Prince Albert, Prince Jacques, Princess Gabriella and Princess Charlene.Photo: PLS Pool/Getty
WhilePrincess Charleneremains in South Africa recovering from surgery, the months away from her husband,Prince Albert, and their 6-year-old twins,Princess GabriellaandPrince Jacques, has generated impending split rumors in the European press, but a source tells PEOPLE there is hope the family will be reunited soon.
“She’ll never leave her kids,” says a source close to Charlene, suggesting she believes the princess will return to Monaco as soon as her health issues are resolved. The palace has confirmed to PEOPLE that the prince and the twins — who visited South Africa in early June — plan to return the near future, but they are currently monitoring health, safety and political concerns in the country before a firm date is set.
The princess, 43, traveled to her homeland in early May to engage in activities in support of her South Africa Foundation, but in late June she revealed that she would beforced to miss her 10th wedding anniversarywith Albert, 63, due to additional surgery required after complications arose from a prior procedure.
The former Olympic swimmer added, “I miss my husband, my babies —Jacqui and Bella— and my doggies terribly, [but] I can’t force a recovery of bone and membrane — it takes time.”
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene.DAVID STOCKMAN/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images
Meanwhile, European tabloids, including the German magazineBunteand France’sParis Match, have been delving into chatter that Charlene and Albert’s separation goes far deeper than the palace is acknowledging.
“The princess ‘has, for the time being, in reality, no intention of returning,'” according toParis Match’s sources, whileBuntehas written that Charlene has been house-hunting near Johannesburg.
Paris Matchalso speculated on theprincess’s changing appearanceand attributed her relocation to larger tensions within the court back in Monaco: “‘She was full of good will, but she quickly felt judged and misunderstood,’ says one of her friends in the Principality. ‘So she closed up to protect herself.'”
Prince Albert, Princess Charlene, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella.Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty
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For now, Charlene has not painted a rosy picture of the last several months, calling them"trying" and “painful,“but she continues to offer occasional insights to this tumultuous time — and a glimmer of hope for the family’s future.
“My daily conversations with Albert and my children help me keep my spirits up a lot, but I miss their presence very much,” shetold PEOPLEin a statement in June. “I can’t wait for us to be together.”
source: people.com
