As Kate Middleton's Photoshop blunder sparks wild speculation about her wellbeing, how Princess Charlene of Monaco disappeared from public view for 10 months

Aside from a few brief appearances, the Princess of Wales has not been seen in public since Christmas Day when she led her family to St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham. 

On January 17, Kensington Palace announced that Kate had undergone 'planned abdominal surgery' at the London Clinic and would remain in hospital for the next two weeks, before going home to her continue her recovery for several months and not returning to royal duties until at least Easter.

Bizarre and outrageous theories about the Princess's health and whereabouts have circulated on social media during her absence, which were only fuelled by the editing gaffe made on the Mother's Day picture issued by Kensington Palace featuring Kate with her three children George, Charlotte and Louis. 

What followed was an explosion of conspiracy theories, after top picture agencies pulled the photo from their wires amid concern the image had been 'manipulated' by the source - with Kate later admitting she had 'edited' the photo.

But as the world continues to ask questions about the Princess of Wales, seasoned royal fans will remember another mystery in which a European princess, Charlene of Monaco, disappeared from public view for several months in 2021, while she had medical treatment in South Africa before moving to a Swiss clinic that allegedly specialises in mental health and addiction issues. 

Princess Charlene of Monaco was absent for most of 2021 while having medical treatment in South Africa. Above: The royal in South Africa 

Princess Charlene shared a picture of her speaking on the phone in South Africa on Instagram

Prince Albert took their children to events while their mother recovered from an undisclosed health problem in South Africa. Above: Albert with Gabriella (far left) and Jacques (far right) 

The Princess of Wales has not carried out any royal duties since Sandringham at Christmas 

Prince Albert went to royal events alone while Charlene was in South Africa. Above: The Prince in Monaco for the E-Prix in May 2020

The Monaco palace consistently denied media reports of a rift between Charlene and the principality's ruler Prince Albert, who were wed in 2011, following her long absence.

She spent 10 months away from royal life, with Prince Albert who is 19 years her senior, looking after their twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella.

In March 2021, Charlene was pictured at the memorial for the late Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini at the KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace in Nongoma, South Africa. She did not return to Monaco for nine months following that. 

In May, Prince Albert took their children Jacques and Gabriella to Monaco's E-pix and without Charlene. 

A couple of months later in July, Albert and Charlene celebrated their 10-year anniversary separately, with her foundation saying that she undergoing procedures for a ear, nose and throat infection. 

The royal was then discharged and her team published a statement saying that her condition was 'not worrying'.

On her now-deleted Instagram page, the Princess shared snaps of Albert and their children Gabriella and Jacques visiting her in South Africa at the end of August. 

But on September 1 , Charlene was admitted under an alias to the Netcare Alberlito Hospital after suddenly 'collapsing', before being discharged the following day. 

The Palais Princier rushed to publish a statement that said: 'Her Highness is closely monitored by Her medical team who said that Her condition was not worrying.'

Charlene is pictured at the memorial for the late Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini in 2021 and did not return to Monaco for ten months after that 

Charlene disappeared and stayed in South Africa for months on end and had an operation for an undisclosed problem 

Princess Charlene posted on her Instagram page throughout the time she was in South Africa 

Princess Charlene is pictured shedding a tear on her wedding day to Prince Albert of Monaco 

Princess Charlene shared a two-minute long video documenting her wedding to Albert a day after their tenth anniversary. Above: The couple share a kiss on the balcony

She shared many snaps of her conservation trip throughout the months that followed, before being discharged from hospital following her health scare on October 3.

Just three days later, Prince Albert told RMC radio that Charlene is 'ready to come home', but only days after, she undergoes more surgery and returns to Monaco about a month after.

About 10 days after returning to the Palace, the Princess then travelled to another clinic in Switzerland. 

She is thought to have stayed at the luxurious 'Clinic les Alpes' near Montreux, a resort town on Lake Geneva. 

And according to reports in Germany, the clinic is one of the best mental health and addiction clinics in the world.

