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According to reports, Princess Charlene is staying at a treatment facility “outside of Monaco”.

Prince Albert has stated that she is suffering from “profound exhaustion, both emotional and physical”.

Then there are those ‘palace insiders’ who say that she’s actually gone to a drug rehab facility with rumours that she’s had a years-long struggle with cocaine.

Either way, all is not well with the former South African Olympic swimmer and there has been much conjecture surrounding the happiness (or lack thereof) in her marriage to Prince Albert.

That has been the case for years and allegations about her attempts to escape Monaco in the build-up to her 2011 wedding have resurfaced.

Marie Claire with the basics:

According to reports, Princess Charlene tried to escape Monaco three times in the run-up to their July wedding, but was stopped every time.

The first attempt reportedly took place after news broke that Prince Albert had a love child conceived during his relationship with Charlene.

The now Princess of Monaco was reportedly at a bridal gown fitting in Paris when the news broke the May before their wedding, and according to Le Journal du Dimanche, she ‘took refuge’ in the South African embassy.

If one compiled a list of the worst possible times to find out about your partner’s love child, a bridal gown fitting would be right up there.

The second attempt is reported to have taken place during the 2010 Monaco Grand Prix, resulting in her passport being taken away by members of  Prince Albert’s entourage.

The third alleged escape attempt reportedly took place two days before their July wedding. According to Le Journal du Dimanche, Princess Charlene booked a one-way ticket home to South Africa but was intercepted on her way to Nice and persuaded to stay for the three-day wedding.

That lavish wedding went ahead but an emotional Charlene did little to quell the rumours.

You’ll find many photos of her looking teary:

Image: The Daily Mail

Image: AP

To be fair there are also many where the couple looks delighted:

Image: Dan Kitwood / Getty Images

Both the Palace and Charlene have always denied reports of escape attempts. An official statement from the former saying “we think it comes from utter jealousy”.

Charlene, who has called the allegations “categorical lies”,  said that the day “was just so overwhelming and there were all the mixed emotions because of the rumours”.

[source:marieclaire]