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Prince Albert II of Monaco looked statesman-like as he signed the Golden Book on a visit to the German town of Bremen today.
The Prince, who has recently celebrated his 11th wedding anniversary with Princess Charlene, is on a visit to the northern German town until Friday.
He will be attending the 14th International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS), which will see more than 1,000 scientists from 90 countries gather to discuss the threats to coral reefs from climate change, pollution and overfishing.
The Prince is hard at work again after spending the weekend celebrating his anniversary following a difficult year in which the couple spent several months apart.
Hard at work! Prince Albert II of Monaco, 64, met with politicians and officials in Bremen, north Germany, at the opening of the International Coral Reef Symposium today
The 64-year-old signed the Golden Book at the town hall in Bremen during his first day in the town (pictured)
The Prince is hard at work again after spending the weekend celebrating his anniversary following a difficult year in which he and Charlene spent several months apart
Returning to work today, Prince Albert shook off any rumours about his marriage and threw himself into a cause he is passionate about – combating climate change.
Over the last 15 years the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has invested nearly £82million into around 700 projects that focus on limiting the effects of climate change.
In 2018 he described global warming as ‘one of the greatest challenges our planet is facing’.
Speaking to the UN’s Environment Patron for the Polar Regions, Slava Fetisov, he said: ‘We need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote renewable energies and improve energy efficiency.’
Prince Albert, a billionaire in his own right, has long been an advocate of combating climate change
The Prince has previously described climate change as ‘one of the greatest challenges our planet is facing’
Prince Albert received a print of the Bremen Town Musicians by German actor Armin Mueller-Stahl on his arrival in Bremen today
Prince Albert appeared in good spirits as he attended the event earlier this afternoon in Germany
The Prince pledged that Monaco would ‘contribute fully to the common effort’ of combating climate change and set out plans to make the principality carbon-neutral by 2050.
While Prince Albert wants to keep the focus on his Foundation’s work, many Royal fans have speculated about his personal life over the last year as Princess Charlene was absent in her native South Africa for 10 months.
At the weekend, they took to Instagram to share a new portrait together to mark their wedding anniversary.
The couple, who share seven-year-old twins Jacques and Gabriella, tied the knot in a civil wedding on July 1, 2011. A religious ceremony was held the following day and a two-day national holiday was declared.
Last year, to mark their 10th anniversary, the couple shared a series of slickly-produced videos celebrating their relationship.
This year it was a far more low-key affair, with Charlene, 44, and Albert, 64, sharing just a single photograph.
The portrait shows the couple standing hand-in-hand in a beautiful garden. Charlene wears a stunning seafoam green gown while Albert is dapper in suit and tie.
Crown Prince Haakon, Prince Albert II, Princess Charlene, Prince Jacques, Princess Gabriella, Opening of the ‘Sailing the Sea of Science’ exhibition at the Frammuseum in Oslo on June 22
She then did a stint in a treatment facility for ‘exhaustion’ – but she has recently resumed public appearances and Royal engagements.
In May, She made her first appearance with her family since November and has since joined her husband and children at a TV festival, religious ceremonies and a royal visit to Norway.
During their time apart Prince Albert said he was ‘hurt by the vicious rumours’ spread about his marriage.
French media has claimed Charlene is receiving £10million a year to appear by her husband’s side at public outings.
Leading French media reported the ruler of the tax haven Mediterranean principality was doing everything possible to keep Charlene ‘at his side at public events’.
Major French outlets that specialise in celebrity news said Charlene’s sudden re-appearance was welcomed by all Royal watchers.
‘But the Princess did not return at any price,’ magazine Voici reported. ‘She would have had her husband sign an ultra-confidential contract.’
The revelations were followed up by rival publication Paris Match Belgium, which writes: ‘Prince Albert would himself pay a tidy sum to the princess so that she appears at his side at public events.’
The Royal Palace in Monte Carlo refuses to discuss specific financial arrangements, but the principality pays out some £40m a year to cover the institution’s running costs.
Royals are not salaried officials, however, meaning that Charlene would be reliant on Albert – a billionaire in his own right – for her own spending money.
Princess Charlene of Monaco attended the 61st Monte Carlo TV Festival with her husband Prince Albert (pictured) on June 17
Prince Albert recently said he was ‘hurt by the vicious rumours’ peddled about his marriage following his wife’s 10-month long absence from Monaco and said that it’s the ‘most beautiful thing’ to have Princess Charlene back with him. Pictured, at the Monaco F1 on May 29
A Royal insider based in Monte Carlo told Mail Online: ‘Of course the Princess enjoys huge perks, but ready cash is not guaranteed.
‘She’s been through a very difficult time, so it would make sense for Charlene to try and secure her own guaranteed income.’
Prince Albert said the time apart was ‘a test for his wife’ but they ‘spoke often, despite the distance.
Charlene first had a 10-month absence in her native South Africa, where she contracted and was hospitalised for a serious sinus infection that delayed her return to Monaco.
After her return to the principality in November, Charlene left almost immediately to receive treatment for ‘exhaustion’ at a Swiss clinic.
The Monaco palace has consistently denied media reports of a rift between Charlene and the principality’s ruler Prince Albert, who were wed in 2011, following the Princess’ long absence.
Speaking to French Sunday paper Journal de Dimanche last month, Albert said the last year was ‘a test for my wife especially, who suffered greatly and lived through difficult times, far from her family. A test also for our children and for myself.
‘We missed the princess a lot. And we were obviously hurt by the malicious rumours that were peddled. But we were able to stay united despite the distance, we spoke to each other often.’
He added: ‘Today, Charlene is back with us and this is the most beautiful thing which could have happened. She’s better, we can finally spend time together. It is a relief and a joy for all of us.’
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