For a few days the Principality of Monaco has had one more subject: Gareth Wittstock, brother of Charlène. News that will surely have made the princess happy, sincealmente returned to the fore after months of absence for health reasons.
Gareth Wittstock, 42, born in Zimbabwe, computer engineer, he has been living in Munich since 2011, since his sister became Prince Albert’s wife. Until a few days ago, however, he was only one of the 38 thousand residents: from April 27 he can say he is among the 9,611 who possess the Monegasque nationality. His loyalty to the Principality cannot be doubted, being very active in the solidarity initiatives of the Princesse Charlène Foundationof which he has been general secretary since 2018. He is very present when it comes to promoting education among young people through sport and also for this dedication the princess has always considered him a important allyas in May 2020, when he entrusted him with the task of distribute 5,000 masks among the subjects reusable donated to citizens by the Foundation, in an attempt to stem the spread of Covid 19.
Even in the long period of Charlène’s absence, Gareth’s commitment to the side of the royal family never waned. For example, in December he accompanied his brother-in-law Alberto and his grandchildren Jacques and Gabrielle to the Christmas market. His central role in associative life, his conversion to Catholicism and his new Monegasque passport make Gareth Wittstock a true citizen in all respects.
For Charlène, the younger brother is very important, as he confessed to the magazine in 2010 Tatler: «I have met wonderful people since I have lived in Munich, but they are mere acquaintances. My true friends are my family. My mother and my brothers are the only ones I need and trust. ” And Gareth, who is 4 years younger than Charlène, has returned her trust by staying with her and trying, as far as possible, to replace her in the official commitments of the royal family.
In all these years at the Rocca, Gareth was evidently one of the few who understood his sister, which in many ways has always maintained a mysterious profile. A woman with an often enigmatic personality, who is difficult to find where she is expected. Gareth himself suffered an absence of her in 2015, when she got married (with Róisín Galvin), because the princess showed up at the ceremony and at the cocktail, but he left before the dance: he preferred to return to the palace, to Jacques and Gabriella. On that occasion Gareth commented perhaps with a little bitterness: “It’s a pity that he couldn’t dance with us to an old song by Johnny Clegg (a South African musician, ed) “.
Gareth knows his sister like no one else e its fragility does not escape himas he admitted in a 2015 interview: “He needs the support of his loved ones and our bond is very strong. I see her often, we visit each other, my little girl plays with her twins. It is something very heartfelt and special for us ». Words that leave no doubt: the Wittstocks are very united, in good times as in bad.
Source: Vanity Fair