Princess Charlene encourages swimming lessons

Princess Charlene has stressed the importance of children taking swimming lessons for better water safety.

The Princess of Monaco has said she does not want children to be afraid of water or swimming.

The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation has a huge focus on water safety with their Learn to Swim and Water Safety programmes, which are active in 45 countries. Monaco helps children, beginning in kindergarten, to learn to swim.

The Prince’s Palace released a statement on behalf of Princess Charlene, who called drowning a public health emergency.

She said, “Drowning is a public health emergency.

“Drowning is silent and can happen in a matter of moments, even in familiar environments.” My goal is simple: for every child to associate water with confidence and joy, rather than fear.”

Sadly, drowning is something the Princess knows all too well. As a child, her five-year-old cousin, Richard, drowned in a river close to her uncle’s home.

“It was devastating for our whole family. I don’t think that kind of pain ever really goes away,” she told Ouest-France. 

Princess Charlene is concerned about the uptick in drownings and hopes that swimming will become a fundamental right one day, “just like learning to read.”

Charlene was a South African Olympic swimmer and has made water safety a focus of her work with her namesake foundation, alongside sports and education.