WATCH: Princess Charlene of Monaco finally returns home to her family
|Published
After an extended stay in South Africa following health issues Princess Charlene of Monaco returned home on Sunday evening. His Royal Highness Misuzulu kaZwelithini and Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco, as she bids SA farewell. Picture: Supplied.
DURBAN - After an extended stay in South Africa following health issues, Princess Charlene of Monaco returned home Sunday evening.
Princess Charlene arrived in South Africa earlier this year to work and raise public awareness around various humanitarian causes.
A statement today said the princess had recovered well, is healthy, and is looking forward to reuniting with her family.
“Unfortunately, during her stay, the former Olympic swimmer and founder of The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation South Africa fell ill and was hospitalised many times after contracting an ENT infection. Due to the medical procedures, she was prohibited from travelling by air, which resulted in her extended stay in the country,” it said.
The princess said SA has – and always will be – in her heart.
“Every time I visit this beautiful country, I am filled with immense joy and pride. I want to thank everyone for being so hospitable and supportive during my time here. I am looking forward to reuniting with my six-year-old twins, Jacques and Gabriella, and husband, Prince Albert,” she said.
According to the statement, the princess’s extra time in South Africa, however, was put to good use.
Since being in the country, Princess Charlene was involved with her Foundation initiatives, with a particular focus on #chasingzero, #educate2gether, and #feed2gether.
Speaking out against the atrocity of wildlife poaching and doing something about it before it’s too late is something Princess Charlene is exceptionally passionate about, it said.
Through the Chasing Zero Initiative, the Princess was involved with various conservation operations such as rhino monitoring and tracking, deployment with the Anti-Poaching Unit, educational wildlife photography sessions, and a White Rhino dart and de-horning exercise in KwaZulu-Natal.
Following the great success of the 2020 #strongtogether campaign, Princess Charlene announced the launch of their theme for 2021 – #educate2gether.
She implemented the “Learn to Swim” and “Water Safety” programmes aimed, in particular, at disadvantaged children who are at risk of drowning due to their environment.
Through The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation South Africa, she also joined hands with the Louis Oosthuizen Foundation57’s iPapa57 Feeding the Children programme to raise funds to produce specially formulated maize products for children between the ages of three and five.
Currently, the iPapa57 programme feeds between 460 and 480 children at 18 SmartStart Early Childhood Development (ECD) community centres in the Mossel Bay area.
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