Princess Charlene of Monaco has revealed her health remains fragile following a mystery illness in a rare and revealing interview.
The wife of Albert, reigning Prince of Monaco, has experienced a prolonged absence from the glare of public life since being inflicted with an ear, nose and throat infection.
Her problems resulted in her undergoing several surgeries in her native South Africa, where the former Olympic swimmer stayed for 10 months, returning to Monaco in March this year.
Page Six reported in November last year that the 44-year-old royal had nearly died after losing a huge amount of weight, which was a result of “not being able to eat solid foods for over six months” according to a source close to the princess.
She had first fallen ill in May during a scheduled 10-day visit to her home country during which she then had to endure numerous painful operations.
“My state of health is still fragile and I don’t want to go too fast,” Princess Charlene, who is taking her recovery slowly, told the Monaco-Matin newspaper.
“The path has been long, difficult and very painful. Today I feel calmer.”
Earlier this month she made her first public appearance in a long time as she attended the Monaco E-Prix with her husband and their seven-year-old twins, Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques.
Prince Albert has been criticised in close quarters for not taking his wife’s condition seriously enough after telling People magazine last last year: “She was clearly exhausted, physically and emotionally.”
He also admitted that she was admitted to a “treatment facility” outside of Monaco, which was her personal decision and supported by the family.
But a source revealed: “It is unfair that she is being portrayed as having some kind of mental or emotional issue.
“We don’t know why the palace is downplaying that she almost died in South Africa.”
There have been rumours of marital discord, but Princess Charlene has been quick to refute them.
She told People magazine: “I still find it regrettable that certain media peddle such rumours about my life, my relationship.
“Like everyone else, we are human beings and like all human beings we have emotions, weaknesses, only our family is exposed to the media and the slightest weakness is relayed.
"I'm very happy to be back home in Monaco and with my family. I received so many positive and warm messages when I was away from Monaco and I thank them for their support.”
