Monaco’s Charlene remains absent
Princess Charlene of Monaco spent half a year away from the European principality to recover from a severe ear, nose and throat infection in her native South Africa.
Just 11 days after returning home, Prince Albert II announced in an interview with People on Friday that the princess has entered a treatment facility “outside of Monaco” for exhaustion.
Her return home “went pretty well in the first few hours and then it became pretty evident that she was unwell,” Albert said.
Though speculation swirled that her move resulted from a rift with her husband, the son of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III, Albert and Charlene have affirmed that her health struggles stranded her on another continent.
During a mid-May trip to South Africa to advocate against poaching and killing rhinoceros for their horns, Charlene experienced an ear, nose and throat infection severe enough that it “does not allow her to travel,” the palace told South African outlet News24.
On June 24, Charlene’s foundation confirmed to News24 that she was “undergoing multiple, complicated procedures” after contracting the infection. Her medical team advised her to stay in South Africa as she continued to recover and waited to receive further procedures, the foundation said.
On July 6, Charlene, unable to return to Monaco to celebrate her 10th wedding anniversary, told News24 in a statement that her illness and grounding has “been a trying time.”
“I miss my husband and children dearly,” she said. “What has been extremely difficult for me was when I was instructed by my medical team that I could not return home for my 10th wedding anniversary. Albert is my rock and strength and without his love and support I would not have been able to get through this painful time.”
On Sept. 2, Albert, speaking to People, said that his wife was “ready to come home” after undergoing months of medical procedures.
Prince Albert told People his wife is suffering from profound “exhaustion, both emotional and physical.”