These statements could be hard to digest for Princess Charlene. Since her wedding on July 1, 2011, she has repeatedly been in the shadow of rumors about Albert's past - especially about his illegitimate children. But the fact that there might have been an "almost-wife" must feel like a slap in the face to her. The question arises: How must Charlene feel when she learns that her husband once proposed to another woman? Did Albert really have serious intentions back then, or was it just a spontaneous thought? And why is Ophélie Winter only talking about it now?
The fact that Winter is making this story public seems all the more credible as she continues to maintain a good relationship with Prince Albert. There is no apparent reason why she should invent such a claim. Rather, it seems as if she is simply sharing an episode from her past without accusing or blaming anyone. Nevertheless, there is a bitter aftertaste: The whole affair sheds a new light on the relationship between Albert and Charlene. Was the marriage perhaps less of a love match than a pragmatic decision? This revelation once again shows that behind the glittering facades of the nobility, there are often stories that are much more complicated than they appear. For Princess Charlene, this revelation could pose an emotional challenge - but how she deals with it remains to be seen.