Princess Charlene of Monaco is no stranger to wild gossip and has been at the centre of rumours surrounding her health, marriage and location since stepping back from Royal duties in 2021.
Charlene’s latest public appearance at the 73rd Red Cross Gala on Tuesday, July 19, alongside her husband Prince Albert has set tongues wagging all over again.
The Princess looked exquisite in her light blue satin gown featuring crystals embroidered in a floral pattern and a simple silver necklace with a flying butterfly detail.
The French publication Voici took this latest appearance of the royals to claim that the Princess is being paid by her husband to attend such events.
The magazine claims Charlene had Albert sign an “ultra-confidential contract” to pay her 12 million euros ($17 million) a year for her presence at public events.
After a year of intrigue, the Royal made her first public appearance back in the spotlight when she attended the Monaco E Prix race with her family on April 30, which Voici claimed as the appearance that led to the contract.
Charlene first stepped out of the public eye following a health incident in May 2021 which saw her reside in South Africa at a treatment facility for a large chunk of the year.
“Her Serene Highness (HSH) Princess Charlene of Monaco was rushed to hospital by ambulance late Wednesday night after collapsing due to complications from the severe ear, nose, and throat infection she contracted in May,” the palace statement read.
“Her Highness is followed closely by her medical team, which confirms her medical state is reassuring.”
At the time, the palace released a statement to squash rumours of divorce, stating the princess would be needing multiple medical “procedures” after suffering an ear, nose and throat infection that will keep her in South Africa “indefinitely”.
Prince Albert slammed the rumours of the pair’s marriage woes, setting the story straight to People magazine about his wife’s prolonged stay in South Africa:
“She didn’t leave Monaco in a huff!” insisted Prince Albert.
“She didn’t leave because she was mad at me or at anybody else. She was going down to South Africa to reassess her Foundation’s work down there and to take a little time off with her brother and some friends.
“It was only supposed to be a weeklong, 10-day maximum stay, and because she had this infection all these medical complications arose.”