Princess Charlene always looks like she’s being photographed by her hostage takers for some kind of ransom video. This look is so much a part of her public image now, and I sort of suspect it’s just her resting expression at this point. Like, some of us (*raises hand*) have resting bitchface. Charlene has Resting Hostage Face (RHF). She always looks like she’s being led somewhere against her will, and like she’s about to cry.
I was just reminded of that when I looked through these photos from this weekend’s Red Cross Ball, an annual (or, like, tri-annual) gala in Monaco. His Serene Highness Prince Albert attended the gala with his wife, Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene. Charlene wore a rather badass Atelier Versace JUMPSUIT for the gala. I love this. I love that she didn’t wear a gown. I love the jumpsuit entirely. I do not love how Charlene’s Resting Hostage Face kind of ruins the look. She should have been going for an expression of fierce/IDGAF/serene.
While I used to say that Charlene was always looking to escape from Albert’s Insemination Dungeon, it really does seem like Charlene has chilled out a lot since becoming a mom. I think part of that is that she’s mostly living separately from Albert these days – he spends the week at the Prince’s Palace (the official residence of the sovereign in Monte Carlo) while she raises the kids (Prince Jacques and Princess Gabrielle) at one of their other homes. That being said, she steps out in Monaco often enough.
Also: I kind of hate her hair this short. I feel like she needs to be shaggier on top. Right now she’s attempting Brigitte Nielson Realness, but her Resting Hostage Face is f–king it up.
Photos courtesy of Pacific Coast News.
Meh, I feel this ‘hostage’ narrative has now gotten to the point where we (bloggers, readers) on various gossip sites are projecting this on her…and I feel like it demeans/discounts the many thousands of women who ARE actually held in relationships agaisnt their will. It was funny at first, but I think we’ve taken this narrative too far now.
Love the jumpsuit, hate the hair.
I dont follow royals so maybe you know something I dont but isnt she basically an emotional hostage? Last I followed her, she was attempting to get out of marrying this dodgy prince who as I recall has baby mamas all over the place (also wasnt there an overlap between a baby mama and this relationship?). Anyway, if woman appears to have attempted escape, returned with a reportedly medically sedated demeanor and barely five years married now raises the children in a residence away from dodgy prince but appears with him occassionally looking this unhappy, the term “hostage” seems about right. “Wife” really doesn’t sit well with me from what I have read.
Truthfully, I don’t know too many details – just using the term hostage so flippantly and as if it’s a bit of a joke (and that’s how I read it, and have read it here and on other sites) makes me uncomfortable.
From what I do know – which is not very much – this is a marriage of convenience/for money. To me, she doesn’t appear to be a ‘hostage’ (I may be wrong, but I sure as F hope I am not, because no one deserves that), and I feel like this narrative has been imposed on her, and that feels a bit shitty.
We shouldn’t really be going around joking about people being held hostage and analyzing their expressions in the same breath as discussing outfits, y’know? That was the point of my post – and I understand that it comes off as somewhat sanctimonious, (for which I apologise), but I can’t quite articulate it any differently.
There was a kerfuffle of some sort when she and Albert got married (I don’t necessarily believe the debunking) but one rumor is that the person she really had conflict with was Caroline. Before Charlene and Albert got married, Caroline was the de facto First Lady of Monaco and her son was in line to inherit. She’S also… difficult as a person.
It’s pretty clear that Charlene has settled into her role in Monaco and in her marriage, and seems much more settled now.
All debunked, proven false, retractions required. They were in a relationship for many years, she knows his children with two other women. They are close with his older daughter, she spends time with them in Monaco, and they’ve attended charity events together. The relationship with his older son is more problematic, due to the tabloid-loving nature of his mother.
Charlene knew the man she married. Now that the twins have arrived, she’s is much more relaxed in her role. Albert and Charlene seem fine. The videos of events, like the one from the maritime event the other day, show it better than stills.
@Sami – and didn’t she try to run away just before the wedding and her passport was confiscated?!
That was all debunked, tabloid had to retract the story.
Hostages come in all types of scenerios. It’s not just the violent, taken at gunpoint end of the spectrum.
