Awkward Princess Charlene Moments Caught On Camera

Royal engagement interviews are often romantic and giggly, as it was with Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, or straight-up awkward, as was the case for Prince William's parents, Prince Charles and Princess Diana. ("Whatever in love means," right?) Princess Charlene and Prince Albert certainly fall into the latter category, with the prince explaining very quietly why he took four years to propose. After he finished speaking, Charlene suddenly blurted out, "I'm a very stubborn person." She went on to say, "I took my time," to which Albert awkwardly retorted, "We both took our time." 

Charlene went on to defend her critics, telling her interviewers that if things had been the other way around and Prince Albert had to adjust to her country, her customs, and her cuisine, he would also have a hard time, especially under the glare of the media spotlight. Later on in the interview, Albert went on to say he thought it was the goal of all unions between a man and a woman to have kids, which they would in due time. 

The entire interview was incredibly awkward, and even the interviewers seemed to feel the tension in the air, shifting uncomfortably in their seats and looking at them almost pitifully. It was one of the first times the Monégasque people had gotten to hear Princess Charlene speak, however, so it was quite a revelation to hear her soft-spoken speech.  

Tears at weddings are often to be expected given their heightened emotions, all the love, and perhaps relief that all that stressful planning is finally over. However, Princess Charlene's wedding day to Prince Albert of Monaco was marked by emotional turmoil, with rumors swirling about her attempt to escape the union prior to the ceremony. The event, held on July 2, 2011, gained significant attention due to reports that Charlene tried to flee Monaco three times leading up to the wedding, to no avail. It all sounds very Hallmark movie-esque, though without all the cheesy acting. 

On the actual wedding day, the ethereal bride couldn't conceal her distress, and this was tough to watch at times. As she walked down the aisle during their religious ceremony, tears streamed down her face, capturing the attention of onlookers and photographers. The tears Princess Charlene shed were a poignant manifestation of the emotional challenges she faced, creating an unforgettable and uncomfortable scene during what was supposed to be a joyous occasion. Body language experts and media outlets have since commented on the awkwardness of the ceremony, highlighting the strained dynamics between the couple and citing it as evidence of problems in the marriage dating very far back. 

Trying to calm this speculation, Charlene told The Times, "Everything was just so overwhelming. ... There were all the mixed emotions because of the rumors and obviously the tension built up and I burst into tears."

In a unique convergence of royalty and sportsmanship, Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Harry attended a rugby match together on November 12, 2016, at Twickenham Stadium. The event marked an intriguing union of European and South African royalty, adding a touch of glamour to the typically robust and competitive rugby atmosphere. Looking at Charlene's face tells a story of competitiveness marked by a forceful smile as if she's hoping Prince Harry's team is going down. Her bright red lipstick even added to her fiery body language, while Prince Harry looked entirely enthusiastic; the contrast would have been funny to look at if it hadn't been so awkward and uncomfortable. England later won the match, 37-21, and Harry lived to tell the tale. 

Princess Charlene's twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella were just babies at the time, so it's also likely she was simply a tired mom. Later, in a 2019 interview with French publication Point de Vue (via People), Charlene spoke about motherhood, calling it "often exhausting" but praised the sweet bond her kids have with one another, adding that they have "incredible affection and gentleness for one another." The mom of two praised her toddlers, calling motherhood "stimulating" and adding, "Me, as their mother, I discover, I learn. I find it marvelous following their evolution, accompanying them on this path."

On the cusp of some of her darkest years, Princess Charlene stepped out with Prince Albert for the annual Red Cross distribution event in November 2019 looking incredibly uncomfortable as she exited the car and gave him a look that certainly didn't appear loving. The pair were there to hand out gift packages to the elderly and poor people, as Prince Albert has been the president of the Monégasque Red Cross for over 40 years.  

Unbeknown to the public, Charlene was going through an incredibly difficult time behind the scenes, however, having lost two close friends just 10 days apart, and coping with her father having surgery. Just a month later, Charlene explained her public appearances. According to People, she spoke to South African magazine Huisgenoot in December 2019, saying, "[P]eople are very quick to say, 'Oh, why isn't she smiling in the photos?' Well, sometimes it's hard to smile. They don't know what's going on in the background." She later candidly admitted that she is often homesick, sadly telling the publication, "I have the privilege of having this life, but I miss my family and my friends in South Africa and I'm often sad because I cannot always be there for them." While it's always easy to speculate, that's all totally understandable, and most of us can relate.

While Princess Charlene certainly looked much stronger in 2023 than in the past, her awkwardness during public appearances with Prince Albert hasn't dissipated much. While she stunned in an ethereal white, glittering ballgown, reminiscent of a wedding dress at the Red Cross Gala in August 2023, her facial expressions looked like she would rather be changing diapers than attending the glamorous event. Of course, her awkward body language might have had something to do with her company as she was photographed arm in arm with her husband who doesn't bring out the best in her publicly. 

While their public appearances haven't done much to quell rumors of problems in the marriage, the couple has been extremely pointed about shooting down any mention of a divorce in the media. Earlier in the year, the Monaco royal palace was forced to hit back at more split rumors about the couple. This time they came from French publication Royauté, which said the pair are in the process of separating, which a spokesman for the couple claimed are "malicious rumors" and "totally unfounded." Palace sources later told People, "The article is made up of old stories which weren't true to begin with."

In 2023, Princess Charlene stepped back into the public eye a lot more, though still with her trademark awkward body language around her husband Prince Albert. While the couple have made an effort to put on a united front, especially with the eyes of the media upon them, their body language is hard to ignore. During the Christmas season that year, Charlene and Albert attended a whole host of events, including the annual Red Cross distribution event in November 2023 at which she was seen squirming under her husband's touch. 

Most happy couples tend to lean into one another, even if they're not fond of public displays of affection, such as Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, who are obviously happily married even when they don't show PDA very often, if at all. However, as Prince Albert touched his wife's back, she looked stiff, created distance between them, failed to raise a genuine smile, and appeared as if she was allergic to her own husband. Of course, it can be difficult to tell from body language alone what's going on behind the scenes in Monaco, or Switzerland, or wherever Charlene is living now.