Princess Charlene is a 00s style muse with rare vintage Dior bag


The former Olympic swimmer attended the Monaco Blue Initiative in a striking blue and white outfit, including a vintage accessory


Princess Charlene close up in white gown with hot pink glossy lipstick© Getty
Nichola Murphy
Nichola MurphyLifestyle Editor
2 minutes ago
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Princess Charlene, 48, may have confessed that she struggled to find her footing in the fashion department when she first began dating Prince Albert of Monaco, 68, but she has certainly refined her wardrobe over the past 20 years. 

Internationally renowned for her minimalistic, elegant style synonymous with sharply tailored suits, Charlene switched it up this week as she attended the Monaco Blue Initiative in her fit-and-flare dress from Sara Roka, as spotted by Royal Fashion Police. The white cotton material was interspersed with a blue floral damasque print and hugged the former Olympic swimmer's toned body thanks to the belted waist.

Honing in on her accessories, we couldn't help but notice that Charlene carried a vintage Dior bag made in the late 90s or early 00s. The 'Lady Perla' bag features a bridal white colour with a metallic round clasp and a detachable chain shoulder strap.

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While she has previously carried the bag for notable occasions in 2025, including the Monaco E-Prix, it is possible that Charlene has had it in her possession since the early 2000s, around the time she started dating her now-husband Albert.

Princess Charlene has come back with a bang© Getty
Princess Charlene previously carried the Dior Lady Perla' bag at the Monaco E-Prix

Charlene's designer wardrobe

Dior is one of Charlene's go-to designers, and one she has even turned to for her daughter Princess Gabriella's wardrobe. In March 2026, she visited the Princess Grace Hospital Centre, wearing an entirely designer ensemble that amounted to over £5k, including the mini Lady D-Joy Dior bag in ice blue.

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Meanwhile, for the inauguration of Christmas Lights on the Place du Casino in Monte-Carlo in 2025, Charlene and Albert were joined by their twin children, and their 10-year-old daughter dressed to impress in an ivory and gold dress by the French high fashion house. The £890 number was worn under the matching coat and Chloe flats.

Royal connection to Dior

Queen Camilla attends the formal welcome, at the Royal Dais, Datchet Road, on the first day of State Visit by The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at Datchet Road on March 18, 2026 in Windsor, England. President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu are conducting a historic State Visit to the United Kingdom, marking the first state visit by a Nigerian leader in 37 years and the first to be hosted at Windsor Castle. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)© UK Press via Getty Images
Queen Camilla carried a Dior bag on the first day of the state visit by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in March 2026

Like Charlene's family, the British royals are also fans of Dior. Leanne Jones, a personal stylist, previously assessed the family's "long-term relationship with Dior."

She told Best Quality Designer Handbag : "Christian Dior famously dressed Princess Margaret for her 21st birthday, designed the iconic Lady Dior handbag, since named in honour of Princess Diana, and has long been associated with royal patronage more broadly.

"He is known to have had a deep affection for what he called the 'English way of life', and the admiration has clearly been mutual over the decades," added the style expert.

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