Princess Charlene has admitted she's come into her own with fashion after slowly learning the ropes when she was thrust onto the world stage as Prince Albert of Monaco's wife.
Years before their 2011 royal wedding, in 2007, the Olympic swimmer joined her then-boyfriend for an evening in Monaco where she dressed in a failsafe little black dress.
Hinting at her sartorial prowess, Charlene chose to amp up the glamour with an embellished scoop neckline, a structured corset bodice that accentuated her statuesque figure and a full, tutu skirt that fell to her knees.
© Gamma-Rapho via Getty ImagesStanding tall at 5 feet 10 inches, Charlene could have been mistaken for a ballerina in her Black Swan-style dress. In fact, the psychological horror film by the same name starring Natalie Portman wasn't released until 2010, proving Princess Charlene was ahead of the curve with her balletic style.
Royal tutus
She is not the only royal to have experimented with the dark, mysterious tutu aesthetic. Princess Diana's model niece, Lady Amelia Spencer, wore a semi-sheer dress from Ermanno Scervino in 2025, while Princess Isabella of Denmark marked her 19th birthday in a black tulle midi skirt from Giambattista Valli Paris's 2019 collaboration with H&M.
Speaking of the latter, fashion stylist Sian Clarke of Styled by Sian said the young royal proved she is "going to be a pioneer for the way royals choose to dress moving forward."
She added that the skirt "brings drama, personality, and a real sense of self", and the overall look reflected "maturity, strong self-understanding, and a desire to show who she truly is."
Rebellious royal
© GettyWhile Charlene now favours largely elegant, modest ensembles, admitting her style muse is Charlize Theron, she is never afraid to experiment with her beauty look.
After being asked about her changing hairstyles, which have included a short pixie cut and a platinum blonde bob, she said she is happy pushing the boundaries of what is considered a "royal" look.
"The remarks of 'But what is she doing?' and 'But it’s not royal!' I know these all too well," she famously hit back at critics in a 2021 interview with Point de Vue. "I have nothing to say to them, except that we’re in 2021 and that in these times which are so troubling, so difficult, there are other, much more important subjects which deserve our attention."
