Princess Charlene, Prince Albert, Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques.Photo: Eric Mathon / Courtesy Prince’s Palace

Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Charlene of Monaco, Princess Gabriella and Hereditary Prince Jacques attend the ABB FIA Formula E Championship - Monaco E-Prix Round 6 on April 30, 2022 in Monaco, Monaco. Eric Mathon / Courtesy of Prince’s Palace

Monaco’sPrincess Charleneappeared alongside her family on Saturday, marking her first public appearance in months.

The royal joined her husbandPrince Albertand their 7-year-old twins,Prince JacquesandPrincess Gabriella, at the Monaco E-Prix. The former Olympian participated in the trophy presentations and posed while photographers swarmed the podium. As one local newspaper put it, Charlene’s return to public activities “was an event awaited in the principality for many, many months.”

Dressed sleekly in a tailored gray suit and debuting a short, platinum hairstyle, Charlene spent the majority of her time playing with Princess Gabriella. The mother-daughter pair not only presented the 2nd place trophy to Jaguar’s Mitch Hunt but had arms around each other throughout the awards ceremony.

Eric Mathon / Courtesy Prince’s Palace

Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Charlene of Monaco, Princess Gabriella and Hereditary Prince Jacques attend the ABB FIA Formula E Championship - Monaco E-Prix Round 6 on April 30, 2022 in Monaco, Monaco. Eric Mathon / Courtesy of Prince’s Palace

Prince Jacques and Prince Albert, 64, then presented the 1st place trophy to Mercedes driver Stoffel Vandoorne (DS Techeetah’s Jean-Eric Vergne placed 3rd).

The Monaco E-Prix event, which marks the beginning of Monaco’s racing season, wasCharlene’s first public appearancein over a year.

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She first became ill while in South Africa last May for what was planned as a brief 10-day visit to her home country. However, complications from a previous ENT proceduregrounded her for six months. A series of painful corrective surgeries and a subsequent relapsedelayed her return to Monacountil late 2021.

Prince Albert II of Monaco, Princess Charlene of Monaco, Princess Gabriella and Hereditary Prince Jacques attend the ABB FIA Formula E Championship - Monaco E-Prix Round 6 on April 30, 2022 in Monaco, Monaco. Eric Mathon / Courtesy of Prince’s Palace

Upon her return, Charlene exhibited signs of exhaustion and decided to seek medical assistance. It was clear “she was unwell and felt uncomfortable,” a palace source told PEOPLE.

Charlene’s promised resumption of her public role was signaled two weeks ago with the release of afamily Easter portraitthat was taken in the palace gardens.

source: people.com