Barely a week after returning to Monaco after six months away, Princess Charlene has entered a treatment facility for exhaustion, her husband announced.
The 43-year-old princess had been in South Africa since mid-May.
Though speculation swirled that her absence resulted from a rift in her relationship with her husband, Prince Albert II, both of them said that the cause was health-related — that she had gone to South Africa, where she grew up, and then could not travel home because of a severe ear, nose and throat infection.
After Charlene failed to show up for the principality’s National Day celebrations on Friday, the prince announced in an exclusive interview with People on Friday that she was suffering from profound “exhaustion, both emotional and physical,” and had entered a facility “outside of Monaco.”
Her return home “went pretty well in the first few hours, and then it became pretty evident that she was unwell,” Albert told the publication.
Appearing on a balcony with their father at Saturday’s public event, the couple’s 6-year-old twins, Jacques and Gabriella, held handmade signs honoring their mother.
Albert, who is now 63, married Charlene Lynette Wittstock in 2011. They had met at a swim meet in 2000 — the same year Wittstock competed in the Olympics as a swimmer for South Africa. It is the first marriage for both, though Albert has two children, ages 29 and 18, from previous relationships.
The timeline of the princess’s recent struggles:
Mid-May: During a trip to South Africa to advocate against poaching and killing rhinos 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.
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.
July 6: Charlene, unable to return to Monaco to celebrate her 10th wedding anniversary, told News24 in a statement that her illness and grounding in South Africa 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.”
September 2: Albert, speaking to People, said that his wife was “ready to come home” after undergoing months of medical procedures.
September 4: Charlene left a South African hospital, Monaco’s palace told Reuters at the time. She was admitted to the hospital after fainting earlier in the week, though the palace said her collapse wasn’t a major concern.
September 8: In another interview with People, Albert denounced rumors that Charlene remained in South Africa due to issues in their relationship.
“She didn’t leave Monaco in a huff!” he told the outlet. “She didn’t leave because she was mad at me or at anybody else. … It was only supposed to be a weeklong, 10-day maximum stay, and [she is still there now] because she had this infection all these medical complications arose.”
October 26: Albert told People that Charlene will return to Monaco within weeks after she completed her recovery from an early October surgery.
November 9: Charlene returned to Monaco after half a year away, eagerly greeted by her children and husband. On Instagram, she shared a photo of herself in a black face mask with her children and husband, captioned, “Happy day today. Thank you all for keeping me strong !!” with a heart emoji.
November 16: The palace announced that Charlene, within a week of returning to Monaco, would avoid public duties as she continued her recovery. “A period of calm and rest is necessary to ensure the very best recovery for Princess Charlene’s health,” the palace said in a statement, according to Reuters.
November 19: Charlene was absent from celebrations for the National Day of Monaco.
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