Monaco’s Prince Albert and Princess Charlene hosted a star-studded charity gala last Friday (03.01.13).
The royal couple held the St. David’s Gala at the Hotel De Paris to raise money for the Princess Charlene Foundation, with guests including Dame Shirley Bassey in attendance.
Among the entertainment was actor Rhys Ifans, who did a stand-up comedy routine comparing Monaco to his home nation of Wales, which proved a hit with the audience.
Charlene – a former South African Olympic swimmer – is said to next be planning an event for her foundation in New York, which will see her team up with Michael Phelps for an initiative to encourage more children to learn to swim.
As well as her charitable endeavors, the princess has recently been indulging in her passion for fashion and was spotted in the audience at Giorgio Armani’s show at Milan Fashion Week.
Speaking ahead of the show, she said: ”I really didn’t know much about fashion when I started. Luckily for me, I was introduced to Armani very early on and it became a real stepping-stone for me. I was an athlete. I needed clothes that were simple and elegant.”
Charlene is known to be a fan of the designer, first sporting one of his creations at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and choosing a custom-made Giorgio Armani Prive gown for her wedding day.