Princess Charlene flees!
She was the runaway bride, now sources say the unhappy princess has moved out, desperate to escape royal life
She reportedly tried to flee Monaco just days ahead of her 2011 wedding to the country’s monarch Prince Albert, only to be stopped when police allegedly took her passport. Now the people of Monaco are in shock once more, amid reports Princess Charlene has desperately fled the palace again.
While the 39-year-old and Albert, 58, put on a united front at an official event late last month, palace sources say the South African-raised princess has been spending most of her time holed up in Monte Carlo’s exclusiveve Hotel de Paris, along with the couple’suple’s two-year-old twins Gabriella a and Jacques. Royal watchers say y it appears the princess has been een staying successive nights att the luxurious hotel, though shee is still reluctantly upholding her royal commitments. It’s led d many to believe the couple are on the verge of a split.
The news was seemingly supported by as many as 10 bodyguards, who were spotted protecting one wing of the hotel and blocking all access from the public last week.
“There’s a total lockdown on all information in Monaco right now,” a royal insider tells Woman’s Day exclusively.
“The atmosphere is very tense. What is sure is that Charlene is staying at the Hotel de Paris with the royal heirs on a regular basis, and for the most part Albert is living alone at the palace.
“No one understands what’s going on. Rumours are the royal couple have had an explosive argument, and
CharlenecaeeCharlene wanted wantedated to flee back to her family in South Africa,” the source adds. “But she has royal duties to uphold. Leavingg isn’t an easy task.” It’s been reported for years that former Olympic swimmer Charlene has struggled to feel accepted by the Grimaldi family and to adapt to royal life in Monaco. But if she really does want to flee she’ll have to choose between leaving her twins and breaking the law, because she’s technically banned from taking the heirs out of the country without permission. “It’s thought Charlene didn’t want to leave her children behind, so she’s locked herself away in the Hotel de Paris instead,” another source explains. Tensions between Albert and Charlene have been a source of speculation for some time, but rumours of an impending split have come as a shock to the people of Monaco. “They presented a fairytale royal family at Christmas,” our insider says. “Just after new year, Albert and Charlene decided to take a romantic getaway to Ireland – they both have Irish ancestors – in County Louth. They left the twins behind and relaxed far from the palace. But it seems something major exploded between them on the return journey. Apparently words were said that went straight to Charlene’s heart.”
It’s believed Albert’s elder sister Princess Caroline is secretly delighted the couple’s marriage is under strain. Sources say the 60-year-old has never approved of Charlene’s modern approach to royalty, and has made her feel very unwelcome at the palace.
Charlene has also had to face constant speculation about Albert’s previous relationships and the two illegitimate children he fathered before they wed.
Royal experts fear an unhappy Charlene may have to stay in Monaco if Albert is unwilling to file for divorce. The situation is just as sad if he does indeed want to separate, with royal watchers predicting the children will remain at the palace with their father, as is royal protocol.
“Some are saying Charlene is a prisoner in her own gilded cage. With her twins, fleeing is near impossible,” a royal insider says. “The public are stunned by this sudden earthquake at the palace.”
‘Apparently words were said that went straight to Charlene’s heart’