Princess Charlene of Monaco cuts a glamorous figure at the principality's Formula 1 Grand Prix on Sunday
- Princess Charlene opted for a stylish, double-breasted jumpsuit by Louis Vuitton
- READ MORE: Princess Charlene risks awkward run-in with Prince Albert's ex-mistress Nicole Coste at Grand Prix after posting solo picture with Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella to mark Monaco Mother's Day
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
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)
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 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 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
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
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
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.
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
