It was announced on October 28, 2011, that H.S.H. Princess Charlene of Monaco would participate in the Ein Herz für Kinder (A Heart for Children) television fundraising gala to be broadcast live on ZDF from Berlin, Germany on December 17, 2011.

Per a press release regarding the event:

Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco kindly accepted the invitation and agreed to travel to Berlin. It will be her first visit to the German capital since her wedding to Prince Albert II of Monaco last July.

Even before her wedding, Princess Charlene was committed to helping the disadvantaged through sports and education. As a young athlete, she trained scores of disadvantaged children and helped inspire and comfort them. The former Olympic swimmer from South Africa often volunteered her time and status to raise significant funds in support of several construction and training projects. Princess Charlene is ambassador and member of the International Board of Directors of the Special Olympics, the largest international sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. She now is establishing her own Foundation called “Princess Charlene Foundation” to assist children and women in need around the world. Together with her husband, Princess Charlene also supports a wide variety of charitable organizations.

Prominent international guests of the “Ein Herz für Kinder” TV gala in the past years included Jane Fonda, Prince Harry, George Clooney and Salma Hayek. Thomas Gottschalk, Germany’s most famous TV personality, will host the event for the eleventh time.