The Times reported earlier this week that France, Monaco’s neighbour, is swirling with rumours of the demise of the marriage of the principality’s sovereign, Prince Albert, and his Zimbabwean-born wife, Princess Charlene. The newspaper reports that for weeks, stories in tabloid magazines and newspapers have speculated that their relationship might be crumbling – but now, the rumour is being given weight, as respected commentators are contributing to the growing chorus.
Against the backdrop of the rumours, Prince Albert is putting up a solid front, and told People magazine that Princess Charlene is ‘eager’ to return home and hopes that she will be able to do so sooner than expected. He has hit back at reports suggesting marriage troubles – rather than medical issues – have kept her at bay.
The interview comes as it has just been reported that Charlene is in a stable condition after being rushed to a KwaZulu-Natal north coast hospital on Wednesday night. She was reportedly admitted under an alias after she collapsed at her lodge north of Durban, where she is staying. The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation today announced: ‘Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco was rushed to hospital by ambulance late on Wednesday night after collapsing due to complications from the severe ear, nose and throat infection she contracted in May. Her medical team is currently evaluating her but have confirmed the princess is stable.’
Ahead of the news of her hospitalisation, Albert told the US publication that her return date to Monaco ‘depends on what her doctors say,’ and if her progress continues she could plan her travel for as soon as this month. ‘I know she's said possibly “late October,” but that was before this most recent round of appointments. I’m pretty sure we can cut that time frame a little short.’
He added, ‘She's ready – she's jokingly said that she's ready to stowaway on a ship to come back to Europe.’ He said that her well-being has improved since her most recent surgery, explaining: ‘she was in good spirits’. On his recent visit, Albert accompanied his wife on a doctor’s appointment to get ‘a new reassessment about how things are holding up’. Albert was accompanied by their six-year-old twins, Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques, on the trip.
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene were last publicly seen together in Monaco on 26 January. Two months later, Charlene left for South Africa, her home country and where she was a champion swimmer before falling in love with Albert during the Sydney Olympics in 2000 – ultimately leading to their marriage a year later.
Princess Charlene was only due to spend a couple of weeks there to work with her foundation, which has the twin goals of teaching children to swim and ending the hunting of the white rhinoceroses, but she has remained in situ since.
Speaking to South African radio stations, she has talked about developing a sinus infection that prompted doctors to ban her from traveling. On 13 August she had a four-hour operation which was announced via a statement from the Monégasque royal palace. It read: ‘Princess Charlene will undergo an operation today, Friday, 13 August, for four hours under general anaesthesia. Prince Albert and their children, Crown Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella will join her during her recovery period.’
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Princess Charlene, now absent for three months, has missed the crème de la crème of Monaco’s royal events – like the Grand Prix and Red Cross balls – as well as her 10th wedding anniversary.
The Times writes that Princess Charlene’s version of events has been reported faithfully by Monaco’s media. But Stéphane Bern, France’s well-respected royal commentator, has his doubts. He wrote an article for Paris Match magazine pointing out that with Charlene stuck in South Africa, Albert had allowed Nicole Coste, an air hostess with whom he had an affair, to attend the Red Cross ball. Similarly, Alexandre Grimaldi-Coste, the son born of that relationship and one of two children Albert has recognised as having fathered before his marriage, was there, too.
Bern also reportedly said that even before leaving Monaco, Charlene had rarely stayed in the royal palace. She preferred a flat over a luxury chocolate shop made available to her by Albert’s sister Princess Caroline. The article went on to say that Monaco’s residents were exasperated by her long absences, her reluctance to speak French and her often dispirited-looking countenance at public occasions. A glossy German magazine, Bunte, has similarly fuelled anger in Monaco with a claim that the princess was looking for a property in Johannesburg to become her main home.
Of course, all these reports are rumours – none of which are confirmed. As promised in the palace’s statement, Prince Albert and their twins returned to South Africa to help Princess Charlene in her recovery. Yet the picture of the reunited prince and princess sharing a tense embrace only served to fuel doubts about their marriage further still.
An exact date is still not known for when Princess Charlene will make her return to Monaco – we can only guess, all the while, speculation rages on.
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