Princess Charlene is still in South Africa. She has been there for at least two months. European outlets have claimed that Charlene was not even seen in Monaco since January of this year, so it’s possible that Charlene has been in the wind for the better part of six months. I tend to believe the initial timeline though, which is that Charlene traveled to South Africa in early or mid-May, and her absence from Monaco was only noted when she didn’t come back that month. The cover story is that Charlene has a terrible ENT infection and she’s needed multiple surgeries or medical treatments, and she’s been unable to fly. She’s released a few statements trying to maintain the cover story too, claiming that she would not be able to return to Monaco for her tenth wedding anniversary because of all of her medical drama. Now she says that she misses Albert and the children terribly:
Princess Charlene of Monaco has said she ‘misses Prince Albert dearly’ after spending their 10th anniversary apart as she remains in South Africa. Princess Charlene, 43, who is currently in her native South Africa while Albert remains in Monaco with their children, said she has faced a ‘trying time’ in recent months.
She told Channel24: “It’s been a trying time for me. I miss my husband and children dearly. 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.”
Charlene and Albert, who share six-year-old twins Jacques and Gabriella, spent their anniversary thousands of miles apart. The Princess remains in South Africa where she is undergoing ‘multiple, complicated’ procedures after contracting an ear, nose and throat infection in May, while on a solo visit to the country. The mother-of-two hasn’t been seen in Monaco since January, but her husband and children visited her in South Africa earlier this year.
I wonder when and if the European press will really start digging into this. I’m not saying that I expect Le Monde to send an investigative journalist to South Africa, but there are some big tabloids in France and Italy, and I would expect that they have many sources in Monaco. How long will this cover story hold? So far, it’s really only been the British tabloids being only *slightly* shady. What will it take?
Here are some photos of Albert out in Monaco with Jacques and Gabriella on July 2nd. In Charlene’s absence, he’s absolutely been bringing the kids out for more public events. The kids have been pretty well-behaved for little kids, and what I genuinely like to see is that the kids are completely comfortable with their dad. I wondered who the other woman was, the woman in a brown patterned dress, and I thought for a minute that it was perhaps the kids’ nanny. But no, that is Camille Gottlieb, Albert’s niece and one of Princess Stephanie’s daughters. She’s the bodyguard’s daughter! I mostly ignore Stephanie, but it’s interesting that Albert is doing more events not only with his children, but with his nieces too.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
That statement doesn’t read like a hostage statement at all. Eye roll. It was probably put out after some ‘gentle urging’ by the palace in Monaco. Either that or she didn’t write it at all. It wouldn’t be difficult for her husband or his team to put out a statement on her letterhead or through her team, which most likely is his team as well.
Or I’m just overly cynical for a Wednesday.
Either that or preparing for the divorce; by not badmouthing her husband, she’s in a stronger legal position
He took the kids to visit her. I think the exchange for that is he writes her press releases.
I’m thinking some plastic surgery went wrong and correcting it is taking longer than expected.
My first thought too.
Another option is that she is in a treatment facility to help her mental anguish and the treatment is taking longer than necessary.
I can’t see her abandoning her kids to Albert for that long no matter how desperate she is. She seems to genuinely really care about them and she already lives a separate life from Albert with her kids in Monaco.
@goofpuff — I agree, it’s possible she needed mental help, and she might not be able to get that *secretly* in Europe.
Or just put out by the Palace alone, full stop.
One thing about Albert, despite all his faults, is that he’s always included his nieces and nephews in events. I find it really odd, however, that musical artists and athletes (like Ciara and her husband in Italy; some US basketball player who’s dating Maya Jama in the U.K. etc) can travel all around the world for fun, but Albert can’t fly to South Africa to be with his sick wife??!?!?
People would probably buy the explanation if he jetted down, said that they didn’t want to bring/upset the kids so he’d only stay for a day or two, and went back to Monaco. But he’s left his wife to have numerous surgeries and is just carrying on like everything’s okay. These people need better PR people.
I think SA has a 10 day quarantine for international travelers.
Monaco considers South Africa to be red zone. For the return he’d have to provide proof that his return travel was for a compelling reason and then isolate for 7 days. Plus all the testing/vaccines etc.
