Princess Charlene of Monaco swimming with children in Saint Geours de Maremne

Princess Charlene of Monaco, also known as ex-Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock, who retired in 2007, got back in the water for a charity swim today.

Princess Charlene of Monaco, 35, was seen swimming with children in Saint Geours de Maremne in southwestern France.

The Monégasque princess wore her blonde highlighted hair scraped back as she paddled through the pool and taught the group of enthusiastic children how to swim during the Live to Swim Day.

Princess Charlene proved the best possible coach at the event organized by the club Inshore Rescue Capbreton.

The event’s aim was to raise awareness of water safety and saw 150 children participate.

Princess Charlene of Monaco was seen swimming with children in Saint Geours de Maremne in southwestern France

Her own charity, The Princess Charlene Foundation, aims to help women and children on five of the world’s seven continents. One of the focus points is also reinforcing the awareness of water safe

“Some of my present and future projects for my foundation are underlining the importance and reinforcing the awareness of water safety,” writes Princess Charlene on her foundation’s website.

“We are all aware of horrible stories about small children drowning because they could not swim.

“Teaching them how to swim could save their lives, and the importance and awareness will help them to feel more comfortable and confident in all aquatic areas as well.”

Charlene Wittstock represented South Africa at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, with her team finishing fifth in the Women’s 4×100 m Medley. She retired from competitive swimming in 2007.

Her commitment to the sport, though, seems unwavering.

Ensuring Charlene Wittstock’s home-town of Durban, South Africa, becomes the premier city for swimming in the country, the princess is reportedly set to donate a “large amount” to the its swimming future.

This could make it the top sport in the city, ahead even of rugby and football.

Last month Princess Charlene’s husband Prince Albert, 55, showed off his sporting abilities as he played volleyball on a beach.

The princess finally put rumors to bed over the ‘turbulent’ start to her marriage last month in a rare interview.

She said the tears streaming down her cheeks at her wedding to Albert in 2011 were not the result of a series of rows over his womanizing ways, but in fact tears of happiness.

Princess Charlene described this speculation, as well as rumors she attempted to escape in the days leading up to her wedding, as “categorical lies”.