Les Alpes advertises 'individual programmes designed for each patient, together with hospitality services' for a cost of 45,000 Swiss francs per week (£36,300).

Princess Charlene spent four months at Les Alpes, according to German news outlet Bild, which provides 24-hour care. 

At the time, sources told Page Six that Princess Charlene 'almost died' after sinus surgery and 'lost nearly half her body weight' due to being 'unable to swallow'. 

They added that it was 'unfair' to portray her as struggling with mental health issues. The palace previously referred her health problems as a 'state of profound general fatigue'.

'She has not been able to eat solid food in over six months because of all the surgeries she has since gone through. She has only been able to take in liquids through a straw, so she lost nearly half her body weight,' they told the outlet at the time. 

On 22 January 2022, Charlene celebrated her 44th birthday alone, sharing old snaps of happier times with her husband and their children. 

In March the Palace announced that Charlene was back in Monaco but will take time to 'further strengthen her health before gradually resuming her official duties'.

On 30 April, Charlene stepped out on her first official royal visit since since leaving the facility, joining Albert, Jacques and Gabriella at the Monaco E-Prix.  

Towards the end of that year, Albert praised his wife for 'turning it around in an incredible way' after lengthy health crisis, saying she had a 'very tough year'.

Pictured: 'Clinic les Alpes', where it has been revealed Princess Charlene of Monaco was treated during her four-month absence due to 'state of profound general fatigue'

The palace previously referred Charlene's health problems as a 'state of profound general fatigue'. Above: Charlene is pictured in 2021 

The couple broke cover in January after the Royal Family was engulfed in a financial scandal, with details of their spending sensationally revealed by their former accountant, Claude Palmero

The Mother's Day picture of Kate, Charlotte, George and Louis sparked mystery, as with many questioning the Princess' health

The pair's marriage has been speculated over the years, starting with their wedding day on 1 July 2011.

A three day celebration took place, which was thought to cost around £53million. 

On the day of the religious ceremony, Charlene donned a silk wedding dress was designed by Giorgio Armani with a six-metre train and was studded with 40,000 Swarovski crystals and 20,000 mother of pearl tear drops. 

Guests included the then-French President Nicholas Sarkozy, Carla Bruni, Naomi Campbell, Roger Moore, Philip Green, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, as well as Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex. 

But on what was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life, Charlene appeared serious and in floods of tears during the ceremony prompting people to question their relationship.

Speaking about her big day, Charlene said later in an interview: 'Everything was just so overwhelming and there were all the mixed emotions because of the rumours, and obviously the tension built up and I burst into tears [immediately after the ceremony].

'And then I burst into tears some more because I was thinking 'Oh no, now the whole world has seen me cry'.

She continued: 'I think I kind of went into Olympic mode. I was in the zone, and I don't think anything was affecting me at that time. When all the rumours had started and people were questioning this and that, I just totally ignored it.'

Since her wedding day, the royal has often gone without either ring - and on occasion even worn different rings on her wedding finger.

Last summer, Charlene was not seen for weeks, with Albert attending Wimbledon with her closest confidante, Melanie-Antoinette Costello de Massy, instead. 

She was also notably silent on social media when the couple celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary on July 1. 

Charlene and Albert of Monaco attend the Rugby World Cup Final match between New Zealand and South Africa in Octoberlast year

The pair shared a kiss when watching the match 

At the start of this year, the Monaco royals faced further scrutiny after a financial scandal, with details of their spending sensationally revealed by their former accountant, Claude Palmero.

In a staggering set of allegations, Mr Palmero claimed Princess Charlene hired illegal migrants on less than £90-a-day while her personal spending allowance rocketed to more than £1million-a-year.

On top of that, it has also been alleged that Prince Albert kept a separate bank account to pay his former mistress and the children he's had out of wedlock.

But it appeared the couple were trying to put the allegations behind them for Saint Devote celebrations, arriving together at Saint Nicholas Cathedral on January 27.