Monaco sources are finally gossiping about Princess Charlene’s absence

Tour de France Stage One

It’s taken three months but the European tabloids are finally talking about Princess Charlene’s absence from the royal court in Monaco. Not that Charlene was actually a regular “at court.” For years, Charlene has spent most of her time outside of Monte Carlo, in a home which is actually in France. Charlene has preferred not to spend too much time in The Prince’s Palace (aka the Pink Palace) in Monte Carlo. That’s because she’s never been popular in Monaco and she hates her husband and his family. Which is why no one believes Charlene’s story about her medical drama forcing her to stay “grounded” in South Africa from May until “the end of October.” So what are the European media outlets saying? I’m so glad you asked!

No recent photos of Charlene & Albert: Monegasques living in the tiny but fabulously wealthy city-state and tax haven on France’s southern coast are hugely loyal to their Royals, and expect a traditional family photograph whenever there is a historic date to celebrate. Sadly, the society lensman normally hired to produce such pictures – not just for local subjects but also for the international media – was told his services were not required this time around. Instead, even normally reverential outlets such as the highly respected Madame Figaro in Paris used long dated images of the couple, asking: ‘Are Charlene and Albert II of Monaco on the verge of divorce?’

French gossips are on the case: Stéphane Bearn, easily the most high-profile and trusted Royal commentator in France, uses an impeccably sourced piece in the latest Paris Match to discuss the torturous separation. He describes subjects in Monaco becoming increasingly angry about their runaway Princess, as they criticise everything from Charlene’s mood swings to her appearance. ‘In Monaco, since the departure of Charlene, tongues have loosened,’ Mr Bearn writes. ‘In the whirlwind of a hard-nosed court, her fine shine is rubbing off. Her sad looks are regarded as haggard. Disappointed Monegasques talk about her anger, her whimsical moods, which are as changeable as her hair.’

Charlene’s excuses: Referring to the couple’s six-year-old twins, who remain in Monaco with their nannies, Mr Bearn writes: ‘The Palace had to invoke a suffering Princess so often that the Monegasques today find it hard to believe. By crying wolf, the mother of Jacques and Gabriella would have discredited and isolated herself.’

Charlene’s “medical drama”: A Monaco source who knows the couple well meanwhile suggested the excuse was ‘sounding very thin, especially considering how many times it has been reeled out’. She added: ‘Patients with very serious problems are flown to other parts of the world all the time. The Princess has the finest medics in the world looking after her – making a flight home extremely safe and comfortable would not be that difficult.’

No plans to return: Another Palace source was even more forthright, telling Paris Match: ‘The Princess has, for the time being, in reality, no intention of returning.’ Instead, she has been seen house-hunting near Johannesburg, close to where she was brought up in a modest suburban family as Charlene Wittstock, the daughter of Mike Wittstock, a photocopy machine salesman. Charlene has been in South Africa almost constantly since it emerged last December that Albert was facing yet another paternity suit.

When Albert took the kids to visit her in June: Another Monaco-based source said: ‘It was assumed that Charlene would travel back to Monaco with the Princes and Princess but when that didn’t happen, alarm bells started ringing particularly loudly. Yes, Charlene is saying all the right things about Albert on social media, but it all sounds a bit hollow and distant – almost like she does not want to be depicted as the bad guy in all this.’ Royal commentator Stéphane Bearn concurs, writing in reference to Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella: ‘By causing the break-up, Charlene would lose what she always said was most dear to her.’

[From The Daily Mail]

I think all things can be true at once and there is probably truth to all of this and then some. It’s true that Monegasques don’t like Charlene and they think she’s a liar. It’s also true that Charlene knows that she’s surrounded by back-stabbing vipers and is not among friends. The part about Charlene’s curious social media statements… does Charlene honestly think that if she just says vague words on Instagram, people are not going to blame her for, you know, flying to South Africa and refusing to come back, lying about a medical issue and leaving her kids behind for months? This whole thing is so bizarre. I guess she did escape but there’s still so much other stuff being negotiated.

