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Princess Charlene of Monaco cuts a glamorous figure at the principality's Formula 1 Grand Prix on Sunday

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Looking statuesque in a designer jumpsuit with her cropped hair impeccably style Princess Charlene of Monaco displayed the same elegance and poise her late mother-in-law Grace Kelly was known for, as she attended the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Monaco on Sunday.

It's quite the turnaround for the mother-of-two, 46, who attended with her husband Prince Albert of Monaco, 66, who in recent years has been notably absent from public life for significant swathes of time. 

In 2021, she alarmed fans by spending most of the year in her native South Africa, posting a series of photos on social media where she looked worryingly frail. 

But yesterday, in a smart navy blue jumpsuit by Louis Vuitton and a pair of large black sunglasses by the same French designer, elegant Charlene was every inch the glamorous and confident European royal. 

Princess Charlene of Monaco (pictured) cut an elegant figure in a navy blue jumpsuit by Louis Vuitton on Sunday

Princess Charlene of Monaco (pictured) cut an elegant figure in a navy blue jumpsuit by Louis Vuitton on Sunday

The royal, 46, sported a pair of Louis Vuitton sunglasses, only adding to the glamourous look

The royal, 46, sported a pair of Louis Vuitton sunglasses, only adding to the glamourous look

Princess Charlene smiled as she embraced the winner, Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc (left)

Princess Charlene smiled as she embraced the winner, Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc (left)

With a double-breasted blazer and wide-leg trousers, the jumpsuit was a stylish alternative to the more feminine dresses that other guests chose to wear. 

Charlene, a lover of fashion, completed her outfit with a pair of £890 Louis Vuitton slingback pumps in black and beige and the designer's Ombre Blossom extra-large hoops in pink gold and diamonds.

With her short blond hair brushed to one side and only subtle make-up, the smiling mother-of-twins looked fresh-faced at the event, which saw her embrace the winner, Ferrari's Monegasque driver Charles Leclerc, as he took to the podium to claim his trophy. 

Prince Albert, meanwhile, looked typically smart in a navy blazer and a pair of cream trousers.

Charlene is in her native South Africa in 2021. She infamously shaved her head in the style of a punk rocker and appeared notably frail in social media snaps

Charlene is in her native South Africa in 2021. She infamously shaved her head in the style of a punk rocker and appeared notably frail in social media snaps

Charlene sparked concern in October 2021 when she was pictured looking frail during an extended stay in her native South Africa

Charlene sparked concern in October 2021 when she was pictured looking frail during an extended stay in her native South Africa 

To protect himself from the sun, he sported an event cap along with a pair of dark sunglasses, both of which he removed when it came to congratulate Leclerc. 

Sources have previously claimed that Charlene's transformation is down to her increasing devotion to her Catholic faith, as well as the close proximity of her parents Lynette and Mike who have joined her brother in the principality from their native South Africa to support the Princess. 

The couple have moved more than 8000 miles from their home in the suburbs of Johannesburg, to live permanently in the Monaco area.

So as to be as close to their daughter as possible, they have moved into an imposing property in La Turbie, a French village next door to the tax haven principality where their daughter lives in regal splendour between a range of properties.

'It has made the world of difference,' said a palace source in Monte Carlo who has known Albert and Charlene since before their wedding.

'The Wittstocks have moved into a house that's just a few minutes' drive away from Charlene, and they meet all the time.

'They make her feel safe and secure, and remind her of the far more carefree life she enjoyed in South Africa before becoming a Monaco princess.'

Charlene's brother, Gareth Wittstock, 42, first moved to Monaco to 'make sure his sister was being looked after' a decade ago, and her second brother, 40-year-old Sean Wittstock, is 'on the phone every day from South Africa,' said the source.

Yesterday's outing was a further sign that the former Olympic swimmer, has well and truly put her health woes behind her after she spent almost a year away from the Mediterranean principality in her native South Africa, undergoing treatment for an unspecified condition.

