Charlene, Princess of Monaco

Princess Charlene with husband Prince Albert in 2011, photo by Prphotos

Birth Name: Charlene Lynette Wittstock

Place of Birth: Mater Dei Hospital, Bulawayo, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe)

Date of Birth: 25 January, 1978

Ethnicity: English, German, some Scottish and Irish, 1/16th Afrikaner [German, Dutch, French Huguenot, distant Danish, remote Malagasy, Indian, Indonesian, Angolan, and Khoikhoi]

Charlene, Princess of Monaco is a Monagesque swimmer, who has competed in the Olympics for South Africa. She has been married to Albert II, Prince of Monaco, since 1 July, 2011.

Princess Charlene is the daughter of Lynette, a competitive diver and swimming coach, and Michael Kenneth Wittstock, a sales manager. Her family moved to South Africa in 1989, and she was raised in the Benoni, near Johannesburg, area. She has two children, Princess Gabriella, Countess of Carladès and Jacques, Hereditary Prince of Monaco, with Prince Albert.

Princess Charlene’s paternal grandfather was Dudley Kenneth Wittstock (the son of Heinrich Carl Friedrich Wittstock and Olive Florence Caldwell). Dudley was born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Heinrich was the son of Gottlieb Wittstock, who was born in Zerrenthin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany, and of Johanne Louise/Luise Schönknecht/Schonkreehl, who was born in Bavaria, Germany. Olive was the daughter of William James/Guillaume Caldwell and Mary Ann Jane Baker.

Princess Charlene’s paternal grandmother was Sylvia Fagan/Fagon Nicholson (the daughter of Henry Nicholson and Marjorie Winifred Nelson). Henry was the son of Albert Nicholson, who was born in France, to a Scottish father and to an Irish mother; and of Sarah Frances Barrett, whose parents were English, from Yorkshire. Marjorie was also English, from Essex, and was the daughter of Charles Nelson and Ellen Jane Welbourne.

Princess Charlene’s maternal grandfather was Brian James Humberstone (the son of Ernest James John Humberstone and Lilian/Lillian Cecilia/Cecillia Paul). Brian was born in London, England. Ernest was born in London, the son of Herbert James Humberstone and Annie Deacon. Lilian was also born in London, the daughter of Cecil Arthur Paul and Florence Rosina Elizabeth Webb.

Princess Charlene’s maternal grandmother was Violet Openshaw (the daughter of Charles Ernest/Edward Openshaw and Alice/Alysia Isabella McMaster). Charles was English, from Boston, and was the son of William Davidson Openshaw and Emily Thornhill. Alice was born in Hoopstad, Free State, South Africa, the daughter of Alfred Clarence McMaster, who was of Scottish, and some English, descent, and of Alysia/Lasya/Louisa Susanna Kotze, whose family was Afrikaner. She had German, Dutch, French Huguenot, and distant Danish, remote Malagasy, Indian, Indonesian, Angolan, and Khoikhoi, ancestry.

Source: Genealogy of Charlene, Princess of Monaco – http://www.geni.com