Princess Charlene has broken her silence on rumours she tried to run away in the lead-up to her 2011 wedding, branding the gossip “categorical lies”.
In a rare interview, the 35-year-old former Olympic swimmer finally spoke out about reports she was caught trying to flee Monaco and her soon-to-be husband Prince Albert several times in the days before her lavish nuptials.
She told the UK’s Times Weekend magazine there was absolutely no truth to the “runaway bride” rumours, and insisted her tears during her wedding ceremony were those of joy, not sorrow.
“Everything was just so overwhelming and there were all the mixed emotions because of the rumours, and obviously the tension built up and I burst into tears [immediately after the ceremony,” Charlene said.
“And then I burst into tears some more because I was thinking ‘Oh no, now the whole world has seen me cry’.”
Far from regretting her multi-day wedding extravaganza, Charlene said it was the best day of her life, and an event she often thinks back on with “wonder”.
“It was such a wonderful three days,” she said. “Even months afterwards I would get flashbacks and think, ‘Oh my goodness, did I really have the Eagles playing at my wedding?’
“I think back and wonder how we managed to pull it off. There was a lot going on. It was beautiful; it was sentimental, showing my most intimate moment to the world.”
Albert and Charlene’s nuptials were one of three high-profile royal weddings in 2011. The other two couples — Prince William and Kate and Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall — are now expecting their first children.
Albert and Charlene are yet to announce a pregnancy and she says they are in no rush to start a family of their own.
“Look, I’m not going to put myself under any pressure,” she said. “I just got married. I’m just settling into this enormous place and getting used to having huge responsibilities.
“You know, we travel a lot, so it’s going to take time. But as I said, I’m not going to put myself under any pressure. It will happen; it will happen.”
Charlene is currently holidaying in Portofino, Italy, with friends while Albert remains in Monaco.
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