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert stand behind winner Leclerc of Monaco (front, second from right) and Ferrari, Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren (front, second from left), who came in second, and Carlos Sainz of Spain and Ferrari (front, right), who scored third place in the race. Also pictured is Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur (front, left)

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert stand behind winner Leclerc of Monaco (front, second from right) and Ferrari, Oscar Piastri of Australia and McLaren (front, second from left), who came in second, and Carlos Sainz of Spain and Ferrari (front, right), who scored third place in the race. Also pictured is Ferrari Team Principal Frederic Vasseur (front, left)

Princess Charlene stands on her tiptoes to embrace the winner of the Monaco Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc, who is from the principality and drives for Ferrari

Princess Charlene stands on her tiptoes to embrace the winner of the Monaco Grand Prix, Charles Leclerc, who is from the principality and drives for Ferrari 

Princess Charlene, pictured with her husband, completed her outfit with Louis Vuitton's Ombre Blossom extra-large hoops in pink gold and diamonds

Princess Charlene, pictured with her husband, completed her outfit with Louis Vuitton's Ombre Blossom extra-large hoops in pink gold and diamonds

While Charlene made a statement in a double-breasted jumpsuit by Louis Vuitton, Prince Albert looked smart in a navy jacket and tie

While Charlene made a statement in a double-breasted jumpsuit by Louis Vuitton, Prince Albert looked smart in a navy jacket and tie

Charlene displayed the same elegance and poise that her late mother-in-law, Grace Kelly, was known for

Charlene displayed the same elegance and poise that her late mother-in-law, Grace Kelly, was known for

Princess Charlene shook hands wth Stefano Domenicali, CEO of the Formula One Group, on the grid prior to the race

Princess Charlene shook hands wth Stefano Domenicali, CEO of the Formula One Group, on the grid prior to the race

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert appeared united at the event as they chatted to each other at the event

Princess Charlene and Prince Albert appeared united at the event as they chatted to each other at the event 

At one point, when Prince Albert was talking to his wife, Princess Charlene seemed more interested in the event itself

At one point, when Prince Albert was talking to his wife, Princess Charlene seemed more interested in the event itself 

The rumour mill went into overdrive when Charlene spent most of 2021 away from her husband after returning to her native South Africa for what was supposed to be a month-long trip.

She wasn't pictured in Monaco from January 2021 until March 2022, citing a sinus issue which stopped her from flying.

She missed the seventh birthday of her twins Gabriella and Jacques and her tenth wedding anniversary with Albert.

In interviews at the time, Albert explained he had stepped up to play a bigger role in his children's lives as the family coped with Charlene's ongoing health issues.

A tumultuous two years for Princess Charlene that saw her spend 10 months in South Africa away from her children, admitted to a treatment facility in Switzerland and strike a rumoured £10 million a year deal with Albert  

2021: HEALTH ISSUES, 10 MONTHS IN SOUTH AFRICA AND ADMISSION TO A SWISS TREATMENT FACILITY 

January 27 - Charlene is pictured with Albert for the Sainte Devote Ceremony in Monaco.

March 18 - Charlene is pictured at the memorial for the late Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini at the KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace in Nongoma, South Africa

April 2 - Charlene posts an Instagram picture of herself, Albert and their twins Jacques and Gabriella for Easter from an unknown locatoin. 

May 8 - Albert, Jacques and Gabriella attend a Grand Prix event in Monaco without Charlene

May 18 - Charlene shares her first picture from her conservation trip in South Africa

June 3 - New photos emerge of Charlene on her conservation trip

June 5 - Charlene puts on a united front as she shares a photo with her family to mark her niece's fifth birthday with her brother's family and Albert and the twins in South Africa

June 24 - Charlene's foundation releases a statement saying the royal is unable to travel and is undergoing procedures for an ear, nose and throat infection

July 2 - Charlene and Albert mark their 10th anniversary separately. 'This year will be the first time that I'm not with my husband on our anniversary in July, which is difficult, and it saddens me,' Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene said in a statement.

