Prince Albert of Monaco has once again made an appearance without his wife Princess Charlene, two days after the royal couple spent their 10th anniversary apart.
He attended the 15th international Monte-Carlo Jumping event, which is part of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco, alongside his glamorous niece Charlotte Casiraghi, who has previously competed in the event.
Princess Charlene, 43, is currently in her native 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, while Albert, 63, remains in Monaco with their six-year-old twins Jacques and Gabriella.
The mother-of-two hasn’t been seen in Monaco since January, but her children and husband, who is facing a paternity suit over a love child born in the early years of their relationship, visited her last month.
Prince Albert of Monaco (pictured centre) has once again made an appearance without his wife Princess Charlene, two days after the royal couple spent their 10th anniversary apart
He attended the 15th international Monte-Carlo Jumping event, which is part of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco, alongside his glamorous niece Charlotte Casiraghi (pictured centre), who has previously competed in the event
Princess Charlene is undergoing multiple, complicated procedures after contracting a severe ear, nose, and throat infection in May while on a solo trip to South Africa. She was originally expected back in Monaco in May. She is pictured in South Africa in June
Charlotte, who is the daughter of Prince Albert’s sister Caroline, Princess of Hanover, and a successful equestrian in her own right, appeared elegant in a while cotton dress, tied at the waist.
Wearing a dainty golden necklace and strappy high heels, the stunning brunette, 34, opted for an eye-catching bold red lipstick.
Matching his niece, a beaming Albert donned white trousers with a smart suit jacket and yellow tie. Held in the principality, the prestigious equestrian contest was set against the backdrop of the Prince’s Palace.
A keen horse lover since the age of three, Charlotte is advocate for the physical advantages of the sport, telling Vogue in 2014: ‘Riding is also a great workout.
Charlotte (pictured right), who is the daughter of Prince Albert’s sister Caroline, Princess of Hanover, and a successful equestrian in her own right, appeared elegant in a while cotton dress, tied at the waist
Wearing a dainty golden necklace and strappy high heels, the stunning brunette, 34, opted for an eye-catching bold red lipstick
‘Riding uses so many different muscles. I ride two to three horses a day, and I ride almost every day when I’m not working or travelling. You use your legs, your arms, your back. It’s a very complete sport. But I don’t think of it as exercise. I do it because I love it, and it’s a plus that it helps me stay in shape.’
Yesterday, Princess Charlene shared a slickly-produced video documenting her royal wedding to Prince Albert on Instagram, a day after the couple spent their 10th anniversary apart.
Princess Charlene shared the two-minute long video, titled ‘Chapter 1: A New Princess for Monaco’, on her official account yesterday morning.
Matching his niece (pictured), a beaming Albert donned white trousers with a smart suit jacket and yellow tie
Set to stirring classical music, the video montage offers at behind-the-scenes look at the extraordinary time, effort and cost that went into staging the couple’s civil wedding on July 1, 2011. A religious ceremony was held the following day and a two-day national holiday was declared to mark the occasion.
Clips show Charlene and Albert exchanging vows in front of close family and friends in the Throne Room of the Prince’s Palace, and sharing a kiss on the palace balcony to the delight of a cheering crowd.
The couple, who spent their anniversary thousands of miles apart, also appeared on stage together at a celebratory concert for the public.
Princess Charlene of Monaco shared a slickly-produced video documenting her royal wedding to Prince Albert on Instagram yesterday, a day after the couple spent their 10th anniversary apart. Pictured, the couple waving to a waiting crowd after their civil ceremony on July 1, 2011
Princess Charlene shared the two-minute long video, titled ‘Chapter 1: A New Princess for Monaco’, on her official account. The couple share a kiss on the palace balcony
Last public outing together: Charlene and Albert were last pictured together at an official event together in January (left) at the Sainte Devote Ceremony in Monaco. On April 2, she shared a photograph alongside her husband Prince Albert and their children Jacques and Gabriella to mark Easter, although it is not clear where it was taken
In a statement last week, Charlene explained she would not return to her family in time for the anniversary, saying: ‘This year will be the first time that I’m not with my husband on our anniversary in July, which is difficult, and it saddens me.
‘However, Albert and I had no choice but to follow the medical team’s instructions even though it is extremely difficult. He has been the most incredible support to me.
‘My daily conversations with Albert and my children help immensely to keep my spirits up, but I miss being with them.
‘It was special to have my family visit me in South Africa, and it was truly wonderful seeing them. I can’t wait to be reunited with them.’