Saint Jean celebrations in Monaco

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

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84 Responses to “Monaco sources are finally gossiping about Princess Charlene’s absence”

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  1. BusyLizzy says:

    The French commentator’s name is misspelled – it’s Stéphane Bern and not Bearn.

    https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/St%C3%A9phane_Bern

    • AmelieOriginal says:

      Going to say the same. Stéphane Bern is a regular on French TV as a journalist and TV presenter. I follow him on Twitter. I saw him more as a historian and documenter of chateaux, churches, and the like. Didn’t realize he specialized in nobility and royalty but that makes sense given his avid interest in French castles.

      • SarahCS says:

        Oh it’s HIM! I know him from the tv shows he does and definitely didn’t having him down as a royal gossip.

  2. Scorpion says:

    #FreeCharlene

  3. Oh_Hey says:

    The press and aristos from Monaco sound gross and trashy and I’m not at all shocked that Charlotte left – at this point who is?

    It’s been clear she was never coming back likely due to the pressure, isolation, and Prince Alberts Wandering “Albert”

    • Golly Gee says:

      Agreed. It has exactly the same vibe as the coverage of Royal “sacrificial lambs“/distractions by Royal reporters. Of course it has been written up in the DM so maybe that explains it.

    • luna says:

      I came to say the same thing. Tell me you’re a lowlife courtier without telling me:

      “her whimsical moods, which are as changeable as her hair.”

      • observer says:

        oh my god luna EXACTLY what i felt when i read that line my god the gaslighting is burning high

  4. Seraphina says:

    The little girl looks just like her father. Holy moly.
    I hope Charlene is safe and getting help. I don’t think anyone of us normal people can understand all she is up against regardless of her situation. I wish her peace and recovery. No one should have to go through this kind of drama, regardless if it’s fact or fiction.

    • Capepopsie says:

      @Seraphina I totally agree!

    • Merricat says:

      Agreed, Seraphina. I can’t imagine waking up every day to a world that hates you. I hope she finds peace.

    • sunny says:

      I really hope she has a good support system because this whole thing must be beyond stressful, sad, and terrifying.

      • BothSidesNow says:

        I agree with all of you. How awful is has been for her all of these years. To be hated in her new country and to be married to a tyrant and one that has no control over his indiscretions. I hope Charlene stays far away from Albert and all of Monaco, as she deserves to be happy.

  5. TIFFANY says:

    If she is to return at the end of October, that means she and Albert were on a trail separation.

    This isn’t playing out like they had hoped. Since she was never as public before, they thought they could get away with it again but it ain’t working.

  6. Sofia says:

    I do think both things are true: she’s genuinely struggling with complications BUT she also doesn’t want to come back. If she has left, I’m surprised she’s left her kids but she may have known she’s had no choice in the matter. Not surprised Monegasque’s are complaining. I don’t think many liked Charlene in the first place.

    • Becks1 says:

      I think at this point, if she wanted to be back in Monaco, she’d be back in Monaco. Maybe the health reasons are semi-legitimate, but I think if she had plans to return, she would have returned at this point.

    • Klu says:

      The only reason for complaints is because Charlene is making Albert, his sisters, and the entire court look bad.

    • goofpuff says:

      You know, I’m starting to wonder if she was ever really allowed to form relationships with her children. I feel like that would be the Albert power move – they are raised by nannies and you can only see them if you do what I say.

      And they are fed all kinds of their father’s propaganda by the nannies.

      • observer says:

        goofpuff thats incredibly sad and more or less exactly what i was armchair theorizing too… taking her children away from her and brainwashing them against her early has to have been an accounted tactic

    • Jennifer says:

      If she doesn’t want to be with Albert, she’s gonna be forced to leave the kids. My impression is that she was there to be the legitimate brood mare and now that there’s the kids, Albert got what he wanted, right? Not that I know anything about the legal system in Monaco, but I think it’s about 99% likely that she wouldn’t get custody because royals and all that.