August 13 - Charlene undergoes a four-hour operation. The reason is not announced

August 25 - Charlene shares photos of Prince Albert, Gabriella and Jacques visiting her in South Africa

September 1 - Charlene is admitted under an alias to the Netcare Alberlito Hospital after suddenly 'collapsing'

September 2 - Charlene is discharged, with a statement from the Palais Princier reading: 'Her Highness is closely monitored by Her medical team who said that Her condition was not worrying'

September 30 - Charlene releases a stylish video promoting her anti-poaching campaign from her South African bolthole

October 3 - Princess Charlene shares a photograph of herself smiling in front of a bible in her first snap since being discharged from hospital following her health scare

October 6 - Albert tells RMC radio Charlene is 'ready to come home'

October 8 2021 - Princess undergoes more surgery in South Africa

November 8 - Charlene arrives back in Monaco. Prince Albert said within hours it became clear she was 'unwell'

November 13 2021  - Prince Albert attends Expo 2020 in Dubai without Princess Charlene. Following his return from the trip, Prince Albert holds an intervention with Charlene's brothers and a sister-in-law in which Charlene 'confirmed' she would seek 'real medically-framed treatment' outside of Monaco

November 16 - Royal household confirms Princess Charlene will not attend National Day celebrations on November 19

November 17 - Prince Albert reveals Princess Charlene has left Monaco and is recovering in a secret location

November 19 - Prince Albert reveals Charlene is in a treatment facility 'elsewhere in Europe' after a family intervention

November 25 - Sources tell Page Six Princess Charlene 'almost died' after sinus surgery and 'lost nearly half her body weight' due to being 'unable to swallow'. They also said it was 'unfair' to portray her as struggling with mental health issues 

December 11 - Royal breaks her silence on Instagram to wish her twins Jacques and Gabriella a happy seventh birthday

December 24 - Princess Charlene of Monaco is still 'months from recovery' but will reunite with Prince Albert and their twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriela for Christmas at treatment centre

2022: ROAD TO RECOVERY

January 25 - Princess Charlene celebrates her 44th birthday alone: Royal shares slideshow of snaps from happier times featuring Prince Albert, their children and her swimming career as she continues to receive treatment outside of Monaco

March 14 - Palace announces that Charlene is back in Monaco but will take time to 'further strengthen her health before gradually resuming her official duties'

April 17 - Charlene is pictured for the first time in a family portrait to celebrate Easter

April 30 - Charlene makes her first public appearance since leaving a treatment facility as she attends Monaco E-Prix with Prince Albert

May 7 - The royal makes her second public appearance at the Sainte Dévote Rugby Tournament 

May 10 - French media claims Prince Albert has agreed to pay his wife £10million a year to make sure she fulfils her consort role 

May 25 - Princess Charlene continues her return to public life at Monte Carlo Fashion Awards with daughter Princess Gabriella 

May 28 - Princess Charlene continues her return to public life as she joins Prince Albert at F1 in Monaco for the first time since 2019 

June 6 - Prince Albert says he was hurt by the 'vicious' rumours about his wife's absence from Monaco and his family 'missed the princess a lot' 

June 16 - Princess Charlene appears sombre in all-black ensemble for Catholic festival 

June 18 - Princess Charlene of Monaco looks glamorous in all-green ensemble as she steps out with Prince Albert for the Monte Carlo TV Festival opening ceremony 

June 23 - Albert and Charlene attend a science exhibition opening with their children in Oslo - her first overseas visit since returning to public duties

July 4 - Albert and Charlene! Monaco royals hold hands in new portrait to mark 11 years of marriage

July 5 - Charlene visits the Princess Grace Hospital Centre in her first solo engagement since her return to Monaco 

July 9 - Albert attends Monaco's Rose Ball without his wife, despite it being the highlight of the social calendar

