The Princess of Monaco, Charlene Wittstock, has joined former NBA basketball star, Yao Ming, at a charity event. They visited a school for children with special needs in Shanghai, and had a great time with the kids there.

Princess Charlene Wittstock of Monaco plays volleyball with a student of the Shanghai Pudong Special Education School during a visit in Shanghai, March 12, 2012.

The Princess and Yao Ming are both global ambassadors for the Special Olympics, and they took time off to greet and play with the students at the Shanghai Pudong Special Education School during their visit on Monday.

Staff at the school showed the guests some of the facilities, including classrooms, physiotherapy rooms and the main sports hall.

Charlene Wittstock, Monaco Princess, said, "First of all, to see that the communities and fellow sportspeople are supporting these children who need love, care and to be given opportunity. So I am very impressed with the facilities and hope they can improve over the years."

The Princess said she was impressed with the facilities and was visiting as part of her role for the Special Olympics.

Charlene Wittstock said, "Well, I am on the board of the Special Olympics and I am an ambassador as well, and I am very interested in seeing facilities like these with Yao Ming, as well. As I've said, I am very impressed and curious as well to see if we need more support here and what needs to be done in the future."

Yao Ming, who attended the event with his wife, said he was happy with the Princess's visit, as the students were having a fun time greeting the European royalty.

The school was started in 2002 and staff said the campus is home to 316 students with varying degrees of special needs.