      • observer says:

        agree with you jenni and i can’t imagine how humiliating it must be for her to be viewed as that and that alone for her value (and then not even be able to be with her own kids or have control over them)

  7. Klu says:

    I feel Charlene has to do what she can to feel whole again. No one really knows what life was like for her. No one even knows if she was even willingly impregnated. Whatever happened to her in Monaco seems traumatic.

  8. Amy Bee says:

    It wouldn’t be surprising in October, when Charlene’s supposed to return to Monaco, there’s an announcement that she and Albert are separating.

  9. Zapp Brannigan says:

    “By causing the break-up, Charlene would lose what she always said was most dear to her”

    ODFOD, any news on Albert’s latest paternity lawsuit? Do these commentators think that might have just been a smidge hurtful for Charlene?

  10. Ainsley7 says:

    So, we should believe that the people who are biased against her are telling the truth and that she is lying? I’m inclined to think that the people who are biased against her are the ones that are lying since they’ve been trashing her every chance they can get since she came on the scene.

  11. Tursitops says:

    Please allow me to trot out my Steve Martin-sized “Exxcuuuuuse meeee”. *She’s* a liar? *Her* comportment doesn’t meet the Monegasques’s standards? *She* is solely responsible for the demise of her marriage? What ova on these people. How completely unsurprising that the citizens and commentators (we will not call them journalists) would take the part of the deceptive, cheating bloodliner over the deceived married-in.

    • SarahCS says:

      “*Her* comportment doesn’t meet the Monegasques’s standards?”

      Because she’s not having affairs and children and being sued all over the place?

      • Tursitops says:

        Yes. Apparently that’s what they expect of their rulers, so if you aren’t out committing adultery and bringing shame upon your house then what is wrong with *you*?

      • Jennifer says:

        I’ve lost track of how many illegitimate kids he’s had. At least three, right? Can’t the man EVER use a condom?

  12. Marie says:

    Something Weird is Going On. What Did Albert Say?: The Charlene of Monaco Story by Charlene of Monaco with Dwight Schrute.

  13. Heidi says:

    I feel sorry for the kids. Charlene was probably forced to sign a prenup that says they have to be raised in Monaco.

    Also – marrying a woman who is “suitable” but not the love of your life doesn’t seem to end well if you are a prince.

    • Larisa says:

      Yeah, I truly don’t get this for either of them. Why this marriage?
      Why for him? She’s not royal? He clearly doesn’t love her? She clearly didn’t want to go through with it? Didn’t they also have trouble conceiving? Why not call it off then, under the pretense of a royal duty to continuing the dynasty (isn’t there also something about Monaco reverting back to France if they fail to produce a male heir? that would have been seen as a very legit reason to divorce, I’d imagine)? I don’t understand this definition of “suitable”. Clearly, perhaps an aristo who is fine with an arranged marriage for the sake of procreation would have been better? He really couldn’t find one?
      Why for her? She never seemed smitten and in love, he isn’t exactly super good-looking, I mean, they probably had a glamorous courtship, but if that is what tipped the scale, then she went into it eyes open, for the perks, not for love? So why then suddenly care about infidelity?

      • Jennifer says:

        I dunno. Maybe she had feelings for him originally. But also, he’s just an embarrassment when he makes it obvious (with children) as to what he’s doing. At least say, Charles didn’t knock Camilla up with a third kid.

        I’d imagine given Albert’s reputation, finding someone who’d marry him would be difficult–and well, she tried to escape.

  14. Plain Jane says:

    Charlexit?

    I kid, only because there seems to be a lot of BS flying from both sides. However, getting away from Monaco has been on the top of Charlene’s To Do List for a long time.

  15. Over it says:

    If she finally found the courage to leave that cheating,womanizing scum, I say good for her. As long as she can have joint custody of her children, then all is good with me.