Clips show Charlene and Albert, 43, exchanging vows in front of close family and friends in the Throne Room of the Prince’s Palace. Pictured, sharing a kiss after becoming husband and wife
The royal couple also appeared on stage together at a celebratory concert for the public, which appeared in the sweet clip
The clip, shared yesterday, also shows the huge crowd that greeted the royal couple when they left the palace on July 1
Princess Charlene shared the video on her Instagram account with a simple heart emoji as the caption (pictured above)
Charlene shared a video last week to mark the anniversary, documenting her entire relationship with Albert. The title of yesterday’s short film suggests there will be more ‘chapters’ to come.
Princess Charlene came to South Africa to do conservation and anti-poaching work, earlier this year.
Her foundation says she was driving the causes close to her heart, pouring herself into her Foundation work in South Africa when she fell ill.
Before contracting the infection and undergoing the procedures, Princess Charlene worked with various ambassadors and partners to raise awareness and funds for the Foundation’s initiatives.
The royal shared this photo of her husband Albert, her twins, her brother and nieces and nephews on safari in South Africa last month. It is thought Albert will travel to South Africa with their children soon so they can see their mother
Prince Albert was joined by the couple’s six-year-old twins Princess Gabriella and Hereditary Prince Jacques to watch the World Rugby Sevens in Monaco last month
Prince Albert and their children will visit Princess Charlene in South Africa again soon to be with her and support her, a spokesperson said.
Former Olympian Charlene, who debuted a radical new hairstyle while on the trip, had originally been due to return to Monaco in time for the Grand Prix in May, where she was guest of honour. Months later and she is still not home.
Charlene and Albert’s marriage has been plagued with rumours from the start.
The couple met at the Mare Nostrum swimming competition in Monte Carlo in 2000, and announced their engagement in 2010.
Former Olympic swimmer Charlene reportedly tried to flee Monaco for her native South Africa on three separate occasions before the royal wedding after discovering Albert had fathered a love child – his third – while they were together.
Monaco officials were said to have coaxed her back by brokering a deal between the Prince and his reluctant bride, saying she could leave once she had provided him with a legitimate heir.
One source said at the time: ‘Charlene will provide an heir, then if things don’t go well, she will receive a generous divorce settlement once she’s served a decent amount of time.’
Charlene was seen in floods of tears on her wedding day in 2011.
Just one year after their wedding, it was reported that Charlene was ‘depressed’ at her failure to provide her husband with a legitimate heir.
Her pregnancy was announced in May 2014, and in December that year she gave birth to twins Princess Gabriella and heir to the throne Prince Jacques.
In the almost 10 years since, Charlene, who shares six-year-old twins with Albert, has rarely spoken publicly of her experience.
In 2017, the Princess made an emotional return to Africa, where she spoke about how much the continent means to her.
‘I am African and this is my heritage. It will always be. It’s in my heart and in my veins,’ she told Eyewitness News.
Last year she admitted life was ‘very painful’, saying: ‘I have the privilege of having this life, but I miss my family and my friends in South Africa and I’m often sad because I cannot always be there for them.’
It’s been a tumultuous start to the year for the royal, after news emerged that her husband is facing a paternity suit over a love child born in the early years of their relationship.
The 63-year-old prince, who already supports two illegitimate children, is alleged to have had a relationship with a Brazilian woman which resulted in a daughter in 2005.
The claim, which his lawyers dismissed as a ‘hoax’, is particularly painful as he was dating Charlene at the time, having met the former Olympic swimmer in 2000.
The 34-year-old claimant – who cannot be named for legal reasons – says she had a passionate affair with Albert, leading to the birth of their daughter – whose name is also classified – on July 4, 2005.
Albert received a handwritten letter from the child, who is now 15, in September last year reading: ‘I don’t understand why I grew up without a father, and now that I have found you, you don’t want to see me.’
Legal papers were also filed, as lawyers for the claimant called on Albert to undergo a DNA test – just as he did before finally being identified as the father of two illegitimate children born in the 1990s and early 2000s.
In January, Charlene spoke publicly for the first time since the allegations, telling Point de Vue: ‘When my husband has problems, he tells me about it.
‘I often tell him, “No matter what, no matter what, I’m a thousand percent behind you. I’ll stand by you whatever you do, in good times or in bad.”
The mother-of-two went on to say she also often tells her husband she will ‘protect him’ and will ‘always be by his side.’
Charlene travelled to Thanda Safari in KwaZulu-Natal to learn more about what is being done by the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation South Africa to help save rhinos from poachers.
The princess took part in conservation operations including rhino monitoring and tracking, deployment with the Anti-Poaching Unit, educational wildlife photography sessions, and a White Rhino dart and dehorning exercise.