Princess Charlene of Monaco has had a rare public engagement to her husband Prince Albert for the third time within days – amid rumors the couple’s marriage is on the rocks.
Charlene, 45, and Albert, 65, seemed cordial as they took part in the ’19th hole’ event of the Princess of Monaco Cup today. One photo from the outing shows the father-of-two clumsily placing his hands around his wife’s shoulders as she prepares to swing a bat.
Organized by the Fondation Princesse Charlene De Monaco, the celebrity cup acts as a fundraising event and invites VIP guests for a fun-filled day of golfing.
The royal couple – who share eight-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella – appeared to be on a united front, after claims they live separately and only see each other ‘by appointment’.
They’ve performed together a number of times this week following reports of their marriage, including an awkward interview on Monaco’s premier TV channel.
Princess Charlene of Monaco has made another rare public appearance with husband Prince Albert – amid rumors the couple’s marriage is on the rocks
One photo from the outing shows the father-of-two clumsily placing his hands around his wife’s shoulders as she prepares to swing a bat
The former Olympic swimmer stunned in a glamorous black dress, which struck the perfect balance between sporty and sophisticated, and adorned with silver jewellery.
Meanwhile, her husband opted for a simple and elegant white shirt and trousers topped with a navy blue blazer.
Earlier this week, the pair made another united appearance as they received the new French ambassador to Monaco, Jean D’Haussonville, at the Princely Palace.
Charlene cut an elegant figure in no time in a navy blue skirt and blouse, paired with a pearl necklace.
With only a small smile, the mother-of-two appeared awkwardly standing next to her smartly dressed husband, who instead wore a radiant grin to the camera.
And last week, the couple made an awkward television appearance as they launched TVMonaco, which will broadcast a wide variety of programs including current affairs, talk shows, the environment and sports, in an effort to promote Monegasque culture.
Prince Albert told MonacoTV’s reporter: ‘I am very proud to be here with Princess Charlene to launch this wonderful adventure, this TV channel that will increase the importance of this principality all over the world.
And I am sure, given how modern this set-up is, there will be a very high quality of programming, important yes for Monaco residents, but also for anyone who loves the principality and the Riviera around the world , so it’s a great joy to be here.’
Charlene added curtly, “Congratulations – and all the best for the future.”
The royal couple put on a united front, following claims they live separately and only see each other ‘by appointment’, as they attended the ’19th hole’ event of the Princess of Monaco Cup
Charlene deleted her Instagram account last month, sparking further questions.
Last month, Prince Albert posed alongside his former mistress Nicole Coste as they celebrated their son Alexandre’s 20th birthday with an outdoor dinner. They were joined by Jazmin Grimaldi, Albert’s other illegitimate child.
A source close to Charlene and Albert told French newspaper Voici that the former Olympic swimmer and Grace Kelly’s son are just a “ceremonial couple.”
It adds that Charlene has pledged to return to Monaco on official occasions and is now allowed to see her children more often – with the couple sharing the care of the children.
“Albert and Charlene are now good partners and take turns looking after the children,” a source told the German newspaper Bild.
Rumors about the state of the couple’s marriage have been circulating for years, ever since Charlene cried during her wedding to Grace Kelly’s son in 2011.
However, the rumor mill was in full swing as Charlene spent most of 2021 apart from her husband after returning to her native South Africa for what should have been a month-long trip.
She was not pictured in Monaco from January 2021 to March 2022, citing a sinus problem that prevented her from flying.
The former Olympic swimmer sparkled in a glamorous black dress, which struck the perfect balance between sporty and sophisticated, and adorned with silver jewelery
The couple – who share eight-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella – have been at the center of speculation after reports in European media claimed that Charlene lived in Switzerland and only saw husband Albert ‘by appointment’.
On her return to the principality, Albert claimed she was “overwhelmed” and “unwell.”
Speaking to People magazine at the time, Albert said last week’s family reunion in Monaco initially went “quite well” in the first few hours, but then it became “quite clear” that Charlene was “unwell.”
He said the former Olympian “realized she needed help,” adding: “She was overwhelmed and couldn’t handle official duties, life in general, or even family life.”
The claim that she will remain in Switzerland was supported by a source who knows the couple well, who said: “The south of France is too close, but Switzerland has excellent private medical facilities, and Charlene will be well looked after there.”
The couple have been at the center of rumors for years, but have always denied there is any problem with their marriage.
Earlier this year, the palace was forced to deny rumors that first appeared in the French magazine ROYAUTÉ that suggested the couple were on the brink of divorce.
In March, the palace’s press office said they “formally deny the magazine’s malicious rumours.”
A spokesman said: ‘I would like to formally deny the malicious rumors from the French magazine Royauté. Please ignore this article, which is totally baseless.”
Last month, the royal couple also put up a united front as they relaxed on a yacht in Corsica.
Photos show the couple relaxing as they sit on a yacht in the Mediterranean. In one shot Albert puts his arm lovingly around Charlene, while in the other shot they sit next to each other on the beach.
The couple, along with their twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, spent the summer on a yacht owned by Kazakh businessman Bulat Utemuratov.
Hosted by the Fondation Princesse Charlene De Monaco, the Celebrity Cup acts as a fundraising event and invites VIP guests for a fun-filled day of golf activities
The royal couple appeared stiff as they took part in the glitzy fling amid rumors their marriage is on the rocks
The couple, pictured with VIP guests, put on a united front as they made a rare appearance together
Charlene opted for a chic black dress while her husband dressed in simple trousers and shirt
Albert is the current head of the pocket-sized principality. But it was the financial acumen of his father, Prince Rainier, that set Monaco on its current path to wealth.
Together with his wife Princess Grace, formerly Grace Kelly of Hollywood, they created one of the most unashamedly glamorous families in the world – and one that combined high society with the thrilling thrills of the Monaco Grand Prix.
Today, Prince Albert and Princess Consort Charlene, mother of his two children, attract the attention of photographers when they venture out in public.
But the lavish lifestyle comes with a fair amount of drama.
Guests at Prince Albert of Monaco’s 2011 wedding couldn’t help but notice that his bride, Charlene, cried for much of the ceremony. And it didn’t look like tears of joy.
Numerous photos showed Charlene dabbing her eyes and ignoring Albert’s audible pleas to stop crying.
Charlene later gave the statement that she was “overwhelmed” by the proceedings, but her uneasy attitude added to rumors that the couple’s relationship was in trouble long before their wedding day.