Monaco’s Princess Charlene opens up about marriage to Prince Albert

As rumours swirl surrounding Princess Charlene of Monaco’s scandal-plagued marriage, the royal has opened up about her mysterious disappearance.

Princess Charlene of Monaco opened up about the “trying time” she’s had while being separated from her husband, Prince Albert, as she recovers from surgery.

“It’s been a trying time for me. I miss my husband and children dearly,” Princess Charlene told South African News Channel24.

“Albert is my rock and strength and without his love and support I would not have been able to get through this painful time,” she said.

Charlene has been apart from her husband and children while she recovers from a surgery in South Africa. She recently missed the couple’s 10th wedding anniversary due to her recovery.

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Charlene was MIA for her 10th wedding anniversary last week. Picture: Getty Images.

“HSH Prince Albert and HSH Princess Charlene would like to thank everyone for their continued love and support,” a statement from the two previously said, People magazine reported.

“The generosity they have experienced during the ten years of their marriage is heartwarming.”

A palace representative confirmed to the outlet that Prince Albert, 63, along with the couple’s six-year-old twins Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques would be visiting Princess Charlene in South Africa soon.

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Monaco locals have been suspicious during Charlene’s prolonged absence from her family. Picture: AFP Photo.

The royal is recovering in South Africa after she underwent surgery in June “to address complications from a previous operation”.

According to People, the 43-year-old previously underwent surgery in mid-May for a serious ear, nose and throat (ENT) infection contracted during a return visit to the nation where she was raised.

Charlene had been working with her South Africa Foundation to promote wildlife protection and hasn’t been in Monaco for many months, the outlet reported.

Charlene unveiled an edgy new look in December, shortly after reports her husband had fathered a third love child. Picture: AFP.

The couple were married in 2011. Picture: Getty Images.

Some in Monaco wonder if history is repeating itself.

A decade ago, Princess Charlene reportedly tried to bolt Monaco right before her splashy, $75 million two-day wedding, possibly because of her prince fathering yet another illegitimate child.

Now the runaway bride seems to have become the runaway wife.

She hasn’t been seen in Monaco — which lies just west of the Italian border and east of Nice — since January, leaving her husband and kids to carry on at public events like the Monaco Grand Prix without her.

Rumours are flying that it’s because of new claims that Albert fathered an illegitimate child — his third. Last December, word got out that he had been hit with a new paternity suit, from a Brazilian woman who said he fathered her 15-year-old daughter while Albert and Charlene were dating.

Soon after, Princess Charlene turned up in public with a shocking new punk buzz cut and heavy black eyeliner.

This article originally appeared on Fox News and has been reproduced here with permission