Princess Charlene of Monaco is using a heartbreaking childhood experience to fuel her urgent campaign for water safety.
In a recent interview, she recounted the tragic drowning of her five-year-old cousin Richard.
PRINCESS CHARLENE AND WATER SAFETY
This event shook her family deeply and continues to affect her. “I don’t think that kind of pain ever really goes away,” she shared.
This loss has inspired her to promote swimming as a vital skill for all children, not a privilege.
Before marrying Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Charlene was a professional swimmer representing South Africa at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, according to People.
Her personal connection to water safety is clear. She believes learning to swim should be a “fundamental right, just like learning to read.” She emphasises that “cost should never be a barrier to acquiring a life-saving skill.”
WATER SAFETY IN SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa, with its long coastline and abundance of pools, faces a similar challenge to Monaco.
Drowning remains a significant threat, especially among children. Princess Charlene’s message resonates strongly here: swimming lessons should be accessible to all, regardless of background.
Her foundation, Fondation Princesse Charlène de Monaco, founded in 2014, has already helped over one million people in more than 43 countries.
It delivers three key programmes: Learn to Swim, Water Safety, and Sport and Education. The foundation aims to prevent drowning and inspire children through sport and education.
PRINCESS CHARLENE ON DROWNINGS IN FRANCE
This summer, Princess Charlene voiced her alarm at a sharp rise in drownings in France, which has seen 193 deaths in just two months.
She warns that even places like Monaco, with top-class facilities and supervision, still require constant vigilance. “Nowhere is totally safe,” she states.
In June, she visibly supported Water Safety Day at Monaco’s Larvotto Beach. During the event, she engaged with nearly 100 local schoolchildren, helping them understand lifesaving skills and water safety.
A POWERFUL MISSION
Her work mirrors important safety conversations in South Africa and highlights the urgent need to provide swimming lessons universally.
By turning personal heartbreak into a powerful mission, Princess Charlene reminds us all: saving lives starts with learning to swim. And in South African waters, that lesson has never been more needed.
WHAT MORE CAN BE DONE TO PROMOTE WATER SAFETY IN SOUTH AFRICA?
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website’s newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.