'This is my heritage. It's in my heart and veins': Princess Charlene of Monaco returns to her roots on an emotional visit to South Africa
- Royal, 39, was born in Zimbabwe but moved to South Africa aged 11
- Is on five-day official visit to adopted home with Red Cross and her own charity
- Says she can't wait to introduce her twins Jacques and Gabriella to Africa
- Visited Gugulesizwe Primary School near her former home in Benoni
She lived in South Africa from the age of 11 and represented the country as an Olympic swimmer.
So Princess Charlene of Monaco was no doubt delighted to return to the country where she spent most of her life before marrying Prince Albert for an official visit with the Red Cross and her charitable foundation.
Charlene was born in Zimbabwe in 1978, but her family relocated to South Africa in 1989 and the royal, 39, spoke of how she knows her twins Jacques and Gabriella, two, will grow to love her homeland.
'I am African and this is my heritage. It will always be. It’s in my heart and in my veins,' she told Eyewitness News.
'I can’t wait for them to come here. I can’t wait for them to be introduced to Africa.'
Princess Charlene of Monaco, 39, demonstrates CPR to school children at Gugulesizwe Primary School in Daveyton on an official visit to South Africa
The mother-of-two said she can't wait to introduce her children Jacques and Gabriella
Charlene arrived on Thursday, and spent the day privately swimming and shopping, according to Royal Central.
Her first stop was a visit to Gugulesizwe Primary School in Daveyton, Benoni close to where she grew up, where she gave students lessons in CPR and first aid.
Share this article
The school holds a special place in her heart, as it's where she launched the African arm of her charitable foundation in 2012.
She was also shown the vegetable garden, which she gifted to the school in 2012 to help students learn about nutrition and develop their nurturing skills.
Princess Charlene growing up in Africa. She was born in Zimbabwe, but relocated to South Africa with her family when she was 11
Charlene attended the Princess Charlene Empress Club Stake horse race at Turffontein Race Course with her brother Sean on Saturday
The princess looked thrilled to be visiting the school where she set up her charitable foundation in 2012
The royal received a warm welcome from students, who performed an 'uplifting choral spectacular' to greet her.
Earlier this moth, she donated her childhood swimming medals to the school, which were hand delivered by her father Mike.
Charlene was born in Zimbabwe in 1978, but her family relocated to South Africa in 1989.
The royal attended the Princess Charlene Empress Club Stake horse race, which raises money for good causes close to her heart, such as the South African Red Cross
Princess Charlene receives a warm welcome on arrival at the school, which is close to her former family home
The royal was shown the vegetable garden, which she gifted to the school
Princess Charlene with pupils and staff from Gugulesizwe Primary School in Daveyton, Benoni
The royal represented South Africa at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 in the 3 x 100m medley relay, the same year she met Prince Albert at a swimming competition in Monaco.
She retired from competitive swimming in 2007 and set up her foundation in 2012.
The foundation focuses on three key areas: learning to swim, water safety, and sport and education programs.
The students performed an 'uplifting choral spectacular' to greet the royal visitor
Recently, she added CPR and first aid to her programme, which she demonstrated for the students.
On Saturday, she attended the Princess Charlene Empress Club Stake horse race at Turffontein Race Course with her brother Sean.
The race is held to raise money for the school, the Red Cross and Highveld Horse Care Unit.
Most watched News videos
- Russian soldiers catch 'Ukrainian spy' on motorbike near airbase
- Helicopters collide in Malaysia in shocking scenes killing ten
- Rayner says to 'stop obsessing over my house' during PMQs
- Moment escaped Household Cavalry horses rampage through London
- New AI-based Putin biopic shows the president soiling his nappy
- Vacay gone astray! Shocking moment cruise ship crashes into port
- Shocking moment woman is abducted by man in Oregon
- Prison Break fail! Moment prisoners escape prison and are arrested
- Ammanford school 'stabbing': Police and ambulance on scene
- Columbia protester calls Jewish donor 'a f***ing Nazi'
- MMA fighter catches gator on Florida street with his bare hands
- Sir Jeffrey Donaldson arrives at court over sexual offence charges
