Happy Birthday, Princess Charlene! See the Style Icon's Most Amazing Looks

The Monaco royal, who turns 46 on Jan. 25, is the queen of chic — and her husband Prince Albert agrees. "She has very good taste," he tells PEOPLE

princess charlene
Photo: Eric Mathon/Courtesy of Palais Princier; Amadeo Turello/Courtesy of Palais Princier
01 of 17

June 23, 2010

princess charlene
Amadeo Turello / courtesy of Palais Princier

For her royal engagement announcement, Charlene stood in the palace garden showing off her Repossi engagement ring in a backless pale green halter dress from Swiss designer Akris.

02 of 17

July 1, 2011

princess charlene
Eric MATHON/Palais Princier

Shortly after her engagement was announced, designer Karl Lagerfeld "took me to his workshop in Paris," Charlene recalled. "He said, 'You are going to be a style icon. You bring a breath of fresh air and modern glamour to Monaco.' " For her civil ceremony, Charlene collaborated with the designer, wearing a pantsuit in a vibrant shade of robin's egg blue, which has since been dubbed "Charlene Blue."

"We wanted something to match the color of my eyes," she told Vogue. "It's feminine and keeps with tradition, yet has a little twist that reflects my personal style. I thought it was a nice change to go for trousers instead of a skirt, especially since I'm an athlete and have always kept my clothes clean and simple."

03 of 17

July 2, 2011

princess charlene
Courtesy of Palais Princier

Charlene's handmade gown for her religious wedding ceremony had been announced six months earlier by Giorgio Armani. Made from 425 feet of white silk, the robe featured a 66-foot veil and train, embroidered with 60,000 crystals and mother of pearl teardrops. Despite its intricacies, it showed off Charlene's athletic figure with classical simplicity and continues to draw compliments for its modernity.

04 of 17

Feb. 14, 2017

princess charlene

The former Olympic swimmer fit right in with some of the world's best-known athletes at the Laureus Awards, but her off-the-shoulder gown by Caroline Herrara accessorized with diamond drop earrings provided the winning edge.

05 of 17

July 28, 2017

princess charlene
Eric Mathon / courtesy of Palais Princier

For the 60th Red Cross Ball, Princess Charlene of Monaco looked exquisite in an Atelier Versace custom-made jumpsuit.

06 of 17

Oct. 16, 2018

princess charlene
Eric Mathon/Courtesy Palais Princier

An open wing-collar beneath a Ralph Lauren tuxedo struck a casual air at the 2018 Princess Grace Foundation Awards in New York.

07 of 17

Sept. 29, 2020

princess charlene

Opting for the traditional winner's yellow, Charlene surprised cycling fans at the opening of last year's Tour de France. Her yellow leather jacket by Philipp Plein paired perfectly with her unexpected Joker-themed mask.

08 of 17

Sept. 24, 2020

Princess Charlène of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty

At the glamorous Monte-Carlo Gala for Planetary Health on the terraces of the Opera of Monaco, Charlene stunned in a white Jenny Packham paired with a necklace by Repossi.

09 of 17

Nov. 19, 2020

princess charlene
Eric Mathon / Courtesy Palais Princier

For National Day, she wore a black double-faced dress coat with fuschia lining by South African designer Terrence Bray, a friend she has collaborated with since 2011.

"She has very good taste," her husband Prince Albert tells PEOPLE, "and a good team of people around her, looking out for things that she'd like or want.

"But she's able to recycle the different elements into new pieces. Like the coat that she wore for National Day, for example, was actually restyled by a South African friend of hers. It looks new but it's actually recycled."

10 of 17

Dec. 16, 2020

princess charlene
Eric Mathon / Courtesy Palais Princier

For her annual Christmas party at the Palace appearance, Charlene matched her chic mask with a Dior coat.

11 of 17

May 29, 2022

Princess Charlene of Monaco and Princess Gabriella during the F1 Grand Prix of Monaco at Circuit de Monaco
Princess Charlene and Princess Gabriella. Arnold Jerocki/FilmMagic

For the Grand Prix, Princess Charlene stunned in powder blue jumpsuit. The ensemble, from South African designer Terrence Bray, featured bishop sleeves and neckline that opened in the back. (Meanwhile, Princess Gabriella made a style statement of her own in a floral dress and sunglasses!)

12 of 17

June 17, 2022

Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco attends the opening ceremony during the 61st Monte Carlo TV Festival
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene. Arnold Jerocki/WireImage

At the opening of the 61st Monte Carlo Television Festival, the former Olympian wore a striking toga-style green gown by Lanvin gown. The asymmetrical ensemble was accessorized with jewelry from Van Cleef & Arpels, while a pair of long gold drop earrings accentuated her blonde pixie hairstyle.

13 of 17

July 18, 2022

Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco attend the 73rd Monaco Red Cross Ball Gala
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene. Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

Each year, Monaco's royal family goes glam for the Red Cross Gala, and 2022 was no exception. Princess Charlene wore a full-length ice blue satin ballgown by Prada, lightly embroidered with crystals in a floral motif. Keeping jewelry to a minimum, she accessorized her outfit with a Flying Butterfly necklace from Van Cleef and Arpels.

14 of 17

September 3, 2022

Princess Gabriella, Countess of Carladès and Princess Charlene of Monaco attend "U Cavagnetu" : Traditional Monaco Picnic
Princess Gabriella and Princess Charlene. David Niviere / SC Pool - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

Monaco's annual end of summer picnic saw Charlene in a high collared white lace tunic and pants from South African designer Terence Bray. Meanwhile, Princess Gabriella wore a blue Jacadi dress — and Prince Jacques sported a shirt in the same pattern.

15 of 17

November 19, 2022

Princess Charlene of Monaco, Princess Stephanie of Monaco, Prince Jacques of Monaco, Princess Gabriella of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco attend the Monaco National day celebrations
Princess Charlene, Prince Jacques, Princess Gabriella and Prince Albert. David Niviere/SC Pool - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

Princess Charlene attended the 2022 National Day celebration in a custom white Akris soutane and a bespoke Stephen Jones hat. Princess Gabriella made a fashion statement of her own sporting a refashioned hat that previously belonged to her mother.

16 of 17

November 19, 2023

Princess Charlene of Monaco, Prince Jacques of Monaco Princess Gabriella of Monaco and Prince Albert II of Monaco
Princess Charlene with family on Nov. 19, 2023.

David Niviere/SC Pool - Corbis/Getty 

Princess Charlene stunned in head-to-toe red for the 2023 National Day celebration, perfectly coordinating with her husband, son and daughter in red and blue ensembles.

17 of 17

November 19, 2023

Princess Caroline hanover charlene alexandra monaco 01 11 19
Princess Charlene on Nov. 19, 2023.

Stephane Cardinale/PLS Pool/Getty

Later that evening, Princess Charlene kept to the red theme in a long-sleeved sequin gown to join other members of Monaco's royal family at a gala at the Grimaldi Forum.

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