TODAY, Princess Charlene is celebrating her 46th birthday.
While the Princess of Monaco is bound to be receiving an array of lavish gifts from her nearest and dearest, it has emerged that she previously received a wedding gift, that Fabulous can now reveal is estimated to be worth a staggering £11.8million.
The royal married Albert II, the Sovereign Prince of Monaco in July 2011.
For their big day, Prince Albert II commissioned a set of jewellery wedding presents for the then Charlene Wittstock, his Princess-to-be.
Among these was a suite of custom-made jewels by Van Cleef and Arpels, termed the ‘Ocean’ suite - which consisted of a convertible tiara that transformed into a necklace, and a matching pair of earrings.
And now, it’s been estimated that the breath-taking gift is worth an eye-watering £11.8million.
Maxwell Stone, Creative Director of Steven Stone’s, told Fabulous about the lavish jewellery set.
Maxwell said: “The ocean tiara was designed and created by Van Cleef & Arpels at the request of Prince Albert ahead of his wedding to Princess Charlene.
“Composed of circular elements reminiscent of the ocean's water and foam, the opulent piece pays homage to her swimming background.
“Crafted from white gold, the tiara boasts 1200 precious stones – including 883 round cut diamonds, 11 pear cut diamonds and 359 round cut sapphires.
“The sapphires consist of three different shades, creating a graduated effect that resembles the waves of the ocean.
“The diadem can be transformed into a sparkling necklace and was gifted to the Princess alongside a pair of earrings.”
Maxwell then added: “Though famously pictured in it during a photoshoot for Hola magazine in 2014, sadly, Princess Charlene isn’t often seen wearing the tiara – though the Princess was wearing it during an Instagram video that she shared in support of a fundraiser in 2021.
“She also notably wore it as a necklace to a Gala dinner in 2020, during her visit to Georgia.
“Assigning a value to such an extravagant piece is challenging, but I’d estimate it to be worth a staggering $15 million (£11.8 million).”
Not only this, but Alexandra Michell, Gemologist at Prestige Pawnbrokers of Channel 4’s Posh Pawn, also told Fabulous: "The tiara effortlessly conveys elements of water and the sea with lapping waves, frothy sea foam, a spray of droplets and undulating sea wells.
"It is an impeccable choice for Princess Charlene, hinting at her career as an Olympian swimmer, and monarch of a coastal Kingdom."
However, news of Princess Charlene’s lavish wedding gift comes shortly after claims that she hired ‘illegal immigrants’ on less than £90-a-day.
The Princess’ birthday celebrations are expected to be much more muted than normal, after claims by a former royal accountant to the Monegasque household have emerged about the South African-born royal's spending habits.
Claude Palmero, 67, was in charge of palace finances for more than two decades but stepped down in July after he was targeted by an anti-corruption website.
He claimed that Princess Charlene, the former Olympic swimmer, hired illegal immigrants on £85-a-day while her personal spending allowance rocketed to more than £1 million-a-year.
His 'secret notebooks' alleging the spending of the Monaco royal family have now been shared with French newspaper Le Monde, and it was allegedly 'illegal migrants' who made up much of Charlene's full-time personal staff of eight that Mr Palmero was particularly worried about.
Mr Palmero warned Prince Albert: 'Her Serene Highness the Princess makes people work for her who are not compliant.’
He also referred to 'a moonlighting Filipino woman who ties up dogs in the shower.'
In a letter apparently written in January 2017, he said another employee from the Philippines had been 'illegal for five years', despite solely being on a one-month tourist visa.
He wrote: 'He gets paid 100 euros a day [£85] which is off the scale.’
In December 2014, Charlene gave birth to twins, Prince Jacques, and Princess Gabriella, and it has been claimed that she immediately placed them in the care of illegal immigrant nannies.
Mr Palmero added: 'Update on the hiring of nannies…We are completely illegal (even their tourist visa expired on January 7).
'They are not only in an illegal situation, but one entered with a false passport.’
In a statement, reported by The Times, Albert said: “The attacks that [Palmero] makes against me and against the state [of Monaco] and its institutions show his true nature and the little respect … he has for the family and the principality.”
The claims are the latest blow for Prince Albert and his wife, who've faced a tumultuous few years.
Last year, it was reported that the Princess is now 'living in Switzerland and only sees her husband by appointment'.
German and French media reported that Charlene, only meets with Prince Albert for ceremonial reasons.
An insider told French paper Voici that the former Olympic swimmer and son of Grace Kelly are just a "ceremonial couple".
"Albert and Charlène are now good partners, take turns taking care of the children," they also told German newspaper Bild.
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