Where is Princess Charlene? Prince Albert admits that she is not in Monaco

The Monaco prince revealed his wife is staying at an undisclosed location, away from him and their young children. He said: "She is better but she still needs rest and peace. She is not in the Principality but we will be able to visit her very soon. I cannot tell you more out of discretion.

"There is tiredness, not just physical, which can only be treated with a period of rest and monitoring."

Princess Charlene was forced to remain in South Africa for ten months, after picking up an Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) infection on a trip to visit her homeland.

Her husband said the couple’s two children, six-year-old twins, had "suffered from the absence of the mother", but insisted he had stepped up to fill the void.

Albert said: "For me, it's pretty simple – my priority is my family.

"This is an extremely important time in [the children's] life – the way they grow up helps them see the world."

"And if one of the parents is away for medical reasons, the other parent has to be there.

"I have heard too many friends and acquaintances telling me that they wish they had been there for their children, at a certain age, taken up by their work or their professional life.

"I don't want to have these regrets."

When asked by Monaco Matin if the children had been "more protected" as a result of their mother's absence, the 63-year-old royal said: "They should be protected in general, but of course they suffered from the absence of their mother.

"But they had enough distractions and a family circle that made sure they were not lacking in affection."

Just after Princess Charlene's return to Monaco, her sister-in-law Chantell Wittstock told the MailOnline the 43-year-old princess may not be returning to the palace.

Ms Wittstock also said Charlene did not plan to immediately return to public engagements.

However, she later retracted the remarks.

The Princess had previously been living in a modest two-bedroom apartment, rather than in the royal palace.

There has been speculation that the Princess would return to this property, with Ms Whitstock saying: "She'll probably be commuting between the two, wherever she's comfortable.

"And none of that is clear yet where she'll be settling or anything like that.

"I mean, she only just arrived back, so it's everybody finding their feet.

"The Princess is very excited to see her kids and they're very excited to see their mom again.

"So we'll see where she'll be settling. But it will be with her husband and her children."

Charlene was unable to fly home from South Africa under doctors' orders, due to her inner pressure being unable to "equalise" as a result of the ENT infection.

She had originally flown out to South Africa to take part in an anti-poaching wildlife mission for the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation.

This was the Princess's second visit to South Africa his year, travelling previously for the funeral of King Goodwill Zwelithini of the Zulu nation.