Prince Albert acknowledges that his relationship with Princess Charlene did not begin as love at first sight, amidst divorce speculations.

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco did not experience love at first sight.

The couple met in 2000 but didn't start a relationship until 2005. They eventually got married in 2011.

Albert, 66, confessed to Paris Match that he is unsure if he and Charlene, 46, fell in love during that time.

"The royal stated, "After that encounter, I didn't see Charlene for several years. I believed she was an outstanding swimmer and had a friendly, cheerful, and approachable demeanor.""

At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Charlene, a South African Olympic swimmer, met her future husband.

"We had a great time," Albert shared. "I must admit, I got her into a bit of trouble because I didn't get her home on time."

Since 2006, the pair has been plagued by split rumors despite going public with their budding romance.

In 2021, the gossip intensified when Charlene was hospitalized with complications from a serious sinus infection. She spent most of the year in South Africa, which sparked numerous conspiracy theories.

Both Charlene and Albert have attempted to debunk the breakup claims.

"I don’t know if we fell in love back then." — Prince Albert of Monaco

Charlene stated in a South African outlet, as reported by OK! Magazine, that there are no issues in her marriage and the rumors are draining and exhausting.

"She stated that she couldn't comprehend the source of their actions, as it seemed to her that certain media or individuals were pushing for division."

In May 2021, while the princess was in South Africa supporting her foundation's wildlife efforts, her health deteriorated. The visit, which was supposed to last 10 days, was cut short due to complications from an ENT procedure, grounding her for six months.

Several days after their initial visit, Albert and their children returned to see the princess. Charlene shared their trip on Instagram.

In November of that year, Charlene returned to Monaco after several corrective surgeries, but soon after landing, the princess displayed signs of emotional and physical exhaustion. After consulting her doctors, it was decided that she would receive medical treatment at a facility outside of Monaco.

Prince Albert, the son of Grace Kelly, has always felt a sense of responsibility to protect the late star.

The press quickly sparked rumors of an impending split after Charlene missed the couple's 10th anniversary. Paris Match reported that Charlene had "no intention of returning" to Monaco, while Bunte claimed Charlene was house-hunting near Johannesburg.

The rumors intensified when Albert attended the 2021 Tokyo Olympics solo.

When Albert was later photographed with his son Alexandre Grimaldi, daughter Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, and his ex-wife Nicole Coste, Alexandre, who was celebrating his 20th birthday, more gossip was unleashed.

At the time, a spokesperson for the royal did not immediately respond to Planet Chronicle Digital's request for comment. Her charity page is still live.

In 2006, Albert publicly acknowledged his first child, Jazmin, but stated that he wanted to safeguard her identity at the time.

The twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, are first and second in line to the throne in Monaco.

The marriage of Prince Albert and Princess Charlene was always seen as problematic from the start, according to Christopher Andersen, author of "The King," who shared this with Planet Chronicle Digital.

Andersen claimed that there were rumors that Charlene had serious doubts and wanted to call off the wedding.

Albert has spoken out about the hurtful allegations spread by tabloids.

The prince stated in an interview with People magazine that his wife did not depart from Monaco in a huff. He explained that she left to reevaluate her foundation's work in South Africa and to spend some time off with her brother and friends.

"She was supposed to stay for a week, but ended up with an infection and medical complications. It wasn't a matter of going into exile; it was simply a medical issue that needed to be addressed."

Albert admitted that he "probably should have addressed" the gossip sooner.

"He said, "I was focused on taking care of the kids, and I thought it would just probably disappear. Responding to everything that comes out can be a waste of time. Of course, it affects both of us. Misinterpreting events can always have negative consequences. We're often in the public eye, making us an easy target for criticism.""

Hilary Fordwich, a British royals expert, shared with Planet Chronicle Digital that there are valuable lessons to be gleaned from the experience of Charlene and Albert.

The toll of holding a high-profile role and facing international press and social media scrutiny is evident in Princess Charlene's ailments and marital situation, as she pointed out.

Grace Kelly's son, Albert, caused concern among some due to his prolonged bachelorhood and the absence of an heir since his two previous children were born out of wedlock and therefore ineligible for the throne.

In 2002, Monaco's parliament amended its constitution to enable the transfer of royal power from a childless reigning prince to his siblings, thereby securing the continuation of the Grimaldi dynasty.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.