So potentially 17 days away from the kids-I can see why he would t travel down. It is weird though
I know someone in South Africa & they have been under strict lockdown and it’s hard to get into or out of the country.
I haven’t been following this story too closely. I hear it’s more strict now, but didn’t SA go under lockdown in March? So, why was she traveling there in May? Something about raising awareness for endangered species, but during a pandemic?
Yes, but he’s also the Head of a State. Rich people get to bypass rules all the time for lesser things. I’m quite sure the ruler of Monaco would have been allowed in to visit his ailing wife.
Run, Charlene, run….
Yes, run as fast as you can…..
This statement is apparently Alberts attempt at putting rumors to rest, as I find it hard to believe that Charlene would claim that Albert is her rock.
Wouldn’t someone who is a “rock” to her visit more? Does he take his other children to any events?
He would be in South Africa for their tenth wedding anniversary if he was her rock.
They spent their honeymoon apart, it is on brand to spend their 10th anniversary apart as well.
This is giving me Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise vibes. Just hope she can maintain access to her children.
You nailed it, that is exactly the vibe.
She left in March… check for pictures of her at king zwelithini funeral
Did she return to Monaco afterwards or stay in SA?
Reports indicate that she traveled to SA in mid-March and hasn’t been back since so it must be one hella ENT infection…
Laying it on reeaaaaalllly thick with “Albert is my rock and my strength.”
I never heard of an infection so severe but then again im not a medical expert. If she really is dreadfully ill, then i wish her a speedy recovery. But somehow this story just seem strange
I get that Charlene can’t fly home because of her many surgical/medical treatments, but there are such things as boats. Don’t the Grimaldi’s have a yacht? Aren’t there doctors in not only Monaco but France as well?
This will go on for a while and in a few months this separation will make them “just realize” they are happier apart. Everything was wonderful, it’s was all the ENT infection’s fault.
She’s never going back to Monaco, right? We’re all agreed on that?
William of Cambridge taking notes on the single dad PR. ….
👆
He’s not that smart, Nic919, but that made me spit my coffee out, lol!!!
I am in agreement. The writing was on the wall. She knows the kids will soon be sent off to boarding school so why stick around?
@Nic919 – one correction: his serfs are taking notes for him on “How to be a royal single dad”
Oh absolutely. I think they are negotiating some kind of agreement, which is why she’s dragging out this ENT infection story as a cover for why she’s not going back.
nope never, she finally succeed in her escape, i’m glad for her !
Agreed.
For this to be a true escape she would have had to get away from the palace security and the palace handlers and that would have been noticed by the press. I have a more sinister concern. Her travel is controlled by the palace. Her security has her passport. What if Albert is not letting her travel back as a example of what he could do if she doesn’t remain cooperative in the marriage. There were a lot of rumors after the new paternity scandal popped up that she was done. The way he’s been trotting the kids out so much has been very suspect. He’s giving her a preview of what her life might be like if she decided to leave him. I just don’t believe she would voluntarily be separated from her children like this. So the medical situation is either real or she is being kept away IMO. Whatever is happening I just want to see her reunited with her children. The rumor has always been that he essentially forced her back to Monaco to marry him. Then during the marriage there have always been rumors that he limited her visits to South Africa and limited her family coming to Monaco. He has used travel/access to control her before. Whatever the circumstances, I just hope that she is safe and well and will be reunited with her children. BTW. Does anyone know anything about this medical team she is referring to because if they were chosen by palace officials if I were her I wouldn’t trust them at all.
Your theory is a good one. It thoughtfully explains a lot. I, too, can’t imagine her simply abandoning the children
@Cathrine you are giving me the shudders! I really do hope you are wrong. That would be a nightmare situation for her to be in. She probably can’t trust anybody around her, so she is totally in his hands!
I think her family lives in Monaco now.
If her family are in Monaco why would she be in SA, can’t all be charities?
Pretty sure her parents and brother moved to Monaco when she got married. She still has one brother supposedly still living in South Africa but most of her core family is in Monaco now. My guess is she sees them a lot when she’s in Monaco.
