Princess Charlene of Monaco joins husband Prince Albert and their children, Jacques and Isabella, to celebrate his 20-year reign

Daily Mail​

6 days ago

The Prince and Princess of Monaco were pictured beaming alongside their two children during a ceremony to mark the Head of State's 20-year reign.
Prince Albert, 67, and his wife Charlene, 47, were accompanied by their 10-year-old twins, Crown Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, as the royal family celebrated the joyous occasion at the Palace Square in the principality.
The royal couple looked to be in good spirits despite ongoing speculation about the state of their marriage, including how the glamourous mother-of-two sought solace from the French president's wife, Brigitte Macron, following whispers of marital misery.
Yesterday the glowing couple appeared to put all controversy behind them as they posed lovingly in a series of sweet snaps to commemorate the day he was bestowed power following the death of his father, Prince Rainier III in July 2005.
In one image, the Prince could be seen leaning over to plant a sweet peck on his wife's face, while in another the doting father made the same gesture towards his young daughter.
Princess Charlene looked elegant in a baby pink dress and the stylish royal teamed the look with a pair of dazzling white pointed heels, while her make-up was pared back with only a touch of eye shadow and a rose pink lip.
Meanwhile her blonde hair was delicately coiffured with a middle parting and tucked behind her ears.
Equally impressing was her mini-me Prince Jacques who was the spitting image of his mother in a sharp navy blue suit and matching tie.
He perhaps took a style note from his powerful father, who also donned a full blue suit.
The prince looked exceedingly sharp in a royal blue blazer with matching trousers, a pressed white shirt, stripy red tie and polished black leather loafers.
Princess Gabriella looked as marvellous as her mother in a white dress and matching slippers.
Her hair was styled with a thick plait and a gorgeous white flower ornament which was pinned above the right side of her forehead.
The happy family were also accompanied by members of the Princière family who joined them for a series of photos to mark the prestige occasion.
Prince Albert also addressed the people of Monégasque during a speech of thanks, of which the large crowd captured the memorable moment using camera phones.
In one image the family stood together to cut a grandiose red and white cake, which they offered to happy guests.
In another, the family of four could be seen walking around the square to greet the excited crowds.
Earlier this month, Prince Albert celebrated his 14th wedding anniversary - when he tied the knot with the then Charlene Wittstock in two lavish wedding ceremonies that cost a combined total £53million.
With a glittering 850-strong guest list that included Sir Roger Moore and Prince Edward, the religious ceremony on July 2 followed the civil nuptials a day earlier.
But even on their wedding day, the controversies that tend to follow the Monegasque Royal Family appeared.
The couple's uneasy kiss - and the fact that at one moment Charlene was in tears - perhaps betrayed the trouble that had already taken place and the further angst that was to come.
Days before the big day, rumours began to circulate that Charlene had tried to flee the country on three occasions with a one-way ticket to Johannesburg.
A Parisian news magazine reported that Charlene had been stopped at Nice airport after allegedly learning a 'distressing' revelation about her future husband's private life.
A senior Monaco detective claimed at the time: 'Charlene had her passport confiscated so that the Prince's entourage could persuade her to stay.'
The rumour mill in France went into overdrive. Charlene had, it was suggested, heard talk of an illegitimate child, allegedly conceived when she was dating Prince Albert in 2005.
But the Princess would go on to dismiss the 'hilarious' rumours. She said: 'Why would he go through all this effort to have our dearest friends come join us, for us to be reluctant?'
And they spent the first night of their honeymoon in South Africa - the nation that Zimbabwe-born Charlene represented at the Olympics during her swimming career - in separate hotels.
Prince Albert has also fathered several love children - two of which the prince has acknowledged.
Meanwhile, Princess Charlene has been known to disappear from the public eye on multiple occasions, reportedly due to 'deep fatigue'.
The princess took a prolonged medical hiatus in South Africa which saw her spend most of 2021 away from her husband and children.
This meant she missed the seventh birthdays of her twins - Jacques and Gabriella - and her tenth wedding anniversary.
Charlene also travelled to a Swiss clinic that allegedly specialises in mental health and addiction issues.
In May, the royals joined other Catholic monarchs including the King and Queen of Spain and Belgium for an audience with Pope Leo XIV.
Princess Charlene along with Queen Letizia of Spain and Queen Mathilde of Belgium are allowed to wear white in front of the Pope because of their faith.
They are each one of only seven women in the world who have 'the privilege of the white'.
Called 'le privilege du blanc' in French or 'il privilegio del bianco' in Italian, the special tradition is extended solely to designated Catholic queens and princesses and is reserved for important events at the Vatican, such as private audiences, canonisations, beatifications, and special masses.
Normal protocol for papal audiences requires that ladies wear a long black dress with a high collar and long sleeves and a black mantilla.