Festivities At The Pink Palace

In an exclusive interview, Princess Charlene talks about celebrating with Prince Albert and their cute tots

- Kirstin Buick

HOLIDAYS with family, a festive feast with all the trimmings and gifts galore. Sounds like a pretty regular kind of Christmas, all homey and cosy and filled with loved ones – just as this time of year has always been for her.

There’s just one big difference now: she’s swopped her Benoni family Christmas for the bright lights and lavish luxury of the tiny principality her husband rules.

Back in the day, the festive season for Charlene Wittstock meant dipping in and out of the pool and braaiing with her parents and brothers.

These days Princess Charlene spends her downtime by the fire in one of the many rooms of the Pink Palace in Monaco with her tousle-headed twins.

How do we know this? Because she told us so!

In an exclusive interview with the former SA Olympic swimmer, she gave YOU a window into her world in the run-up to Christmas – a holiday she loves all the more since becoming a mom.

For Her Serene Highness the festivities start on Christmas Eve.

“We have a mass together at the palace followed by a dinner,” the 39-year-old beauty tells YOU. “We then open our gifts together.

“On Christmas Day we’ll have a lovely lunch at our home.”

Making things all the more special this year is that her “whole South African family” will be joining Charlene, her husband, Prince Albert, and their twins,Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques.

Charlene’s “whole family” means her parents, Michael and Lynette, and her two brothers, Gareth (37) and Sean (34).

“There are no similarities to a South African Christmas where there’s a braai by a pool or at the beach on Christ mas Day,” she says.

“The weather is chilly here and everyone bundles up cosily next to the fire.”