July 18 - Royal joins Prince Albert at the 73rd Red Cross Gala in Monte Carlo 

July 20 - Couple visit The Vatican for a private audience with Pope Francis 

September 4 - Charlene joins Prince Albert and their children Gabriella and Jacques for a rare family appearance at traditional picnic in Monaco 

September 6 - Princess Charlene and Prince Albert of Monaco take their twins Jacques and Gabriella, 7, to class for their first day back after the summer holiday

September 12 - Couple attend a memorial service for the late Queen Elizabeth II

September 19 - Princess Charlene attends the Queen's funeral in London alongside her husband Prince Albert 

October 4-5 - Princess Charlene wows on a solo surprise visit to Paris Fashion Week

October 21 - Princess Charlene of Monaco makes emotional solo visit to an animal shelter as she sends 'all her love' to fans following her return to royal duties

November 8 - Royal couple attend the annual Princess Grace Awards in New York 

November 16 - Princess Charlene attends Monaco's Red Cross Christmas gift distribution with Prince Albert 

November 19-20 - Princess Charlene attends Monaco National Day celebrations with Prince Albert and presents awards at 2022 World Rugby Awards ceremony

December 2 - Princess Charlene takes her seven-year-old twins to Monaco Christmas village along with her model niece Charlotte Casiraghi

December 13 - Attends Monaco's Red Cross Christmas gift distribution with her husband Prince Albert 

December 14 - Family attend Christmas tree ceremony in Monaco 

December 15 - Princess Charlene of Monaco reveals she feels 'much better' and has 'much more energy' after lengthy health crisis in an interview with Monaco Matin - the first since returning to royal duties

December 21 - Royals release a stylish family Christmas card

December 23 - 'Proud' Prince Albert praises Princess Charlene for 'turning it around in an incredible way' after lengthy health crisis, saying she had a 'very tough year' 

Upon her return to the principality, Albert claimed she was 'overwhelmed' and 'unwell' and had to check into a private clinic in Switzerland to be treated for 'exhaustion'. 

Speaking to People magazine at the time, Albert said the family reunion in Monaco initially went 'pretty well' in the first few hours, but it then became 'pretty evident' that Charlene was 'unwell.'

He said the former Olympian 'realised she needed help', adding: 'She was overwhelmed and couldn't face official duties, life in general or even family life.'

The Monegasque royals appeared to be enjoying the event together, with Charlene putting her arm around her husband at one point and leaning in towards him as he was speaking.

Whilst she was able to mask any awkwardness, Charlene may well have been anxious about bumping into Prince Albert's former mistress, who was also in attendance on Sunday. 

Earlier in the day, Nicole Coste - who dated Albert in secret for seven years and shares a son with the royal - posted on her Instagram that she would be attending the event. 

The fashion designer, who met the royal while working as a flight attendant in 1997, shared a photo of herself dressed in a white trench coat and admiring the view from the venue.

Aligning herself with the Ferrari team, Nicole gushed: 'We are waiting for the victory of Charles Leclerc the the country’s child. Loving this jacket!'

The Monegasque royals appeared to be enjoying the event together with Charlene putting her arm around her husband at one point

The Monegasque royals appeared to be enjoying the event together with Charlene putting her arm around her husband at one point

Charlene beamed as she embraced Leclerc as he took to the podium to claim his trophy

Charlene beamed as she embraced Leclerc as he took to the podium to claim his trophy 

Prince Albert, 66, looked on as his stunning wife, a former Olympian swimmer, posed for the cameras

Prince Albert, 66, looked on as his stunning wife, a former Olympian swimmer, posed for the cameras 

Prince Albert prepared to open a huge bottle of champagne to congratulate Leclerc

Prince Albert prepared to open a huge bottle of champagne to congratulate Leclerc 

Both Princess Charlene and Prince Albert were beaming as Leclerc sprayed his teammates with the champagne

Both Princess Charlene and Prince Albert were beaming as Leclerc sprayed his teammates with the champagne 

