HELLO! (UK)

PRINCESS CHARLENE OF MONACO Recovering well from an operation in South Africa as she awaits a visit from her family

LONGS FOR REUNION WITH ALBERT AND THE TWINS

- REPORT: SALLY MORGAN

Pr i n c e s s Charlene of Monaco is expecting three very special visitors as she recuperate­s from an operation in South Africa: her beloved sixyear- old twins, Crown Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, and her husband Prince Albert.

An official statement released from the Princely Palace in Monaco following the four-hour procedure announced that the family trio would soon be joining her during her recovery.

It would no doubt have lifted the spirits of the 43- year- old, who has not seen her husband and children since early June at a private game reserve in KwaZulu-Natal province.

Charlene, who was born in Zimbabwe but raised in South Africa, arrived in her home country in May to launch the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation’s anti- rhino poaching initiative. But she came down with an ear, nose and throat infection that left her unable to return home by plane and led to a series of specialist operations.

SEVERE INFECTION

The former Olympic swimmer has explained: “Initially I was supposed to be here for ten to 12 days. Unfortunat­ely, I had a problem equalising [ the pressure in] my ears, and I found out through the doctors that I had a sinus infection and quite a serious one… I cannot force healing, so I will be grounded in South Africa until the end of October.”

Charlene, who missed her tenth wedding anniversar­y on 2 July as a result, described her 63- year- old husband as her “rock and strength”.

In an update after the Princess’s latest operation, Prince Albert issued a statement that read: “The operation went well, Princess Charlene is resting, and we are thinking of her with tenderness.”

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