Princess Charlene of Monaco joins husband Prince Albert at annual picnic alongside their two children - as the European royals dazzle in their classy outfits

Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert have made an appearance at the annual Monaco picnic today, as they wowed onlookers with their classy ensembles.

Arriving to the Parc Princess Antoinette in Monaco, the family-of-four put on a classy front as Princess Charlene took the lead with her striking red jumpsuit. 

With a sleek bob with blonde highlights, the stylish royal topped off her outfit with a pair of understated silver drop earring. 

Keeping it striking yet simple, the Princess finished off her look with natural make up, featuring glittery silver eyeshadow and a glossy red lip. 

Prince Albert wore a black blazer fashioned with gold buttons, contrasting with his cream trousers as nine-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella followed in tow.

The young princess wore a flowy white dressed whilst holding a bouquet of soft pink flowers, similarly to her glamorous mother.

Prince Jacques was the double of his father, donning a similar outfit as the classy European royals graced the event. 

The 'Monaco picnic' is an annual event that is seen as the equivalent of British royal garden parties that are hosted each summer.

Around 1,0000 Monegasques attend each year as it is seen as the last major event of the season.

Last year Prince Albert told People in 2022: 'It's a fun event, a really nice moment of the year. It's just a great, very informal, setting. The mass, which opens it up is a little formal, but then it goes right into a picnic and there's a little cocktail party atmosphere.

'It's just wonderful to be able to walk around and have “tell me about your summer” type conversations with people you know.'

However despite the Prince's fondness for the occasion, last year's event appeared to be marred amid rumours of a royal rift. 

Albert and Charlene had been at the centre of speculation after reports in European media alleged she was living in Switzerland and only saw her husband 'by appointment'. 

A source close to the royal pair told French newspaper Voici that the former Olympic swimmer and son of are just a 'ceremonial couple'. 

More recently, Prince Albert  revealed that he didn't get a love at first sight moment with Princess Charlene.

Albert first met his wife of 13 years in Monaco when she was representing South Africa at the Mare Nostrum International Swimming Meet in 2000.

Their lives were vastly different. Sports-mad Charlene was 20 years his junior. Her father Michael was a photocopier salesperson, and her mother Lynette a competitive diver.

Now, in a rare joint interview, Albert revealed his uncertainties of whether they fell in love at the 2011 competition, he told Paris Match: 'I don't know if we fell in love back then,' adding that it was several years before they would meet again.

But while romance might not have been on the cards at first, Charlene still made an impression on Albert, with him recalling: 'I thought that she was an excellent swimmer and that she was friendly, cheerful, and approachable'.

Despite his initial feelings not being clear cut, the pair allowed their romance to develop slowly outside the public eye.

The 66-year-old revealed an additional insight, explaining that he once got Charlene in trouble after he didn't get her 'home in time'.

It was at the opening of the 2006 Winter Olympics that they first introduced their romance to the world.

French journalist Philippe Delorme said at the time: 'She was on his arm for the entire ceremony and they made no attempt to hide their affection for each other, sharing kisses and other tender gestures.'

Then, in June 2010, their engagement was announced. Albert proposed with a pear-cut diamond ring.

'People could hardly believe it,' Delorme added. 'For four years, since they had first been seen together, the Monegasques had been holding their breath.'

Charlene was required to convert to Catholicism — she was raised a Protestant — and had to learn both French and the Monegasque dialect.

Delorme told the Daily Mail in 2011 that Albert finally meeting someone was a tale of Hollywood proportions: 'If the Princess Grace story was a movie, then Princess Charlene is the remake.

'The reality is that Albert is 52, a bit overweight, and much less fabulous and glamorous than his father was. It feels a bit like a love story of an old man and a young woman rather than a story of two young lovers.' 

In her first interview after the royal wedding was announced, Charlene spoke of the challenges she faced making the transition from the life of an athlete to that of a future royal bride. 

She admitted to experiencing 'jealousy' among some members of Monaco's social elite. 

'The people I mixed with in Monaco didn't relate to my South African mentality or humour,' she told Tatler. 

On June 30, 2011, Charlene, then 33, and 53-year-old Albert's three-day wedding, thought to cost around £53million, went underway.

The Eagles kicked off festivities with a concert, before a civil ceremony took place the following day in the Throne Room of the Prince's Palace.

Charlene wore a custom-made aquamarine Chanel suit that was matched to the colour of her eyes. And the newlyweds posed for some seemingly very awkward photos, no doubt the runaway rumours hanging over their heads.

Then finally there was the religious ceremony. The bride's silk wedding dress was designed by Giorgio Armani, had a six-metre train and was studded with 40,000 Swarovski crystals and 20,000 mother of pearl tear drops. It took a total of 2,500 hours to make.

Guests included the then-French President Nicholas Sarkozy, Carla Bruni, Naomi Campbell, Roger Moore, Philip Green, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, as well as Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex.