Prince Albert and Princess Charlene were in England this weekend. They attended the Variety Club’s golden jubilee event, and these are some photos from the event. I should note that the British press seems to like Charlene, although they tend to make her a “second class” royal compared to their own royalty – I can even remember reading a British tabloid piece about how Charlene’s name is tacky, compared to Kate Middleton’s. Still, the British press loves nothing better than to sweep up after a royal scandal, so these photos are being interpreted as “a show of unity” from Charlene and Albert. Seriously! Look at Charlene’s face in these photos – she looks like she’s about to cry in nearly every frame. I didn’t choose the most depressed-looking ones, either. This is how she looks for every event she does with Albert. I think it’s also telling that the palace hasn’t let Charlene do any events on her own yet – they’re afraid to let her go out with a handler, lest she break down in tears and beg some commoner for help.

Anyway, about the fashion – I can’t find a designer ID on this dress. It’s a gold silk brocade, and I think it flatters Charlene very well, although I hate brocade gowns. It looks like you’re wearing drapes! Still, Charlene looks good, fashion-wise. I think she must be like Princess Diana – she pours herself into fashion when her marriage is going badly.

Leeds isn’t the first place you would expect to see Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco. But the Royal couple took advantage of their trip to Yorkshire to put on a show of unity – despite the turbulent start to their marriage.

Onlookers at Harewood House were hard-pressed to find any evidence of trouble while the pair were pictured arm in arm at the Variety Club’s golden jubilee event.

Charlene, 33, who apparently tried to flee the country two days before her wedding in July after learning Albert had a love child, yesterday appeared to only have eyes for her husband. The former South African Olympic swimmer showed off her toned arms in an elegant cream and gold gown, scraping her hair back to reveal a stunning pair of yellow diamond earrings.

The couple seemed the picture of happiness, even after it was recently claimed in Paris Match that Charlene has banned Albert from seeing Nicole Coste, the air hostess from Togo who in 2003 gave birth to son Alexandre.

He also has another daughter Jazmin, 19, born after a brief affair with American estate agent Tamara Rotola. In both cases, DNA tests were needed before Albert admitted he was the father, and agreed to pay for their upbringings.

But it seems Charlene has put Albert’s past behind her as the pair jetted to Leeds to attend the ball, part of a series of celebrations of mark the half-century of the Yorkshire Committee of the Variety Club Children’s Charity.

The event raised £250,000 and was attended by more than 300 people including singer Lulu and comedian Bobby Davro. The Monegasque Royal Family have a tradition of celebrating charities in Yorkshire. Prince Albert’s parents, Rainer III and actress Grace Kelly, attended a similar event nearly 40 years ago at the Queens Hotel.

[From The Mail]

See? Ass-kissy. Will Charlene ever make a break for it? Surely someone could have helped her in England. Maybe Albert and Charlene will come to America for some event – someone will help her here.

Photos courtesy of WENN.