    • Klu says:

      As sad as it is, the Monegasques really hate her. Albert will never let it happen where she has any custody. I wouldn’t even be surprised if she never saw her kids again if she leaves for good as sad as it is to say. She can fight them but they will outmaneuver her and I think she knows that.

      At best, she will get them when they aren’t in school. She may see Gabriella more since she is not an heir but Jacques will most assuredly be kept away from her.

      • swirlmamad says:

        As a mother as well, my heart breaks for her if this is the case.

      • Jennifer says:

        Yeah, there’s no way in hell she’s even getting joint custody. Albert has all the power there, literally.

  16. Miranda says:

    Has Charlene EVER been happy in this relationship? Genuine question, because she was never on my radar at the time they were dating/engaged/newlyweds. I honestly don’t think I can remember ever seeing a photo or reading an article where she seemed happy, so it’s hard for me to imagine why she chose to marry this prick in the first place.

    • Merricat says:

      She didn’t want to; at least, that’s my understanding.

    • Julia K says:

      During their dating years she was in love with him. Between their engagement announcement and the wedding, something drastic happened to change her mind. Albert, not wanting to be left at the altar and perceived as having been dumped, insisted that she go through with the planned wedding. What he has over her I do not know. This is only my opinion, but perhaps she knows too much. Or he knows too much. Curious relationship.

      • Jaded says:

        Another paternity suit happened just before they got married. Apparently she’s an Air France flight attendant from Togo and Albert admitted he was the father. That’s when the infamous teary nuptials photos appeared. Between that, the latest paternity suit, marrying into a Eurotrash family who hate her, the general disdain of most Monagasques, well no effing wonder she bolted, I would too. My guess is she’s having some serious emotional problems, maybe she has some physical health issues too, but I think either way she’s reached the end of her tether and they’re trying to work out some sort of financial/parental agreement.

      • AmelieOriginal says:

        The second paternity suit did not happen right before they got married. That child, Alexandre Coste, the son of a Togolese flight attendant was born in 2003 and the story broke in 2005. Charlene and Albert went public with their relationship in 2006 and got married in 2011. There were rumors of another love child around the time of the wedding but unless there was another flight attendant involved which I don’t remember, it wasn’t about Nicole Coste the flight attendant (mother of Alexandre).

    • Miranda says:

      That’s awful if she truly was somehow forced into marrying him. She clearly despises Albert, and for him to refuse to give her a divorce in spite of that very obvious fact speaks to just how abusive he must be. Why else would he do that, if not as a way of exercising control? (I’m sure some would say that it’s because his Catholic faith forbids divorce, but that’s obviously bullshit. Catholicism also isn’t keen on adultery, but that doesn’t stop him from spreading his undoubtedly pathetic dick around, does it?)

  17. Lori says:

    Can she get the same lawyer as Britney, because I believe she’s been in a similar situation for the last 10-15 yrs.

  18. Sof says:

    “Her sad looks are regarded as haggard.”
    So they acknowledge that she looked sad but critize her when she is doing something about it.

  19. WithTheAmerican says:

    This is how the world treats women, and especially truly beautiful women like her, Britney, Meghan, Diana, and so many others that they feel entitled to own. The woman herself isn’t even seen as human. She is a possession who should do her part to make others look good.

    When will this end?

  20. Lizzie says:

    So give her a divorce or separation with fair child custody in exchange for silence and let everyone live their life and end the questioning. End this nicely or drag it out and it will be talked about daily. I don’t see why this is hard. Also I wonder how his sisters feel about Charlene.

    • Tursitops says:

      We can’t know what’s in someone else’s mind, but I wouldn’t be surprised if their attitude is “All the men (and some of the women) in our family do this, as do other royal houses and everyone in our social circles, so deal with it”. I would imagine that many people within and without the family think that she knew what she was getting into when they first dated. Doubtful that they are sympathetic.

