Princess Charlene has returned to royal life. But she says she is still "fragile".

Much is known of the British Royal Family.

Their dramas and scandals and feuds are front page tabloid fodder, the world over.

But in Monaco, a tiny microstate on the French Riviera known for its Grand Prix and huge wealth, lives a less renowned but equally interesting royal family.

Currently headed by Prince Albert II, the son of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace Kelly, the Monaco royal family is one of the richest in the world. Albert alone has a net worth estimated at one billion.

He is married to Princess Charlene of Monaco in what long looked like a picture-perfect marriage. Together, they share two children.

And last month, the family was pictured together for the first time since November 2021 in a very glamourous looking Easter photoshoot on both the Palace of Monaco Instagram and Princess Charlene's personal page.

But there's more behind this story.

It was a significant moment because the couple had been separated in different nations for months, showing cracks in a relationship that has long been an interesting ride, featuring illegitimate children, family rifts and - almost - a runaway bride.

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Princess Charlene was born in Rhodesia (modern-day Zimbabwe), before moving to South Africa at 11 years old.

With a former competitive diver and swimming coach as her mother, Charlene soon also excelled in the pool.

She represented South Africa at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games, winning a silver medal in the 4x100 metre medley relay.

In 2000, she was a member of the South African women's 4x100m medley team at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympics, which finished fifth.

She first met Albert II, Prince of Monaco, that same year at a swimming meet in Monaco. She was 22 at the time, and he is 20 years her senior.

By this point, Albert was already known as the 'Playboy prince'. He'd dated Janice Dickinson and Dynasty actress Catherine Oxenberg, and had been linked to Claudia Schiffer, Brooke Shields and many others.

According to Hello Monaco, the pair hit it off. They had sporting careers in common: Albert enjoyed playing many sports, and competed in the bobsleigh at five consecutive Winter Olympics for Monaco.

But it took six years for Albert to convince Charlene to move to the microstate.

In 2005, he succeeded his father as Sovereign Prince of Monaco and the following year he and Charlene made their relationship public at the Turin Winter Olympics.

The palace announced their engagement on June 23, 2010.

Image: Getty. 

Image: Getty. On paper, the wedding was a PR dream, but according to media reports from the time, it appeared to be more of a nightmare for Charlene.

She reportedly attempted to escape Monaco three times in the weeks leading up to their July wedding.

At the time, there was speculation in local media that Albert had a love child, conceived during the time he was with Charlene.

He already had two children: Jazmin Grace, born in 1992 to American woman Tamara Rotolo, and Alexandre Coste, born in 2003 to Togolese flight attendant Nicole Coste, who Charlene had reportedly embraced.

Grace and her father in February 2020. Image: Getty. When news of a third possible child broke, Charlene was supposed to be attending a bridal gown fitting in Paris in May 2011. 

She reportedly 'took refuge' in the South African embassy in the French capital, according to French newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche.

Alleged attempt two took place that same month during Monaco's Grand Prix, and there were claims her passport was confiscated by the Prince's entourage.

Then came attempt three, reportedly just two days before the wedding.

Charlene booked a one-way ticket to South Africa and nearly made it to the nearby airport in Nice, France, before being intercepted and persuaded to stay by Albert's entourage.

Le Journal du Dimanche reported an 'arrangement' was reached between the bride and the groom, but there has never been word on what that looked like.

Whatever it was, Charlene went through with the AU$100 million three-day wedding, but reports from the festivities were mostly focused on her apparent wedding day sadness.

Image: Getty. Charlene "was in tears throughout the wedding ceremony" according to ABC, who added that the bride reportedly recoiled when the groom attempted to kiss her.

The Guardian reported Charlene "emerged from the royal chapel where she laid her bouquet with top lip wobbling and a tear rolling down her cheek. While she dabbed the tears with a hankie, Prince Albert begged in a whisper, 'Don't cry, don't cry.'"

The Associated Press stated the bride and groom's eyes were "mostly downcast" and "tears flowed freely" down the princess's face.

Image: Getty. The couple allegedly spent their wedding night in separate hotels, with Charlene's under heavy guard.

"None of this is true, and we think it comes from utter jealousy," the palace responded to People magazine.

There has never been official confirmation or denial of a third love child, despite reports Albert had agreed to a paternity test.

The couple attended an International Olympic Committee meeting in South Africa directly after their wedding, before honeymooning away from paparazzi in Mozambique.

