Jana Pittman’s brush with royalty
The champion hurdler tells all about her secret liaison with royalty NATALEE FUHRMANN reports
Australia could have had its second princess, if bad luck hadn’t intervened in the romance between Jana Pittman and one of the richest and most eligible royals on the planet.
It was the start of the new millennium and after hosting a gala awards night for the world’s most talented track athletes, Prince Albert of Monaco decided to hit Monte Carlo’s biggest nightclub.
“I was on the dance floor when a nice-looking gent with an American accent said, ‘Hi, I’m Albert,’ ” says Jana, who reveals her brush with royalty for the first time in her autobiography Just Another Hurdle.
“I’d seen his face at the awards night, but in the club he was just a smoothly dressed guy with a beautiful smile and I had no idea he was a prince. He brought me a drink, then we went to a quieter area of the club to talk.”
The then 18-year-old Jana, who had earlier in the evening won the Rising Star of the Year Award (after claiming two gold medals at the IAAF World Junior Championships), was smitten by the suave, polite stranger, despite their 25-year age difference.
“He held my elbow as we stepped out of the club, and opened the car door for me,” gushes Jana, now 34, who accepted a lift back to her hotel.
“As we walked to the car, I found it interesting that every person we passed kept nodding, which made me think, ‘Wow, this guy knows everyone!’
“It was only a short drive but he took the long route to show me a few sights. Monte Carlo at night was even more beautiful than during the day, the glistening lights flickering against the water.
“Finally we arrived back at the grand entrance of my hotel. He climbed out, a true gentleman, and opened my door for me.”
The pair organised a date for the following night.
“Around lunchtime, Albert’s secretary rang up from reception and told me she had been asked to show me around the city before dinner. She came up to my room to collect me and I used it as the perfect opportunity to check if what I’d brought with me to wear would suffice for the dinner.
“After I showed her some clothing, she said, ‘This will do just fine. It’s a casual but important dinner for the prince, but you won’t be expected to say or do too much.’
“I literally fell back on the bed, dizzy and laughing, while thinking, ‘Oh my God, I’m such an idiot.’ I couldn’t believe I hadn’t recognised him.
“It was the middle of the night back home, but I rang Mum and said, ‘Mum, I think I’m going on a date with the Prince of Monaco!’ Then I got nervous!”
The “date night” was a highbrow affair full of dignitaries, and the youthful Aussie felt like a fish out of water. “Everyone spoke another language, so Albert had to interpret for me. “The following day he escorted me around the most beautiful aquarium.
“Later we went to a bar for a dance and sipped Champagne for a few hours. The whole time we had two black-suited men following us. “It was very dreamy and surreal. I felt very beautiful around him – special, elegant and very grown-up. He was charming and humorous and I thoroughly enjoyed his company.
“Albert asked if I wanted to escape back to his apartment. He showed me around his plush pad. It was very high up and had stunning views.
“He was an amazing kisser and I was besotted, but when he asked me to stay the night I told him I wasn’t sure it was appropriate. So we agreed I would sleep in his bed while he had the lounge. It was a beautiful bed and it smelt like him – which was lovely.”
Jana flew out the following day, but not before plans were hatched to spend Christmas and as much time together as possible.
“He rang me every few days for six months,” she enthuses, revealing they tried to be in each other’s company, but struggled to find a way. “Then I dropped my phone in water and lost all my numbers – including his. I tried to ring the palace, but of course that went nowhere.
“It was very annoying because I was really keen and liked him for him. He was funny, sensitive and moral.”
‘I felt beautiful around him – special, elegant and grown-up’