A recovering Princess Charlene has broken her silence to publicly wish her two children, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, a happy birthday as the twins celebrate turning 7 without her.
“Happy birthday my babies,” she wrote. “Thank you God for blessing me with such wonderful children. I’m truly blessed. Love mom,” Monaco’s ailing princess wrote on Instagram on Friday, December 10.
Charlene, who is currently being treated in a medical facility outside of Monaco for profound “exhaustion, both emotional and physical”, also posted three rare photos of her beautiful children enjoying late-night festivities with colourful decorations and a candlelit cake.
The 43-year-old royal’s heart-warming Instagram post is her first public communication since she was briefly reunited with her family four weeks ago, before dramatically withdrawing from public life again.
The beautiful photos show the royal twins celebrating what People magazine reveals is one of their family birthday traditions: a “countdown party” at midnight. The ritual took place in the family residence in Monaco, next to a lavish white and gold Christmas tree.
Grinning ear to ear, the blonde children wear cute matching white pajamas as they each crouch down on the herringbone floor, next to a creamy mille-feuilles pastry cake shaped into a number 7, waiting to blow out 14 blue and white candles. Displayed next to the delicious cake in icing is a message reading, “Joyeux Anniversaire (Happy Birthday) Prince Jacques Princess Gabriella”.
In the background, bright birthday banners and colourful balloons can be seen adorning the luxurious cream and gold royal sitting room.
Charlene supporters added their own well-wishes for the Princess as she celebrated her childrens’ birthday milestone from afar.
Wrote one: “Hope you are ok… we are all rooting for you (six love heart emojis). Keep strong you will get through this xx”
“Happy birthday to Gabriella and Jacques (balloon and birthday party emojis). Hope you are healing dear Charlene,” posted another.
Prince Albert, 63, revealed to People on November 19 that his wife “was suffering compound medical issues and complications brought on by multiple ENT surgeries”. Together with Charlene’s medical team and her family, they had agreed “on a period of clinical rest which for privacy reasons, would have to be someplace outside of Monaco,” the royal sovereign said.
He also told the publication that an in-person visit with the children remained his family’s priority.
“It’s what we most hope for most,” he said.