    • Lizzie says:

      Caroline was talking about her kids being the next in line when it looked like he would never marry. She might miss the higher profile she had before Charlene.

  21. elfie says:

    To me the bottom line is that she abandoned her 6 year old children. As the story says, if she was really suffering from a “sinus infection” she could have a private jet and the best doctors coddling her on a flight home any time she wanted. I think she’s outrageously selfish. She certainly does not have to put up with a cheating husband but abandoning your children is unforgivable.

    • Jaded says:

      This is a very rich, high profile royal family and Albert is notoriously demanding. He’s pulling the strings right now and between an airtight NDA and full custody demands plus a phalanx of merciless lawyers, she hasn’t got much of a leg to stand on. It’s unfair to say she’s just selfish and abandoning her children, you don’t know what she’s suffered and the long-term effects of Albert’s selfishness. My guess is she’s utterly worn down, depressed, maybe even having anxiety attacks. Look at what happened to Meghan within 2 years — she was depressed to the point of suicidal ideation even with a new baby. Both of them were trapped in a horrible situation where the royal families, public and tabloids hated them.

      • The Hench says:

        And Meghan is married to a man who adores her and isn’t fathering illegitimate children all over town.

    • Lizzie says:

      Did she? I’m not sure we actually know. This reporting sounds just like the lying rr’s who claimed for 2 years that Meghan made Keen cry.

    • Sigmund says:

      I’ve thought for years that her situation seems abusive. I don’t think it’s selfish for her to get out. He’s powerful and wealthy. If she can’t take her children, she should still try to save herself.

    • Merricat says:

      I won’t judge this poor woman when she is so obviously distressed and depressed and has been for years.

  22. Sue M says:

    This woman has every right to leave her husband if the marriage is not working. Nobody should stay in an unhappy union. But WTF, SHE LEAVES HER CHILDREN BEHIND??? I have no idea how anyone could leave their 6 year-old twins for months on end. I would be desolate if I was separated from my son.And she left them in the care of an organization she clearly loathes. For me, once you have children, your number one responsibility above all others is to your kids.

    • Klu says:

      Someone else mentioned above that she may not have been ever allowed to bond with her children.

    • swirlmamad says:

      Again, I don’t know much but I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if she really has no agency when it comes to her children — it’s completely believable that her husband, with all his power, would easily be able to bar her from her children AND make it look like she’s the one who abandoned them. I could never fathom leaving my children behind either but as we’ve seen, these royal folk are NOT normal, do not lead normal lives and most things are never as they seem.

    • Maria says:

      Instead of remarking how selfish she must be, try to think how awful things were for her that she made this decision (if indeed she did).
      She was forced into the marriage and probably forced to have his kids. Her kids were NEVER going to be her own. They were always going to belong to the Family. That was going to happen whether she stayed or left. And who knows if she’s even allowed to be close to them.

      • Sigmund says:

        Exactly. Her situation honestly is heartbreaking. She clearly didn’t want to marry him at the last minute but was forced into it.

        We have no idea how bad things are if she’s so desperate to get out that she’s hiding in another country and lying about it.

      • Merricat says:

        Agreed.

    • BothSidesNow says:

      It’s been widely reported that Albert has FULL control over their children, so please STOP blaming Charlene!! Albert had in the past made it perfectly clear that had she left him before their 10 year anniversary HE would remain the sole parent. Albert has the courts on his side, while Charlene has NO one on her side, legally speaking. The courts in Monaco will certainly fully support Albert, not Charlene.
      Let’s not forget that she tried to leave him twice before the marriage, one of which ended up with his henchmen finding her in Paris as she was trying to stop from marrying him. They took her against her will, confiscated her passport and flew her back to Monaco. How much power do you think she has if he was able to abduct her? None!!

      • Shoshone says:

        Monaco is not a democratic state. Prince Albert is close to being an absolute monarch. He can decide to exile a person from Monaco and he is not constrained by judges and courts in many instances. Also, the flight attendant girlfriend from Togo (sorry, I don’t know her name) and her son were living just outside of Monaco in France long term both before and after Albert’s wedding. She was pretty salty that her son had not been named the heir and made comments that indicated that Albert was a constant presence in both their lives.