Charlene had been dubbed by media 'the sad princess' due to her wedding tears. In 2019, she said she knew people picked up on the fact she didn't always smile at public events.

Speaking with South African magazine Huisgenoot, she said people didn't know what was going on behind the scenes.

"People are very quick to say, 'Oh, why isn't she smiling in the photos?' Well, sometimes it's hard to smile. They don't know what's going on in the background."

Charlene, who is notoriously media-shy, admitted she'd had a terrible year in 2019, with her father undergoing surgery and the deaths of two friends within 10 days of each other.

"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," she explained.

Image: Getty. In May 2014, Princess Charlene and Prince Albert announced they were expecting a baby and in October, it was confirmed Charlene was pregnant with twins.

On December 10, 2014, Charlene gave birth to Princess Gabriella and Hereditary Prince Jacques, who is the heir apparent to the throne. Albert's older children are not heirs, as they were born out of wedlock.

And in November 2019, Charlene spoke to French magazine Point de Vue about raising her twins.

Charlene said parenting is "often exhausting" but "is also very stimulating in many areas".

She said her children supported each other unconditionally and were very headstrong, "which allows them [to be] able to say what they think and feel, whatever the circumstances".

"And when all is well, then nothing and no one can stop them," she said.

Image: Getty. Charlene also praised her husband, calling him "a remarkable, wonderful, fun father; a dad who listens and encourages his children". 

"He spends a lot of time with Jacques and Gabriella and takes care of them as often as he can," she said. 

The twins have often accompanied their parents on various royal outings, but January 2021 was the last she was seen in Monaco.

Officially, she'd been in South Africa, the princess documenting her wildlife conservation mission to help endangered rhinos and stop poaching. Monaco residents were reportedly frustrated however by the situation, questioning Charlene's absence. 

Listen to the latest episode of The Spill which speaks about Princess Charlene. Post continues after audio.

The palace then came out and said she was suffering from a serious ear, nose and throat infection requiring "procedures" that would keep her there "indefinitely". Charlene underwent surgery in mid-August 2021 and was joined by her family for her recovery, of which she shared images of on Instagram.

The royals then marked their 10th marriage anniversary separated by thousands of kilometres. The distance added even more fuel to the rumours the pair were estranged. 

Charlene still celebrated the anniversary, posting on Instagram some videos commemorating her love story with her husband. "Happy anniversary, Albert," she wrote. "Thank you for the blessing of our children."

But speculation still grew.

Charlene's 'disappearance' from Monaco came after the Daily Mail reported in December 2020 that a 34-year-old woman claimed she had an affair with Prince Albert, leading to the birth of a daughter on July 4, 2005. 

A hearing was set for a court date in September to determine whether the prince should have immunity from having to take a DNA test, and Prince Albert did apply "for sovereign immunity" in October.

Interestingly, Charlene debuted a new buzz cut and fringe hairstyle around the same time as the rumours were published, and it was quickly labelled the edgiest haircut ever worn by a royal.

Image: Getty. Charlene did end up returning to Monaco in early November 2021, with informal photos of her return shared with the public. But instead of a happier arrival, it was revealed things weren't going well. 

Prince Albert shared with the world that Charlene was seeking treatment in a facility "outside of Monaco".

The reports came directly from Prince Albert, telling People Magazine Charlene is dealing with "exhaustion, both emotional and physical," and she will need at least multiple weeks of clinical care.

"She was overwhelmed and couldn't face official duties, life in general or even family life," he said. 

"I'm probably going to say this several times, but this has nothing to do with our relationship," the Prince said. "I want to make that very clear. These are not problems within our relationship; not with the relationship between a husband and wife. It's of a different nature."

The only public statement from Charlene at the time was a post on Instagram, thanking everyone for "keeping her strong.

Now, in mid-2022, Princess Charlene is ready to talk.

In an interview with the Monaco-Matin newspaper, the 44-year-old said her state of health remains "fragile" and that "the path has been long, difficult and very painful".

Although she didn't elaborate on what exactly her illness entails, she did say she is on the road to recovery.

"When I returned to the Principality, I focused all my energy on my children, my husband and my health because they are my priority. Today I feel calmer."

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A post shared by HSH Princess Charlene (@hshprincesscharlene)

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A post shared by HSH Princess Charlene (@hshprincesscharlene)

This article was originally published in November 2020, and was updated with new information in May 2022.

Feature Image: Instagram @hshprincesscharlene.