Princess Charlene Leads Global Water Safety Mission After Family Tragedy

Princess Charlene of Monaco has revealed that the drowning death of her cousin Richard at age five profoundly influenced her lifelong dedication to water safety. Despite retiring from competitive swimming, she remains actively involved in her Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation, which promotes swimming lessons and water safety programs worldwide, emphasizing that learning to swim should be a fundamental right and not hindered by cost. The foundation, established in 2014, has reached over one million people across more than 43 countries, aiming to reduce drowning fatalities and make water environments safer. Princess Charlene expressed deep concern over the sharp increase in drowning deaths, citing 193 fatalities in France during the summer months alone. While Monaco benefits from high-quality swimming facilities and supervision, she stresses that vigilance is crucial as no place is entirely safe. Her mission is driven by the belief that swimming lessons save lives and should be as accessible as learning to read.