Her sister-in law insists that Princess Charlene of Monaco is “extremely happy” to return home with her family and will be staying with her husband, children and parents.
Former Olympian and 43-year-old, she returned to the principality following a 10-month absence following surgery to treat a sinus infection which she got during a charity visit to South Africa.
Arriving back in Monaco after flying by private jet from the South African city of Durban to Nice, France, a ‘frail’ Charlene posed for snaps with Prince Albert, 63, and their two children six-year-old twins Jacques and Gabriella.
Four days after her return, Chantell Wittstock, Charlene’s sister-in-law and PR for her charitable foundation in her hometown, told the South African outlet News24: ‘The princess is extremely happy to be back home with her family.’
It followed the suggestions that Charlene may not live in her husband Albert’s palace following her return home and does not plan to immediately resume public engagements.
Chantell said Chantell had ‘absolutely” refuted these claims and insisted that she would be staying with her children and husband.
Pictured with Princess Charlene (Monaco) reunited with her family on Monday. Her sister-in law insists that she is ‘extremely pleased to be home with her families’.
Albert made a strange appearance on Saturday when he was absent from Charlene’s Monaco National Day at Expo 2020. He instead appeared with Princess Stephanie, her son Louis Ducruet.
Expo 2020 is a World Expo currently hosted by Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and was originally scheduled for 20 October 2020 – 10 April 2021.
However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Arab Emirates, the new dates are 1 October 2021 – 31 March 2022.
French commentators were skeptical about Monaco’s royal reunion. This was in the midst of feverish speculation over the Grimaldis’ marital status.
Charlene’s time away followed fresh allegations last December that Albert had fathered a love-child (which would be his third, if proven) with an unnamed Brazilian woman during the time when he and Charlene, a former Olympic swimmer for South Africa, were already in a relationship.
Albert and Charlene, six years old twins Princess Gabriella (and Prince Jacques) waited at Monte Carlo helipad last Monday.
After a 10 month absence, the former Olympian (pictured in South Africa with her husband), 43, has returned to the Principality. She had been recovering from surgery for a sinus infection that she got during a charity solo trip to South Africa earlier this year.
A hand-picked photographer joined the family inside Palace walls to take’reunion photos. There was doubt about the couple’s arrangements for living.
Charlene was living in Monaco’s modest apartment with two bedrooms above a chocolate factory, about 300m from Albert’s 12th Century Palace, before she moved on to Monaco. The possibility exists that she might return to live at the property.
The ‘Reunion Of Albert and Charlene Monaco: Where do They Sleep?’ Gala in Paris, France was headlined with this question on Tuesday.
And Voici – another popular magazine read widely across Monaco and France – ran with: ‘Charlene of Monaco back: the Princess breaks the silence and forgets to mention her husband’.
Charlene made this reference by using social media videos to thank everyone for their help during her months of sickness.
The shadow of the Palace of the Twelve-Century Prince was visible from the street. People were concerned about Charlene after seeing photos showing her in apparent frailty.
‘We are glad to have her back, but she doesn’t look well and it feels we don’t yet have the full picture,’ said one café owner on the Rock, in his 50s, who asked not to be named.
He acknowledged that he, like other Monegasques in the past, was frustrated at Charlene’s lack of visibility compared to other royals.
“There was once a feeling that she had become a reluctant princess,” he stated. “But this time, there is clearly something different. Something’s not right with her, or the marriage. And for whatever reason, we are not being told.”
Charlene seems to have been surrounded by silence, even though she is now retreated behind Palace walls, at the very least, for the moment.
Her Palace Press Officer stated she couldn’t return telephone calls to MailOnline and that she didn’t reply to the list of questions we had sent.
Doubts over the central relationship to Monaco’s monarchy are nothing new.
MailOnline received confirmations from several Monaco Ville residents that Charlene had spent the majority of her time in Monaco Ville’s narrow medieval streets before moving to South Africa.
According to one source, “We frequently saw her outside the Palace. She would often be alone or with an arm guard.” However, it is clear that Albert was not with her – she prefers the apartment over the palace.
MailOnline was also informed by a Monte Carlo source that Charlene will be proud to return to Palace to live like a Princess.
“That is what Monaco’s people want because they love the Royals and don’t want their Royals living apart.”
Charlene received criticisms before her trip to South Africa. She was accused of dividing her time among several properties other than the Palais.
Charlene decided to choose the Chocolate Factory, instead of the palatial rooms that overlook the Mediterranean.
It only had two bedrooms, and had been used in the past by Albert’s sister, Princess Stéphanie.
Stéphanie, 56, led an extremely turbulent personal life herself that included two divorces and high-profile affairs with security guards and an elephant trainer.
Charlene also escaped Royal protocol, staying at Roc-Agel. It is a mountain retreat in the outskirts Monaco that was originally renovated for Albert’s mom, Grace Kelly. Grace Kelly became Princess Grace when she tragically died in a car accident while driving up the treacherous road towards Roc-Agel.
Charlene visited also often a Corsican holiday home that was owned by her friends.
Paris Match, the celeb bible, has always had particularly close ties with the Grimaldis – the ancient dynasty now headed by Albert and Charlene.
Are Charlene and Albert at Risk of Breaking Up, Match August featured the headline “Charlene and Albert on the Verge of Breaking Up”
The note stated, “There won’t be a photo of their 10th wedding anniversary,”
All the high-end French publications – the kind that Albert and Charlene would normally grant fawning interviews to – concurred.
Madame Figaro was a very conservative, up-market candidate. She ran with the bold headline: “Are Charlene & Albert II of Monaco on verge of Divorce?”
Philippe Delorme, historian and author told the magazine that many people had the wrong impression. It was actually an arrangement marriage.
Charlene felt uncomfortable playing the Grace Kelly part that Albert wanted.
“As Karl Marx said, History repeats itself: First as tragedy and then as farce.”
Arriving back in Monaco after flying by private jet from the South African city of Durban to Nice, France , a ‘frail’ Charlene (pictured with her family in South Africa) posed for snaps with Prince Albert, 63, and their two children six-year-old twins Jacques and Gabriella
It was an extravagant three-day celebration that included a concert by Eagles. However, some were worried by photographs of the bride crying with her husband. Charlene later claimed that she was only emotional.
Charlene’s absence at every flagship event of the tax haven principality has made her stand out.
The Monaco Grand Prix was held on May 23, while the Fashion Awards were hosted by Princess Alexandra’s charity foundation May 18.
Charlene famously cut off half of her head last December in the fashion of a punk rocker.
This was the first indication of an ever-growing crisis, which could result in a divorce worth millions.
Charlene fled South Africa in a month following the revelation that Albert had filed another paternity suit last December.
Last Monaco outing together before her departure: Charlene and Albert were last pictured together at an official event in January at the Sainte Devote Ceremony in Monaco
An anonymous Brazilian woman claimed that her 15 year-old daughter, born to Albert and Maria in 2004, was the result of an illicit affair.
Charlene and Albert were not engaged yet, although they knew each other for 4 years following their meeting in Monaco at a gala of swimming in 2000.
The claimant’s lawyers were to request a DNA test at Milan’s court earlier in the year. His own counsel called the move ‘a hoax.
The parties have not yet commented, which could indicate that some sort of settlement has been reached. This is similar to what happened with Albert and his earlier lovers.
Jazmin Grace Grildi (now 29) and Alexandre Coste (17), are the results of Albert’s affair with an American agent for estates. Alexandre Coste was 17 when Alexandre’s mother is a former Togolese airline hostess.
In return for large financial settlements, both children were taken out of Monaco’s succession line.