Princess Charlene wears her wedding ring in joint appearance with Prince Albert amid split rumours

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert of Monaco put on a united front amid rumours their marriage is on the rocks as they made a joint appearance at an awards ceremony.

The Monegasque royals were dressed in all their finery as they attended the Monte Carlo Woman of the Year awards, pouring water on claims they are separating. Princess Charlene, 44, looked elegant in a shimmering sequin floor-length gown while her husband Prince Albert, 65, was sharp in a crisp suit and blue tie.

As she presented an award to one of the winners, Charlene appeared to be proudly wearing her wedding ring – following an appearance earlier in the day when she was spotted in Milan without the sparkler on her finger.

The joint appearance comes after French magazine ROYAUTÉ claimed that the prince and princess are in the process of separation – a rumour which gained momentum when the article was repeated by gossip sites, which sparked speculation on social media. 

The couple were poised in the face of the rumours as they stood beside each other to pose for photos alongside nominees at the awards ceremony at the Hermitage Hotel. 

Princess Charlene dazzled in a floor-length sequin gown as she presented an award at the ceremony 

As she carried the award, Princess Charlene’s wedding ring containing a teardrop diamond could be seen on her hand

While out and about in Milan yesterday, as she prepared to return home to Monaco, mother-of-two Charlene was not wearing her ring

And mother-of-two Charlene remained composed and professional while presenting an award to one of the winners.

Rumours about the couple’s marriage first circulated after Charlene was absent from Monaco for most of 2021 while having medical treatment in her native South Africa, and was admitted to a Swiss clinic to be treated for exhaustion on her return. 

She’s now back in full swing with royal duties and public appearances, but French magazine ROYAUTÉ has claimed that the Prince and Princess are in the process of separation.

The Palace’s press office said they ‘formally deny the malicious rumours peddled by the magazine.

A spokesperson said: ‘I would like to formally deny the malicious rumors peddled by the French magazine Royauté. Please disregard this article which is totally unfounded.’

Charlene, pictured with award winners, looked elegant and regal in a floor-length sequin gown with a high neck

The Princess and former Olympic swimmer was poised and composed amid split rumours as she attended the ceremony

What divorce rumours? Prince Albert put his hand on his wife’s back as they smiled for photos at the ceremony

The Monegasque royals stood side-by-side as they attended the Woman of the Year awards at the Hermitage Hotel in Monaco

The couple looked unfazed by rumours they are planning to separate as they posed for photos with the winners

Yesterday, Princess Charlene broke cover for the first time since the rumours re-emerged, stepping out in a camel-coloured jumper 

The royal couple married in July 2011 after the prince proposed with a handcrafted pear-cut diamond flanked by smaller diamonds designed by Paris-based Italian jeweller Repossi.

Later, during the wedding service, the couple exchanged 18-carat white gold platinum rings by Cartier, with Princess Charlene laughing as she placed the ring on her husband’s finger.

However there have been reports of a rift between the Prince and Princess ever since their high-profile marriage.

At the time, Charlene was dubbed the ‘Runaway Bride’ by the French media after allegedly trying to flee before the wedding, but the reports were always denied.

And since her wedding day, the royal has often gone without either ring – and on occasion even worn different rings on her wedding finger.

In the early days of marriage, the royal was often spotted showing off the dazzler, but since 2017 she’s seldom been seen pictured wearing the rings – even at formal events.