Princess Charlene Returns To Monaco, Continues Recovery With Prince Albert By Her Side

Princess Charlene is back in Monaco and has reunited with her family after spending several months in Switzerland for treatment.

The 44-year-old wife of Prince Albert, the sovereign prince of Monaco, returned to the principality last week, People reported.

The palace issued an official statement late Saturday confirming Princess Charlene's return. The mother of twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella will continue her "convalescence in the Principality with her husband and her children by her side," the statement said.

Princess Charlene, who had been receiving care in a Swiss clinic since November 2021, recently made the decision to return to Monaco after consulting her physicians, who determined that her recovery was "encouraging," according to the palace communication sent to People.

Princess Charlene is expected to resume her official duties gradually and only after several weeks of continuing care and repose.

She will return to making public appearances and fulfilling commitments "as soon as her health is strong enough. The princess "looks forward to once again spending time and socializing with the Monegasques," the palace statement said.

Princess Charlene "still needs peace and calm" during this time, the palace said, before adding: "The Princely Couple, therefore, asks that their private life and family environment continue to be respected."

The princess flew to Switzerland to receive treatment shortly after returning to Monaco and reuniting with Prince Albert and their kids last year, following a six-month stay in South Africa.

She first became ill while in South Africa in May 2021 for what was planned as a brief 10-day visit to her home country. However, complications from a previous ENT procedure grounded her for six months as she underwent a series of painful corrective surgeries and later suffered a relapse.

Upon her return in November 2021, Princess Charlene exhibited signs of "exhaustion, both emotional and physical," and voluntarily entered treatment in a professional facility.

Prince Albert said in a statement to People at the time that it was the princess' personal choice to seek treatment at a clinic outside of Monaco and that they supported her decision.

"She had already made her decision, and we only wanted her to confirm it in front of us. She wanted this. She already knew the best thing to do was to go and have a rest and have a real medically framed treatment," Prince Albert said at the time.

An unnamed source claimed to Page Six that the palace appeared to be downplaying Princess Charlene's condition, alleging that the royal almost died in South Africa.

"She has not been able to eat solid food in over six months because of all the surgeries she has since gone through," the insider alleged. "She has only been able to take in liquids through a straw, so she lost nearly half her body weight."

The insider further claimed that the princess was "being portrayed as having some kind of mental or emotional issue" but was "definitely not" suffering from severe mental health issues.

"She is exhausted by six months of surgeries and an inability to eat properly as a result of it," the source claimed. "And she desperately missed her children and her husband while she was stuck in South Africa, because she couldn’t travel home."

While she was unable to celebrate several significant holidays and family occasions with her husband and children in person last year, Princess Charlene returned to Monaco in time for Prince Albert's 64th birthday this Monday. It is expected to be marked by private celebrations.