Princess Charlene reunited with Monaco family after eight months

Royal couple back together in Monaco after absence which reignited speculation about the state of their ten-year marriage.

Princess Charlene of Monaco underwent several operations while in South Africa, sources said. Picture: Valery Hache/AFP

Princess Charlene of Monaco was reunited with her husband, Prince Albert, and their two children on Monday when she returned to the principality after an eight-month absence that fed speculation about the state of their ten-year marriage.

The former South African Olympic swimmer, 43, wore a mask in Monaco’s red and white colours and rested her head on the prince’s shoulder as she was greeted by him and their six-year-old twins, Jacques and Gabriella, at Nice airport when she arrived from Durban aboard the Monegasque ruler’s jet.

“It’s obvious that they missed their mother. I missed her too,” the prince told reporters before the brief helicopter flight to their home. She arrived with a dog named Khan, a gift after her chihuahua was run over last month.

Officially, a serious sinus infection forced Princess Charlene to stay on in South Africa after what was supposed to be a short visit in March to carry out philanthropic work. “Initially I was supposed to be here for 10 to 12 days,” she told a South African radio station in July. “Unfortunately, I had a problem equalising my ears and I found out through the doctors that I had a sinus infection, and quite a serious one. So, it’s taking time to address this problem that I’m having. I cannot force healing, so I will be grounded in South Africa until the end of October.”

Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Charlene of Monaco, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella appearing on the palace's balcony during Sainte Devote Celebrations in Monaco in January, 2020. Picture: Valery Hache/AFP

She underwent several operations.

After she missed her wedding anniversary in July and important social events of the Monaco season, rumours of estrangement flourished despite her claim that “Albert and I had no choice but to follow the instructions of the medical team, even if it was extremely difficult”. She said that Albert, who visited her in South Africa, “has been the most incredible support to me”.

Albert had promised Monaco’s citizens that his wife would be back before the principality’s national day on November 19, when the couple traditionally greet the crowd from a balcony.

The Times

Rumours of estrangement flourished after Princess Charlene mossed her wedding anniversary with Prince Albert of Monaco in July. Picture: Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images