Princess Charlene is receiving treatment in a facility “outside of Monaco,” her husband, Prince Albert, tells PEOPLE exclusively.
Charlene’s return to Monaco 11 days ago after six months in South Africa “went pretty well in the first few hours, and then it became pretty evident that she was unwell,” says Albert, 63.
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One week after sharing a photo on Nov. 8 of her “happy day” reuniting with Albert and their 6-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, she announced she waspulling out of Monaco’s National Day festivitieson Nov. 19, citing “profound general fatigue.”
Princess Charlene.Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
Addressing ongoing rumors that the couple are in themidst of a marriage crisis, he says, “I’m probably going to say this several times, but this has nothing to do with our relationship. 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.”
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco.PLS Pool/Getty Images
Her current state, he says, is the result “of several factors which are private matters.” He adds, “she was clearly exhausted, physically and emotionally. She was overwhelmed and couldn’t face official duties, life in general or even family life.”
The princess had been “grounded,” as she previously put it, in South Africa since early May due to an ENT infection which necessitated a number of corrective surgeries over her six-month absence.
“Obviously there were consequences of her different surgeries and the procedures she underwent in the last few months,” says Albert. “That certainly was a factor, but at this point I prefer not to comment further. I can say she was suffering incredible fatigue. She hadn’t slept well in a number of days and she wasn’t eating at all well. She has lost a lot of weight, which made her vulnerable to other potential ailments. A cold or the flu or God help us, COVID.”
Charlene’s prolonged absence from Monaco caused the princess to miss her 10th wedding anniversary and gave rise to numerous reports concerning a rift in the couple’s marriage as well as speculation concerning the true nature and degree of her medical issues. The couple consistently denied these tabloid reports. Since the unexpected news of her withdrawal from public life broke on Tuesday, the stories have resurfaced.
“Because I know there are rumors out there, let me say: This is not COVID,” says Albert. “And it’s not cancer-related. It’s not a personal relationship issue. And if you want to discuss another speculation, it isn’t related to plastic surgery or facial work at all.”
“She had already made her decision, and we only wanted her to confirm it in front of us. She wanted this. She already knew the best thing to do was to go and have a rest and have a real medically framed treatment. And not in Monaco. For privacy reasons, it would have to be someplace outside of Monaco.”
Princess Charlene in a photo from her Instagram on October 2.Princess Charlene/Instagram
The process “went very well,” he says. “She was very calm and very understanding. She realized herself that she needed help. You can’t force anyone to understand that they need treatment, they have to accept that themselves.”
“She was already in favor of it. We knew that. We only wanted it confirmed in front of us. We wanted to tell her that we love her so much, and that we were there for her, and that the most important aspect for her is her health That she shouldn’t worry about anything else. That we all love her, that her children love her, and that we only want the best for her.”
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Of Gabriella and Jacques, he says, “we’ll visit her there. I can’t give you any kind of time frame on that. Not in the next few days, certainly but whenever we get the medical go-ahead. You know these kind of treatments, these rest periods, are usually several weeks. I cannot give you any set period at this time, we will see.”
Noting the couple’s unprecedented statement on Tuesday asking for privacy after announcing Charlene’s temporary withdrawal from public duty, he says, “She needs privacy; as a family we need privacy. She needs time to rest in the best environment possible. Even if we as a family are public figures. When public figures have health issues, they deserve privacy just like any one else. I hope everybody will understand that. Give us the time that we need; give her the time that she needs to heal and get better and be back with her family in Monaco.
“Charlene never asked to have these problems — but they are there, unfortunately, and we need space and privacy to address them. So I beg everyone to understand that and please leave my family alone for the coming weeks.”
Prince Albert, Princess Charlene and their twins Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques on Monaco National Day in 2018.Arnold Jerocki/Getty Images
Jacques and Gabriella “knew that she was tired. That she was not quite herself. And then I told them that she needed some time to rest, and that she is now somewhere not too far away, that we can go see her one day. They understood that.
“They know that she’s going to talk to them very soon. They miss her, of course, but they understand. Kids at that age they understand.”
Peter Mikelbank
source: people.com
