Prince Albert of Monaco last night attended the glittering Rose Ball without his wife Princess Charlene.
The annual event was full of the glitz and glamour expected from Monte Carlo, with Princess Caroline of Hanover and her daughter Charlotte Casiraghi, 35, leading the arrivals along with 22-year-old Princess Alexandra.
Notably absent from the Rose Ball was Princess Charlene, 44, who shares seven-year-old twins Gabriella and Jacques with husband Prince Albert.
She has only recently re-entered public life after largely remaining out of the public eye over the last 18 months, but rumours have swirled that she is receiving £10million a year to appear at her husband’s side at official engagements.
Leading French media reported the ruler of the tax haven Mediterranean principality was doing everything possible to keep Charlene ‘at his side at public events’.
Despite these claims, the Monaco royal steered clear of last night’s festivities.
Ben-Sylvester Strautmann and Princess Alexandra of Hanover attend the Rose Ball in Monte Carlo. Princess Alexandra, the granddaughter of Grace Kelly, wore a gorgeous white and red chiffon ballgown for the glamorous occasion
Notably absent from the Rose Ball was Princess Charlene, 44, who shares seven-year-old twins Gabriella and Jacques with husband Prince Albert (left). Also pictured is French designer Christian Louboutin and Princess Caroline of Hanover
Charlotte Casiraghi, 35, the daughter of Princess Caroline of Hanover, attended the Rose Ball with Dimitri Rassam (seen together left). Also in attendance were Tatiana Santo Domingo and Andrea Casiraghi
Princess Charlene of Monaco attended the 61st Monte Carlo TV Festival with her husband Prince Albert (pictured) on June 17. Supporters continue to express concerns about Charlene’s mental health following her return to Monaco
The rest of the royal family were out in full force, with Princess Alexandra, the granddaughter of Grace Kelly, donning a gorgeous white and red chiffon ballgown for the glamorous occasion.
Her sister Charlotte Casiraghi, 35, opted for a chic look, in a simple pale pink dress which gathered at the waist.
Their mother Princess Caroline was typically stylish in a black patterned gown and pearls, with her hair pulled back in a sleek up-do.
The much-anticipated Rose Ball was first thrown in 1954 by Princess Grace of Monaco, the American actress who married Prince Rainier III of Monaco.
The event is currently presided over by the Sovereign Prince Albert II and Princess Caroline of Hanover and the funds raised go towards the Princess Grace Foundation, which assists young artists by providing scholarships.
The absence of Princess Charlene may have come as a shock to some, as the royal has slowly started returning to public life after a lengthy break.
Last month, the Monaco royals travelled to Norway to attend the opening of the Sailing the Sea of Science exhibition at the Frammuseum in Oslo, where they were greeted by Crown Prince Haakon.
The much-anticipated Rose Ball was first thrown in 1954 by Princess Grace of Monaco, the American actress who married Prince Rainier III of Monaco
Pierre Casiraghi, his wife countess Beatrice Borromeo, Andrea Casiraghi, his wife Tatiana Santo Domingo, Caroline de Hanovre, Prince’s Albert II of Monaco, Christian Louboutin, Charlotte Casiraghi, her husband French producer Dimitri Rassam, Ben-Sylvester Strautmann and Alexandra of Hanover
The Rose Ball is currently presided over by the Sovereign Prince Albert II and Princess Caroline of Hanover and the funds raised go towards the Princess Grace Foundation, which assists young artists by providing scholarships
Charlotte Casiraghi (right), 35, opted for a chic look, in a simple pale pink dress which gathered at the waist. Pictured left: Princess Alexandra
The Rose Ball was first thrown in 1954 by Princess Grace of Monaco, the American actress who married Prince Rainier III
Charlene is slowly readjusting to royal duties after remaining largely out of the public eye over the last 18 months. She spent 10 months in her native South Africa last year after contracting a sinus infection that later required surgery.
She returned to Monaco in November but was there for a matter of days before leaving for a Swiss treatment facility. The exact nature of her condition was not made public but Albert said she was ‘exhausted’.
The Royal Palace announced in March that Charlene would make a gradual reintroduction to public life.
Earlier this week, Princess Charlene sparked fears from fans by sharing a ‘distressing’ piece of art depicting her ‘behind bars’.
