Fancy florals! Princess Charlene of Monaco oozes elegance in a colourful gown as she and husband Prince Albert attend the annual Princess Grace Awards in New York

• Prince Albert of Monaco and Princess Charlene attended a gala in New York 
• Royal couple stole the show as they stepped out at the Princess Grace Awards
• Event is named after Albert’s late mother, Oscar-winning actress Grace Kelly 

Prince Albert of Monaco and Princess Charlene stole the show Thursday night as they attended the annual Princess Grace Awards in New York. 

Dressed in a vibrant floral gown, Charlene, 44, looked every inch the Princess as she joined her dapper husband, 64, to welcome guests to the gala held at 583 Park Avenue.

The event is named after Prince Albert’s late mother, Oscar-winning actress Grace Kelly, and is held annually to raise funds for the US-based Princess Grace Foundation.

The prince acts as vice chairman for the foundation, which recognises and supports emerging talent in theatre, dance and film.

Prince Albert of Monaco and Princess Charlene stole the show Thursday night as they attended the annual Princess Grace Awards in New York

Dressed in a vibrant floral gown, Charlene, 44, looked every inch the Princess as she joined her dapper husband, 64, to welcome guests to the gala held at 583 Park Avenue

Charlene commanded attention in a floor-length, sleeveless gown, featuring an array of colourful florals.

Adding a touch of glitz to her ensemble, she completed her look with a dazzling diamond necklace and matching earrings in the shape of a flower.

Striking up a pose on the red carpet alongside her husband, the beaming princess opted for a smattering of glamorous makeup on her stunning features.

The event is named after Prince Albert’s late mother, Oscar-winning actress Grace Kelly, and is held annually to raise funds for the US-based Princess Grace Foundation. Pictured, Charlene and Albert

The prince acts as vice chairman for the foundation, which recognises and supports emerging talent in theatre, dance and film. Pictured, the royal couple

Charlene and Albert of Monaco greet guests during the 2022 Princess Grace Awards

Zimbabwean-born Charlene has been continuing her return to the world stage after a difficult 18 months – in which she spent some 10 months in South Africa last year, after contracting a serious sinus infection during a solo charity trip.

The illness left her hospitalised and delayed her return to Monaco – and after returning to the principality last November, the mother-of-two almost immediately left and went to Switzerland to receive treatment for ‘exhaustion’.

She returned to public duty in May, making the occasional public appearance with her husband Prince Albert and her children Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella by her side. 

She posed with Albert for a portrait marking their 11th wedding anniversary, and joined him in taking her children back to school in September. 

Charlene commanded attention in a floor-length, sleeveless gown, featuring an array of colourful florals

Adding a touch of glitz to her ensemble, she completed her look with a dazzling diamond necklace and matching earrings in the shape of a flower

A beaming Charlene and Albert are all smiles as they greet guests at the gala in New York

However she made her biggest return to public duty so far when she joined her husband at Queen Elizabeth II’s historic funeral in London, joining 2,000 other mourners  at Westminster Abbey.

The Monaco palace has consistently denied media reports of a rift between Charlene and the principality’s ruler Albert, who were wed in 2011.

However rumours the pair were incompatible were sparked from the outset, with Charlene attracting a barrage of attention over an apparent bad dose of pre-wedding jitters which, reportedly, saw her seeking refuge in her country’s embassy and gaining the moniker ‘the Runaway Bride’.

In December 2020, it seemed the relationship was plagued by rumours, with a third paternity suit emerging. 

The allegations in December 2020 claimed that Albert had fathered a love-child (which would be his third, if proven) with an unnamed Brazilian woman during the time when he and Charlene were already in a relationship.

Striking up a pose on the red carpet alongside her husband, the beaming princess opted for a smattering of glamorous makeup on her stunning features

Charlene, Albert and guests attend the 2022 Princess Grace Awards on Thursday night

The woman said she met the prince in a nightclub in Rio de Janeiro in 2004 — when Charlene and Albert were supposedly dating.

Her daughter, a 15-year-old Brazilian schoolgirl, sent a handwritten note in Portuguese to Prince Albert at the Royal Palace last September.

Albert’s legal team call the allegations ‘a hoax’ and the legal team of the woman concerned declined to comment.

It was due to come to court in Milan in February but never commenced. Some believe the matter has been settled.

Soon after the allegations came to light in December 2020, Charlene famously shaved half her head in the style of a punk rocker. By the spring, she left for South Africa.

Zimbabwean-born Charlene (pictured centre, at the event) has been continuing her return to the world stage after a difficult 18 months

Since re-engaging with royal duties the princess has put to bed rumours of a possible divorce or permanent move to Switzerland. 

In an interview in Monaco-Matin newspaper, she said: ‘I am very happy to be back in Monaco and with my family.’ 

She told the newspaper that she was determined to overcome her problems. 

‘My state of health is still fragile and I don’t want to go too fast,’ she said. ‘The path has been long, difficult and very painful.’

Referring to her and Albert’s twins, Princess Gabriella and Princes Jacques, both seven, Charlene said: ‘When I returned to the Principality, I focused all my energy on my children, my husband and my health because they are my priority.’

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