in the run up to her wedding?

Princess Charlene is one of the most talked-about women in the world, and from her marriage to Prince Albert of Monaco to her days as an Olympic swimmer, she never fails to get the world talking.

This week the royal couple has returned to the headlines as they celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary, with royal fans sharing memories and anecdotes from their 2011 nuptials.

While the royal couple's wedding provided many happy memories to look back on, it also proved controversial, with Princess Charlene rumoured to have tried to escape in its run-up.

According to reports, Princess Charlene tried to escape Monaco three times in the run-up to their July wedding, but was stopped every time.

The first attempt reportedly took place after news broke that Prince Albert had a love child conceived during his relationship with Charlene.

The now Princess of Monaco was reportedly at a bridal gown fitting in Paris when the news broke the May before their wedding, and according to Le Journal du Dimanche, she "took refuge" in the South African embassy.

The second and third alleged attempts reportedly took place in Monaco, the first during the 2010 Grand Prix and apparently resulting in her passport being confiscated by Prince Albert’s entourage.

The third alleged escape attempt reportedly took place two days before their July wedding. According to Le Journal du Dimanche, Princess Charlene booked a one-way ticket home to South Africa but was intercepted on her way to Nice and persuaded to stay for the three-day wedding.

While the couple did tie the knot in a lavish three-day wedding (apparently costing around £53 million), the press reported that Princess Charlene cried openly throughout the day.

There are even reports that the couple spent their wedding night in separate rooms, with Charlene’s guarded.

"None of this is true, and we think it comes from utter jealousy," The Palace responded in a statement via People at the time.

We will continue to update this story.

Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. After working at Marie Claire UK for seven years - rising from intern to Features Editor - she is now a freelance contributor to the News and Features section.

In 2021, Jenny was named as a winner on the PPA's '30 under 30' list, and was also listed as a rising star in journalism.