There is a spectrum of types of hostages from those taken at gunpoint or other violent means through to those coerced / gaslighted into remaining in their situations through to the ones who succumb to stockholm syndrome.
One is a more obvious hostage, but that doesn’t negate the others simply because they aren’t the perfect victim hostages.
She’s no hostage.
Good grief, I don’t know anything about her background, but I doubt if she grew up living in palaces, rubbing shoulders with royals (albeit mostly minor), and draped in jewels and designer duds.
She probably made a very calculated decision about the life she wanted.
She has looked happier since they had children. I enjoy seeing her because she is so tall and athletic and dresses so confidently. She really has a good sense of what works for her.
Exactly. I just commented on this on yesterday’s Scaramucci post. People (oftentimes women) will make a calculated decision to marry horrible men in return for a lifetime of luxury and wealth for themselves and their children. I’m not saying that is bad or good. People choose the kind of life that they want. Plenty of women decide to marry horrible men who aren’t rich too. At least these women come away with some financial stability. I believe that Charlene dislikes Albert, but like so many marriages among the wealthy, the marriage is mainly to procreate, keep up appearances, and have someone to go to fancy events with, nothing more.
kibbles, Charlene isn’t from the upper classes, she didn’t have to marry to keep up appearances. They were in a relationship for many years prior to marriage. It was a choice they both made and seem happy with. No need for her to choose Albert; if all she wanted was a wealthy life, she could have found a man with a lifestyle that required far fewer complications.
I love her hair, she pulls off the Pixie very well. I’m surprised that structured jumpsuit didn’t give her just a slight more derriere?
+1
I agree.
Another royal relationship… sources claim Meghan and her mom are in London. Both seen at Waterloo station. Is Meghan mom/parents there to meet RF – POW – an engagement count down?!
She has such broad shoulders, and she displays it in a jumpsuit that further emphasises them. That’s so cool!
Her shoulders look wider than her husbands.
I think she has a great looking body. Strong and feminine.
+1 .
She has a great athletic body. Swimmers’s shoulders yes, but somehow her height and proportion balances out what could be problematic on a shorter woman with narrower hips, IMO.
Love, love her outfit. Very modern. And her pixie cut goes with the fashion forward look.
Agreed. And she is killing it in this jumpsuit. Incredible look.
I did not meant IT as critique.
Charlene has a wonderful strong and female Body, her Husband is lacking.
Agree.
CM is still very feminine.
Yes. As a former swimmer with broad shoulders I was always self conscious about them. Good to see her flaunt them.
She looks fantastic-swimming a bit these days?
Her husband has said she swims every day, and takes the twins swimming most days too. That part of why the short hair makes sense.
Agree she looks awesome, what a physique. Love how she rocks short hair.
I don’t hate this jump suit. But, if you are going to do a sparkly jumpsuit, you might as well go all in and have the beading done from top to bottom. This jumpsuit looks unfinished. At least it fits well on her.
I also don’t like the length. Just a tad too long. A bit of hemming and it would have been magic
I see what you mean and agree with you. Maybe an half an inch off the bottom.
I like it a lot, but what’s with the dark beading around the crotch area? First Kate with the crotch heart and now Charlene with this? Lol Is this a new trend for fall?
Was just going to say that – the darkness at the crotch makes it look as if she’d peed herself.
i would love it if the metallic stop at the waist and the pants are sheer flow. the bustier is too rigid and too lateral for her square shoulders.
Her shoulders are quite broad in relation to her hips. That fabric would have made a wonderful billowy gown. I have never seen a jumpsuit quite like it so I love it. The design of the bodice on the back is gorgeous.
Glamorous and badass. I love it. A ball-jumpsuit, hell yes!
+1
+1. Charlene looks amazing.
Albert’s not much to look at, is he?
We can’t all be beautiful and beautiful doesn’t always go with a nice personality!
While I agree with Martina’s overall point, there was a period of time (80s) where Albert was close to dishy.
Yes-I am old enough to remember when he was really good looking. Sigh.
Unlike his sisters, he takes very strongly after the Kelly side of his family. Unfortunately for him, the Kelly genes only look good on the females.
The Grimaldi genes on the otherhand look very good on both males and females, spectacularly so on the females.