She could go to the SA consulate and get a new passport, all she would have to do is make a call or have someone do it for her
I can’t help but wonder if this trip was arranged a decade ago in exchange for her not fleeing. Maybe, every 10yrs she gets to let loose in South Africa for a year and PA turns a blind eye.
I can’t imagine she’d abandon her children permanently, but who knows?
This is not a good time to be in SA right now, in the middle of winter, during their pandemic third wave. People are miserable and sick of over a year of severe lockdowns. Even for a princess it would be difficult to “let loose.”
I think it’s plastic surgery or something
She’s putting too many statements. That tells me that the rumours of a split are true.
I mean all these theories are locked up in the notion that those children are a bargaining chip to control her. She might not see them that way. She might just consider herself the surrogate and they are Alberts to raise.
Lori, you have a very valid point. Who knows how she views the children. We place our own feelings into what we surmise about her and this crazy situation but we have no clue what she is like as a person or mother.
Personally, I have said this before, she knows those children belong to the state. And they are of the age where they may very well be shipped off to boarding/prep schools. She may have known that her time to bond was up until this age and so she quite simply bounced. I think she will see them and this is all in the bargaining stage.
I have a history of sinus problems and infections. I’ve had surgery twice to clear them, and the recovery period is not this long. The first time it was about a week, followed by a couple more weeks of just feeling sluggish. The second time, a few years ago, I was fully recovered in a week. Hers might very well be worse, but this has to be a really bad infection for it to be taking so long.
Something doesn’t add up, IMO.
Are you a swimmer? Charlene was an Olympic swimmer and I think she still does charity work surrounding swimming, etc. so she’s probably still in the pool a lot.
My guess is that is what makes this infection so serious.
Good point about the swimming. I have a friend who has surfed his whole life and is completely deaf in one ear due to repeated infections and what we call surfer’s ear. There could be merit in what you say.
I had an elderly relative that got a very severe ear infection, acute otitis media. While these usually resolved by themselves they can be very serious. His started from water that had gotten into his ear while showering. Charlene is a swimmer, she could have an ear infection.
My relative required a venous access port to deliver antibiotics and other meds that was in place for several months. He had to go into the hospital every day for antibiotics. He also had to have regular imaging because the infection can actually bore through the skull into the brain. Additionally, it can cause cancer. While the issue of traveling never came up for him, I am pretty sure that traveling would be ill advised in that situation. Just saying, she may actually have a very serious ear infection.
I wish Charlene good luck, good health and godspeed in whatever she’s doing. Instinctively, my feeling is that she finally escaped. I draw an arc between her driving to the airport to get the hell out of marrying him and this successful getaway. Everything in between has been a blur of kaleidoscopic images of suffering, alienation and possible abuse. The kids are in good hands. No way will they be mistreated. They are royal and being royally brought up. I’m sure they have a ton of royal nannies. Maybe they’re in Zoom calls with their mom all the time. I know I’ll get flack for this, but if she is the one endangered/horrendously miserable and her kids are fine in Monaco, she should stay in South Africa. No one really knows what Charlene has been through, so I don’t judge her for the kids staying in Monaco or if they make yearly trips to see their mom in South Africa. She must save her own life and sanity first.
This is just so bizarre. I don’t know if she’s truly sick or escaped.
AWKWARD !😶
What a bizarre story & even weirdest excuse throat,nose,.. infection!!!)so its an unknown disease?!! 🤔the whole thing is messed up. They should’ve just left it unexplained. Now I’m even more curious about if she left without them knowing & left her stuff…and if she’s buying herself some time to plan a custody case
I don’t think they are splitting. They seem to be comfortable around each other now. I’m worried it’s for some kind of depression or other mental issues she’s struggling with. She may have a chance at more privacy in SA rather than Monaco.
I don’t know what Charlene’s story is but I kind of believe The ENT story. My husband lost his sense of taste & smell. Went to the ENT and he had a very severe sinus infection that required antibiotics and steroid for 3 weeks. He went back and he has a deviated septum that must be corrected before they can remove the polyps blocking his sinus cabities. The MRI shows that his sinus cavities should be clear but they are cloudy. The surgery means you cannot fly for at the minimum of 4 weeks or longer if there are any complications. If he doesn’t fix this his taste buds and smell nerves could die off and his sense of taste and smell will be gone forever