Princess Charlene has been absent from quite a few events in Monaco recently. There's nothing suspicious about it on its face.
Charlene traveled to South Africa, where she was born, in mid-May to do a few days of conservation work. She was due back in time for the Monaco Grand Prix, where she was slated as the guest of honor. She missed the event, however, after it was revealed she had developed a throat infection that wasn't allowing her to travel.
It's been about three weeks, and Charlene has still not returned to Monaco. Prince Albert has been seen keeping up with his calendar, as well as taking their kids out and about. People are now questioning whether the situation with her health is graver than initially positioned or if this is may be another attempt to escape.
Princess Charlene of Monaco scheduled a trip to South Africa in mid-May, leaving sometime around the 19th. It's not unusual for Charlene to travel to South Africa, as that's where she's originally from. This time, the trip was for conservation work and set to be just a few days.
Charlene was set to be back in time for the Grand Prix, an event at which she would have been guest of honor. The morning of the event, however, it was announced that Princess Charlene was still in South Africa and would not be in attendance.
The royals released a statement explaining her absence. "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 statement read.
"Unfortunately, she will not be able to attend the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix. 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."
The Grand Prix was about two weeks ago, and Charlene has still not returned from South Africa. People also criticized her posting what seemed like active photos from her time there, though the photos could be from before she became ill.
Many began to speculate that Charlene could be making another escape attempt. Famously, she attempted to flee Monaco before her royal wedding to Prince Albert, allegedly after learning of his third love child. She would try to escape a few times before the nuptials, to the point which her passport was allegedly held from her.
Some fans thought this might be another escape attempt and that Monaco's royal family was trying to keep it quiet. Charlene hasn't publicly been seen in Monaco since January.
It seems like they're working toward putting an end to that theory, however. It appears Prince Albert and their two children have now joined Charlene in South Africa. She shared a photo of the three on safari.
If this is business as usual, Charlene will likely leave with her family in the following days. Some still can't shake the feeling, however, that she will not return and is looking for a path forward that's happy and healthy for her kids.
