Princess Charlene Unable To Return Home To Monaco Following Trip To South Africa

May 26, 2021

The Princess of Monaco, Princess Charlene, was set to be the guest of honor at Sunday’s Formula One Grand Prix in Monaco. However, the princess is currently stuck with an ear, nose and throat infection (ENT) in South Africa, where she awaits recovery, according to the Royal Palace of Monaco. Charlene, a former Olympic swimmer, traveled to South Africa to raise awareness around rhino poaching when she contracted the illness, which has prevented her from flying back to Monaco.

Charlene, born Charlene Lynette Wittstock, was born in what is now Zimbabwe before spending her adolescence in South Africa. From a young age, Charlene took up competitive swimming, eventually qualifying for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where the young athlete swam in the women’s relay. That same year, Charlene also met someone who would change her life — Prince Albert of Monaco. Six years later, at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, the public saw the two for the first time as a couple.

Charlene’s relationship with Albert seems to have made quite an impression, as the Olympic athlete retired from her career as a swimmer in 2007, only to move from South Africa to Monaco. With that said, the relationship had its skeptics. Not only was Albert already a father and 20 years older than the former Olympian, but he also had a reputation as a playboy who was unlikely to settle down. But Albert surprised detractors and skeptics when he married Charlene in 2010. Any children that the couple has will be first in line to the Monegasque throne.

The Monaco Grand Prix — held at the Circuit de Monaco in May or June — is a prestigious annual event for Formula One racers. Max Verstappen, racing for the Netherlands and sponsor Red Bull Racing-Honda, decisively took first place at this year’s May 23 race, leading in front from the get-go, according to the Associated Press.

Given the event’s international significance for the small city-state, it’s typical for the prince and princess to be in attendance; however, Charlene’s ENT infection waylaid the princess in South Africa, where she was campaigning against rhino poaching.

"During a trip to the African continent as part of a wildlife conservation mission, SAS Princess Charlene contracted an ENT infection that does not allow her to travel,” the Royal Palace’s statement read, as reported by the Daily Mail.

"Unfortunately, she will not be able to attend the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix,” the statement continued. “SAS The Princess Charlene sends her best wishes to the Automobile Club of Monaco, organizer of the event, as well as to the drivers and teams involved in this great automobile competition."

Reporters did spot Albert and his children at the event, however.

The princess' absence comes after a public claim of Albert’s infidelity, according to the Daily Mail. The charge, which Albert’s lawyer calls a “hoax,” involves an alleged paternity suit over a love child that was born while the prince was dating Charlene.

“When my husband has problems, he tells me about it,” Charlene said in an interview with Point de Vue. “I often tell him, ‘No matter what, no matter what, I'm a thousand percent behind you. I'll stand by you whatever you do, in good times or in bad.’”

In South Africa, Charlene is working with wildlife officials to protect rhinos from poachers. According to Channel24, Charlene and local rangers are sedating and then partially removing the rhinos’ horns so that poachers won’t target the endangered animals.

"This crisis has stolen almost 10 000 African rhinos from our beautiful earth," Princess Charlene said in a statement. "If we are to save these incredible animals from extinction, we have to do something. We cannot afford to lose anymore."

"We have to protect our rhinos and their future by protecting and dehorning them, safely and as gently as possible,” she added. “I'm passionate about playing a role in saving the rhino and championing their cause."

The princess’ Instagram shows Charlene working with rhinos in South Africa. In one photo, Charlene embraces a sedated rhino that has recently had its tusks removed with the quote “Thank you for not forgetting about us” written over the image.

In a May 4 report from Reuters, experts explained that rhino poaching is on the rise again in South Africa after wildlife officials recorded a decline during the coronavirus lockdown.

"Since November, December last year and into 2021, this landscape and particularly Kruger National Park has been experiencing serious numbers of rhino poaching incidents,” said Jo Shaw, the Rhino Lead for WWF International Network.

"There is a very real and realised threat as poaching pressure has increased since lockdown perhaps to meet the demand from the international markets," she added.

South Africa is home to around 16,000 rhinos, though poaching has and continues to decimate the wildlife population.

We wish Princess Charlene a speedy recovery. What do you think about the princess’ wildlife campaign? Did you know that she was absent at the Monaco Grand Prix? Let us know — and be sure to pass this story on to friends and family members.