Princess Charlene always looks like she’s being photographed by her hostage takers for some kind of ransom video.
THIS. I was just about to comment that her face always looks like she’s chanting “Look normal, look normal, look happy, look happy” in her head. It makes me sad. I mean, it is possible that her face just looks that way, but I think about how much crazy stuff was purported to have happened before they got married and I’m not sure.
Yea. Some photos here seem like a forced smile/scared look.
Amazing! Love the pantsuit, she has the body and shoulders for it!
She always looks sad & medicated (not in a good way) to me. He’s repulsive.
He has the tiniest hands….. Well, maybe second tiniest, but still
LOLOLOL.
I think this look is killer!
Why are royalty serene? Why are they high(ness) and not top(ness)?
There’s plenty of photos of her looking relaxed and happy. However the media choose not to use them, because they don’t fit the miserable narrative.
She was at an event a couple of days ago in a fab red dress with the children. Everyone was looking relaxed and the kids looked comfortable clambering over their dad. Which they wouldn’t be if the narrative was true.
I thought I liked the look, until i saw the back. Interesting is the best I can do to describe it. Someone described it as ‘Mad Max: Monaco’ I think that’s apt
She does look happy and relaxed a lot of the time, especially when she isn’t the solo focus of attention.
I think this jumpsuit is fine until you see the back is too tight. If the top had been fit to her instead of 1-2 inches too small, this would have been a solid outfit.
Kaiser, I have to respect your exacting standards, but I think Charlene looks breathtaking in all of these pictures. The jumpsuit is badass, her hair is badass and even her face looks flawless to me. The only thing ruining the pictures as far as I’m concerned is the giant Mr-Potato-Head standing beside her. (Not that I don’t like Albert, I actually do, but that head……..)
I think she must have got over her runaway bride thing, really if they dislike each other that much why would they hold hands and all. If she hates him, she looks tough enough to slap his hand away like Melania did with Donny Tiny Hands. And look at Wills and Kate, he never touches her when they’re out. And that kind bugs me how they walk around together not touching and rarely speaking as if they’re strangers.
I think she’s fine. She’s just got that kind of face. I think she’s lovely and looks great in her clothes. As for the narrative of her being trapped, the body language in those photos tell a different story. Their fingers are entwined while holding hands, which signifies they are deeply connected to one another and have great affection for one another.
Charlene looks much happier now that Caroline is out of the picture. The word on that is that Albert made the power play several years back. Note that Caroline was not at this event, and is rarely at the high profile events that Albert & Charlene are at.
She looks awesome!! Love that jumpsuit hair makeup etc.
Whatever work she’s had done is incredible (and I love that she’s serving face with intense amounts of highlighter that match her dress). The continental royals always go fashion forward and tbh she killed this. More nonBRF royals please!!!
I agree, I especially wish we could see more of Charlene. I love that she has a unique look and knows how to dress. The hair, makeup and outfit are just perfect for her.
I think the work she has fone to her face ruined it and is the culprit as far as the frozen expression.
Her kids are the spit of her pre-surgery face.
This is what she looked like before she messed with her face
http://famewatcher.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/charlene-wittstock-princess-of-monaco-plastic-surgery-botox-and-veneers-before-and-after.jpg
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/17/e6/b7/17e6b79c9ba5c800f1d83aa6255a845c–prinses-charlene-beauty-photos.jpg
One word: gorgeous!
All I can see is this epic camel toe.
Love that its a jmpsuit. I think it looks amazing on her figure and as someone with something between a buzz cut and a pixie cut- i LOVE this hair. i’m sick to death of game show hostess/barbie hair hat are so ubiquitous on celebrities.
SO TRUE about game show hostess/Barbie hair. Just seeing her hair/jumpsuit is a breath of fresh air.
She looks amazing, though her face still looks inflated from whatever work she had done.
Work those shoulders!
LOVE the jumpsuit and I guess after all of my rants, she actually does not want to be rescued…
I love her look here. It’s very retro 80s glam and the style suits her. As for her face…in photos with her kids she always looks soft and relaxed but when she’s with him, it’s another story entirely.
Stunning.