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Princess Charlene is back with her family in Monaco as harrowing details emerge of her illness while she was in South Africa

- NICI DE WET

IT WAS a sight the world had been waiting for: Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene’s return to public life, surrounded by her family and looking healthier than she had in months.

Gone was the gaunt woman whose fragile appearance had sparked much concern and speculation about both her physical and mental health – and in its place was a smiling, stylish princess in a tailored dark grey suit, her hair styled in a chic new platinum pixie cut.

The 44-year-old royal was joined by her husband, Prince Albert (64), and their seven-year-old twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, who seemed delighted to have their mom back.

The outing, the Monaco E-Prix – which features electric cars and is a precursor to the Monaco Grand Prix later this month – marked the first time the royal family have been seen together in public since Charlene returned to the principality in March following a four-month stint at a Swiss clinic.

Sources with extremely close ties to the princess tell YOU she’s on the road to recovery. “Charlene is doing much better,” one source says. “She’s put on weight and is in a much better space. She’s still recovering but she’s feeling stronger every day.

“Her main focus up until now has just been to spend time with her children and her husband. She’s missed them terribly.”

The former Olympic swimmer’s bond with her daughter was especially evident as the pair had their arms around each other for most of the event. The royals watched the race and were also present on the podium where Albert and Jacques handed the race winner, Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne of Mercedes, the trophy.