Charlene Wittstock's evolving style: from Olympic swimmer to future princess

By her own admission Charlene Wittstock was an athletic youngster, who had little time for fashion while focusing on her dream of becoming an Olympic swimmer. But on coming into the spotlight in 2006 after meeting fiancé Prince Albert of Monaco, the attractive blonde began to dress with the glamour expected of a future princess. Royal watchers soon compared Charlene's elegant style with that of Albert's mother, Hollywood beauty Grace Kelly, proving that a champion swimmer could hold her own in royal circles.

Here she is fresh-faced and natural during training in 2001

All photos: © Getty, Rex