Princess Charlene’s recovery: Monaco palace issues worrying update

Princess Charlene of Monaco has been missing from royal duties for a year, and now the palace has released a statement about her recovery as she misses one of the country’s biggest royal celebrations this week.

The royal's health battles have taken her away from the media spotlight and her royal duties for some time, with rumours about her health running rampant, especially after her husband Prince Albert revealed last year she'd been admitted to a "treatment facility".

Now the palace has revealed the 44-year-old's recovery from a yet-to-be-disclosed illness is continuing in a "satisfying and encouraging way".

In a statement obtained and translated by People, the palace revealed the princess would miss celebrations on Saint Dévote Day, which was on January 27, and is undergoing “dental treatment” and her recovery will take “several weeks”.

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“The convalescence of H.S.H. Princess Charlene is currently continuing in a very satisfying and encouraging way,” a translation of the palace’s statement in French read.

“The Princess will unfortunately not be able to attend the Saint Dévote festivities this year.

“With her husband H.S.H. Prince Albert II, she shares her heart with all Monegasques and residents on the occasion of these celebrations. As soon as her health will allow, it will be with joy that the Princess once again share moments of conviviality with them.”

Back in November, a source told Page Six the Princess' health complications - which left her stranded in South Africa for 10 months - had been "downplayed" by the royals and that she had "almost died" due to a severe ear, nose and throat infection that flared up after surgery.

"It is unfair that she is being portrayed as having some kind of mental or emotional issue," the source told the publication. "We don’t know why the palace is downplaying that she almost died in South Africa."

Earlier, the palace confirmed Charlene was suffering an ENT infection while she was in South Africa on a wildlife conservation mission. This infection meant she was unable to travel home.

At the time Prince Albert spoke to People about his wife, saying, "She was clearly exhausted, physically and emotionally. She was overwhelmed and couldn’t face official duties, life in general or even family life."

Now Charlene is reportedly in a clinic in Switzerland – about 350km away from her family in Monaco – as she privately recovers.

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