Princess Charlene of Monaco has been rocking her signature platinum pixie crop since the noughties, but the Monégasque royal hasn't always had ultra-short hair.
If you delve into the archives of Princess Charlene's style files, it's hard to find a photograph where the wife of Prince Albert isn't sporting the choppy icy bob that has now become synonymous with her royal image.
Yet a set of unearthed photos from 2001 show that the South African swimmer, née Wittstock, was once the proud owner of luscious blonde locks that would give Barbie a run for her money.
In photographs from the 2001 edition of Sports Illustrated, a then-23-year-old Princess Charlene was at the prime of her swimming career having won triple gold at the All-Africa Games and going on to represent South Africa in the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games.
© SA Sports Illustrated/GettyThe former breaststroke champion embodied a nautical aesthetic as she donned fitted white flares and a cherry-red tank top for her photoshoot onboard a sailing boat. The royal was styled in a sailor's hat as her tumbling blonde locks fell to her shoulders.
In another photo from the 2001 issue, the blonde beauty wears a sporty yellow top and electric blue eyeshadow as she poses on the helm of a retro ship with mahogany interiors.
© SA Sports Illustrated/GettyOther snaps show the swimming champion in a series of athletic swimwear, styling her honey-blonde tresses in a poker-straight style.
© SA Sports Illustrated/GettyEven the most stylish of royals rarely experiment with their tresses, but Princess Charlene has become somewhat of a hair chameleon through the years, having styled out several hairstyles since she debuted her pixie cut.
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In April this year, Charlene eased herself over to the dark side and debuted a new darker style with bright blonde highlights.
Just a few weeks later at the 2023 Monaco Grand Prix, the mother-of-two dropped jaws when she departed from her Barbie blonde entirely and debuted a freshly-dyed brunette crown.
© GettyMost recently, the Princess was declared as "unrecognisable" by royal style fans as she debuted yet another hairstyle at the 74th Red Cross Gala.
© GettyHer mane of choice at the glamorous fundraising event? A moody mahogany-hued, soft-cropped pixie cut. There truly is no 'do she can't pull off.
