Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene turned 40 on Thursday, January 25. The Princess spent the special day privately with family and friends (perhaps at her brother’s eatery, MC Buns).

Born Charlene Wittstock in Bulawayo, in what is today Zimbabwe, on January 25, 1978, the future princess moved to South Africa with her parents, Michael and Lynette, at the age of 11. The eldest of three children, Charlene became a competitive swimmer who represented South Africa in a number of international tournaments and won three gold medals in the All-Africa Games.

Having married His Serene Highness Prince Albert on July 1, 2011, the couple welcomed twins, Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, on December 10, 2014 at the Princess Grace Hospital in Monaco.

Through her own Foundation, which marked its fifth anniversary in December, the Princess works tirelessly to prevent deaths by drowning across the world, mainly by focussing on teaching children how to swim. Over the last five years, the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation has developed a total of 149 projects in 33 countries.

The Foundation has just announced the second edition of the Riviera Water Bike Challenge this summer.

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