The princess and the fee

PRINCE Albert of Monaco isn’t paying his wife, Princess Charlene, millions to stay with him, say friends, despite a report that claims otherwise.

The royals’ relationship is under scrutiny again after French magazine Voici claimed Albert was paying the former Olympic swimmer 12 million euros — about $12.6 million — a year to stick by him as his wife.

The report comes after she returned to Monaco following a long illness, during which she stayed for months in her native South Africa and then got treatment at a clinic in Switzerland.

A source close to Charlene, 44, said, “Of course she has a generous prenup, but Albert doesn’t have to pay her to stay. After being away for so long during her illness, Charlene is so happy to be back with Albert and the kids. They spend every weekend at their country place. Albert is fully supportive of Charlene and is also helping her with her charities.”

The couple plan to put on a united front by hosting a series of events together benefiting her foundation on May 28 and 29, Page Six is told. They’ll be held around Formula One’s iconic Monaco Grand Prix.

We exclusively revealed in November that Charlene “almost died” in South Africa after undergoing multiple surgeries and losing a worrying amount of weight. She fell ill while visiting her homeland in May 2021 during what was meant to be a 10-day stay, and remained there until late last year.

Friends said at the time they were concerned the royal family had been underplaying the seriousness of her condition. Albert had said her illness was the result of “several factors, which are private matters.”

Charlene returned to Monaco this March after a four-month stint in a Swiss clinic where she was treated for “emotional and physical exhaustion.” She returned to the public eye two weeks ago at the Monaco E-Prix with Albert and their 7-year-old twins.

Palace reps didn’t get back to us.