Princess Charlene of Monaco has finally returned to the principality after spending most of this year on an extended stay in South Africa away from her husband Prince Albert and their children.
The 43-year-old was seen disembarking a private jet at Nice airport this morning before she boarded a helicopter to fly to the Prince's Palace in Monaco.
Pictures posted on Instagram later showed Charlene embracing her husband as they posed for photos with their seven-year-old twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella in what was described as a "reunion filled with joy and emotion".
The caption said: "On Monday November 8 in the early morning, HSH Prince Albert II, accompanied by HSH Princess Stéphanie as well as Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella welcomed HSH Princess Charlene to the Principality of Monaco. A reunion filled with joy and emotion."
Charlene travelled to South Africa in March for a conservation trip but her prolonged absence from Monaco had seen her and Albert face calls to reveal if their marriage was on the rocks following rumours all was not well in their relationship.
According to the Telegraph, her trip to South Africa came shortly after reports surfaced that her husband, 63, was facing a paternity suit after being accused of fathering a love child early in their relationship. He already has two children out of wedlock.
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Charlene, 43, failed to return to Monaco to celebrate her 10th anniversary with her husband in July but said she wasn't allowed to travel due to a "serious" ear, nose and throat infection and has since had several surgeries.
In August, Albert flew out to South Africa with the couple's children and they posted images of themselves enjoying time as a family on social media.
But despite the pictures, French media questioned their relationship, with respected Madame Figaro magazine asking: "How long will Albert II of Monaco go on bearing this affront, which is becoming ridiculous?"
Later, both Charlene and Albert vehemently denied the rumours about their marriage, with Albert telling PEOPLE in September: "She didn't leave Monaco in a huff! She didn't leave because she was mad at me or at anybody else. She was going down to South Africa to reassess her Foundation's work down there and to take a little time off with her brother and some friends.
"It was only supposed to be a week-long, 10-day maximum stay, and [she is still there now] because she had this infection all these medical complications arose.
"She didn't go into exile. It was absolutely just a medical problem which had to be treated."
While Charlene told a South African TV news channel: "Albert is my rock and strength and without his love and support I would not have been able to get through this painful time."
Albert and Charlene met in 2000 - the same year Charlene represented South Africa in the Sydney Olympics in swimming.
They married in July 2011 but there were reports before they tied the knot that she tried to leave Monaco and return to South Africa. The Palace dismissed the claims as "ugly rumours".
The couple also spent their first days of the marriage apart with the pair staying in separate hotels in the South African city of Durban - due to Albert attending a meeting of the International Olympic Committee.
The palace later said they made up for their time apart on a secret honeymoon - thought to have been in Mozambique. Three years later Charlene gave birth to twins Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella.
In the past, she has spoken about missing her native South Africa.
She told Eyewitness News : "I am African and this is my heritage. It will always be. It’s in my heart and in my veins.
"I have the privilege of having this life, but I miss my family and my friends in South Africa and I'm often sad because I cannot always be there for them."