    • Isabella says:

      Women do leave their. children. It happens. Fergie’s mom is an example. I could not, but perhaps Charlene can.

  23. swirlmamad says:

    I don’t follow the Monaco royals much (or nearly as much as I have the British royals), but Albert has STAYED messy for ages. I can’t imagine this marriage has ever truly been a happy one. Hopefully this poor woman can find peace and manage to maintain a strong relationship with her children.

  24. TeeMajor says:

    TeamCharlene!! do what keeps your sanity.

  25. candy says:

    I believe this marriage was always a contract, not a “love” marriage. I don’t understand why the divorce would be such a big deal though, French people barely even get married anymore. Plus there are tons of divorces in this family already?

    More likeley this is a mental health issue, and she’s trying to get better. I can understand the discretion, and she should get the space she needs to heal. But they could do a lot to destigmatize that. I think people would be more sympathetic than when they’re obviously being lied to with a bizarre coverup.

    • Maria says:

      I don’t think the family wants people to be sympathetic to her and the cover-up is there for a reason, honestly. And she may be legally bound not to go against their narrative.

  26. Theothermia says:

    I hate all this talk about her appearance. She could be sick or trapped in a horrible marriage. That is more important than hair 🙄

  27. sparky says:

    This all makes me think of the Grimaldi family curse. Supposedly, in the 13th century Prince Rainier I kidnapped a Flemish woman who took her revenge by cursing Rainier and his descendants. The precise curse is said to be “Never will a Grimaldi find happiness in marriage.” And no one has since then has…

  28. Bella says:

    The heartbreaking part is that she seems willing to leave her children – even if just part of the time ….this I don’t understand

    • Maria says:

      We don’t know how much contact she’s even allowed to have with them when she’s there.
      If she decided to leave I am sure it was because she had no choice about her children either way.
      The conversation should not be about how awful it is that she’s abandoning her children. The conversation should be why Albert feels the need to be so monstrous that she would be compelled to make a decision like this.

      • Agreatreckoning says:

        This. Strange things in Monaco’s royal family. Watching Charlene cry in their wedding video was heartbreaking. Those were not tears of joy.

  29. Yonati says:

    Sometimes the choice is between suicide (and leaving your children) or getting away so you don’t kill yourself, but knowing that if the kids want to see her, if they get married, if they have kids of their own, she’s alive to see all that. You can’t make amends when you’re dead, but if she lives, she will try hard to make it up to the kids.

    • Greywacke says:

      There is so much wisdom and compassion in this comment. Thanks you for posting it.

  30. missy says:

    Heirs to a throne are usually under the direct control of the monarch and i’m guessing not subject to usual custody rules and courts. Not to mention the clear power imbalance between the parents.
    It’s clear this woman is unhappy and in a difficult situation and maybe folks should have some compassion and question how bad a situation has to be to someone’s mental and physical health to leave children behind. If a woman gives up a child for adoption because she can’t care for him/her and wants to give them a better life that’s understandable the same way it’s understandable that maybe the kids are well treated and loved unlike her situation and really she had no power to take them with her.
    Also, i’m wondering if maybe she is staying away long enough to be able to file for amicable seperation on legal grounds like abandonment or long term seperation… Lawyers chime in, I’m not one.

  31. J says:

    Could it be possible, she was not allowed to come back, kind of forced to leave the little ones behind but she cannot say so, I don’t know but there is something weird.

  32. SenseOfTheAbsurd says:

    Albert gives me the shivers. Cold, cruel eyes.

  33. CooCooCatchoo says:

    Their little girl looks like Grace. I did a double-take.

  34. Premadonna says:

    She needs to call up duchess meghan, or vice versa. I bet they have a LOT in common. They could be very supportive to each other.