Later, Carlos Sainz, the Spanish Ferarri driver who came in third place, sprayed his teammate, winner Leclerc, with champagne

Later, Carlos Sainz, the Spanish Ferarri driver who came in third place, sprayed his teammate, winner Leclerc, with champagne 

The smiling Monegasque royals shared a sweet moment when Prince Albert held onto his wife's wrist

The smiling Monegasque royals shared a sweet moment when Prince Albert held onto his wife's wrist 

Princess Charlene looked every the glamorous royal in her large Louis Vuitton sunglasses
Her cropped hair was impeccably styled for the event

With her cropped hair impeccably styled for the event, Princess Charlene looked every inch the glamorous royal in her large Louis Vuitton sunglasses 

At times, however, the royal couple appeared less affable with one another

At times, however, the royal couple appeared less affable with one another

Princess Charlene, herself a former sportswoman, appeared excited to shake hands with some of the drivers

Princess Charlene, herself a former sportswoman, appeared excited to shake hands with some of the drivers

Albert and Nicole's liaison became the best-kept secret in Monaco society. Although they both attended red carpet events and mixed with socialites and celebrities, the majority of Albert's subjects knew nothing of the relationship.

Ahead of her 2011 wedding to Prince Albert, Charlene reportedly fell out with Nicole after she put her step-son Alexandre up in the Palace's staff wing.

While she has previously had a frosty relationship with Albert too - claiming he 'doesn't want to see his son' - she has recently lavished praise on the monarch.

On his birthday, Nicole shared a photo with him. The caption read: 'Happy birthday Albert. The world will recognise you as The Loyal, the Dignity, the KING'.

In November 2022, she shared another shot of Albert with Alexandre and Jazmin in New York, New York, with the cheeky caption: ' Paternally king'.

The Monaco royals were further rattled earlier this year when Prince Albert's former accountant made a string of allegations about their finances. 

He claimed that Princess Charlene hired illegal immigrants on less than £90-a-day while her personal spending allowance rocketed to more than £1million-a-year.

The Monegasque royals made a handsome couple in their smart attire and chic sunglasses

The Monegasque royals made a handsome couple in their smart attire and chic sunglasses 

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene looked more serious when they were having a private moment together

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene looked more serious when they were having a private moment together

The elegant princess clapped from the podium as she watched the race while Prince Albert also looked on admiringly

The elegant princess clapped from the podium as she watched the race while Prince Albert also looked on admiringly 

Princess Charlene's designer jumpsuit, which cinched in at the waist, was double-breasted with wide-leg trousers

Princess Charlene's designer jumpsuit, which cinched in at the waist, was double-breasted with wide-leg trousers

The stunning princess wore only subtle make-up for the occasion, allowing her natural beauty to shine through

The stunning princess wore only subtle make-up for the occasion, allowing her natural beauty to shine through

Charlene leaned in as her husband, who sported dark sunglasses and an event cap, was speaking

Charlene leaned in as her husband, who sported dark sunglasses and an event cap, was speaking 

Princess Charlene has shared a sweet photo with her twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella to mark Monaco's Mother's Day

Princess Charlene has shared a sweet photo with her twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella to mark Monaco's Mother's Day

Claude Palmero, 67, was in charge of palace finances for more than two decades but stepped down in July 2023 after he was targeted by an anti-corruption website.

His 'secret notebooks' detailing the spending of the Monaco royal family have now been shared with French newspaper Le Monde, and it was the 'illegal migrants' who made up much of Charlene's full-time personal staff of eight that Mr Palmero was particularly worried about.

'Her Serene Highness the Princess makes people work for her who are not compliant,' Mr Palmero warned Prince Albert, also referring to 'a moonlighting Filipino woman who ties up dogs in the shower.'

In a letter written in January 2017, he said another employee from the Philippines had been 'illegal for five years', despite solely being on a one-month tourist visa.

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