The Monaco royal shared the digital creation on her Instagram yesterday.
The NFT was created by artist Junaid Sénéchal-Senekal in support of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation’s #feed2gether initiative, which aims to provide food to struggling children in South Africa.
The absence of Princess Charlene may have come as a shock to some, as the royal has slowly started returning to public life after a lengthy break. Pictured second from left is her husband Prince Albert, who attended the event alone
Pierre Casiraghi, his wife Beatrice Borromeo, Andrea Casiraghi, his wife Tatiana Santo Domingo, Princess Caroline of Hanover, Prince Albert II of Monaco, Christian Louboutin, Charlotte Casiraghi, her husband French producer Dimitri Rassam, Ben-Sylvester Strautmann and Alexandra of Hanover
Pierre Casiraghi and Beatrice Borromeo attend the Rose Ball in Monte Carlo, the most anticipated event of the social calender
Prince Albert of Monaco, Princess Caroline of Hanover and designer Christian Louboutin pose for a photograph at the Rose Ball
Charlene is slowly readjusting to royal duties after remaining largely out of the public eye over the last 18 months. She spent 10 months in her native South Africa last year after contracting a sinus infection that later required surgery
Crown Prince Haakon, Prince Albert II, Princess Charlene, Prince Jacques, Princess Gabriella, Opening of the ‘Sailing the Sea of Science’ exhibition at the Frammuseum in Oslo on June 22
The artwork features a sepia-toned portrait of Princess Charlene broken up into squares. However some supporters claim the image makes it look as though the royal is in jail.
One fan wrote: ‘I don’t like to see you like that, behind bars.’
Another posted: ‘It’s very well done, and very telling too. We see there all the distress of the soul. I hope you find inner peace.’
In recent weeks, Charlene has made a handful of public appearances with her husband and children, including an outing to the F1.
On Sunday she made her first royal engagement to the Princess Grace Hospital Centre where she met patients and families on the maternity ward.
Supporters continue to express concerns about Charlene’s mental health following her return to Monaco.
Prince Albert said he was ‘hurt by the vicious rumours’ peddled about his marriage following his wife’s absence and said that it’s the ‘most beautiful thing’ to have her back with him.
Princess Charlene of Monaco sparked fears from fans by sharing a piece of art depicting her ‘behind bars’, pictured. The NFT was created by artist Junaid Sénéchal-Senekal in support of the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation’s #feed2gether initiative, which aims to provide food to struggling children in South Africa
First appearance since her return: Princess Charlene joined Prince Albert and their children at the Monaco Formula E World Championships on April 30
Back in business: Princess Charlene stepped out for her first solo engagement since returning to Monaco after a stint in a treatment centre for ‘exhaustion’
Princess Charlene met Prince Albert in 2000 during a swimming competition in Monaco and the pair married in 2011, before welcoming twins Gabriella and Jacques in 2014.
Born in Rhodesia, a previously unrecognised state in Southern Africa colonised by the British, she relocated to South Africa aged 11.
She had a successful swimming career and went on to win three gold medals and a silver medal at the 1999 All Africa Games in Johannesburg, as well as representing South Africa at the 1998 and 2002 Commonwealth Games and winning a silver medal in the 4 × 100 m medley relay in the latter competition.
However the pair’s marriage has made numerous headlines over the years, with a third paternity suit emerging in December 2020.
Family outing: Prince Albert, Princess Charlene and their children at the Sainte Devote Rugby Tournament on May 7
Mummy-daughter date: Charlene took her daughter Gabriella, seven, to Monte Carlo Fashion Week on May 24
In the public eye: Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco at the Monaco F1 on May 29
Soon afterwards Charlene famously shaved half her head in the style of a punk rocker. Months later she left for South Africa.
The allegations in December 2020 claimed that Albert had fathered a love-child (which would be his third, if proven) with an unnamed Brazilian woman during the time when he and Charlene were already in a relationship.
He has also fathered two other children outside of wedlock. Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, who is now 29 and the result of Albert’s affair with an American estate agent, and Alexandre Coste, 18, whose mother is a former Togolese air hostess.
Both children were struck off Monaco’s line of succession in return for vast financial settlements.
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