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Princess Charlene will not attend Monaco's National Day - palace confirms

The royal, 43, has battled with poor health

charlene national day
Danielle Stacey
Online Royal CorrespondentLondon
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Princess Charlene will not attend Monaco's National Day with Prince Albert on Friday 19 November to allow her "time to recover" from her recent "poor health".

The Palais Princier released a statement on Tuesday ahead of festivities, which read: "Their Serene Highnesses have both decided that a period of calm and rest is necessary to ensure the very best recovery for Princess Charlene's health. 

"Having battled with poor health over the past few months, the Princess is currently convalescing and will continue to do so for the coming weeks, allowing her time to recover from a state of profound general fatigue. In order to protect the comfort and privacy essential to her recovery, the Princess' location will remain strictly confidential."

READ: Prince Albert travels to Dubai without Princess Charlene

WATCH: Princess Charlene and Prince Albert share highlights from their relationship

It continued: "Due to this situation, the Princely couple regrets to announce that Princess Charlene will be unable to attend this year's Fête Nationale (National Day) celebrations, alongside her family and the people of Monaco. As soon as her health permits, the Princess looks forward to once again carrying out her Princely duties and spending time with the Monegasques

"During this temporary period of rest, the Princely couple kindly requests that their privacy and family environment are well respected. Information on the Princess' health will be communicated in due course, ahead of the Christmas holidays."

Charlene, 43, made her return to Monaco last week after spending six months grounded in South Africa due to an ear-nose-throat (ENT) infection.

She was reunited with her husband and their six-year-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, at Nice airport before travelling home to the Prince's Palace.

RELATED: Princess Charlene and Prince Albert's love story: how they met, and more

MORE: Princess Charlene's shoulder-flashing wedding dress took 2,500 hours to make

charlene albert monaco january 2021© Photo: Getty Images

Charlene's last public engagement in Monaco in January

It comes after Prince Albert had told PEOPLE magazine that he hoped his wife would join him at Dubai's World Expo on 13 November, as well as Monaco's National Day. However, the royal, 63, travelled to Dubai without Charlene over the weekend, attending with his sister, Princess Stephanie, and her son, Louis Ducruet, instead.

There have been reports that Charlene may move into a two-bedroom above an old chocolate factory instead of the Prince's Palace. However, the princess' sister-in-law, Chantell Wittstock, has refuted these claims.

Speaking to South Africa's Channel24 last week, the charity director, who is married to Charlene's brother, Sean Wittstock, said: "The princess is extremely happy to be back home with her family," before reiterating: "She will be staying with her husband and children."

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