Princess Charlene of Monaco stuns in a black evening gown as she puts on a united display with Prince Albertto pose with Michelin star chefs at the Festival Des Étoilés in Monte-Carlo

• Princess Charlene of Monaco posed next to her husband for the photos  
• READ MORE: Prince Albert and Princess Charlene share a rare PDA at Rugby World Cup final

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene of Monaco put on a united front as they attended the closing evening of the Festival Des Étoilés in Monte-Carlo this weekend.

The royal couple – which has in past months faced rumours about their crumbling marriage – huddled up next to each other as they posed for a photo at the glamorous gala celebrating Michelin-starred chefs at the end of the high-end cooking festival,

The mother-of-two, 45, smiled as she sidled up next to her husband, 65, for the glitzy occasion at the Salle Empire of the Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo.

She was effortlessly elegant in a black maxi-dress that accentuated her silhouette with a cinched waist. 

A golden belt added a pop of opulence to the demure look, and the former Olympic swimmer also held onto a leather clutch.

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene put on a united front as they attended the closing evening of the Festival Des Étoilés in Monte-Carlo this weekend

Charlene accessorised with matching drop earrings and styled her short platinum bob into a chic side-part.

Meanwhile, Albert opted for a flashy look with navy tuxedo, worn with a bowtie.

Both were commemorating the festival which showcases culinary arts with Michelin awarded chefs – Alain Ducasse, Yannick Alleno, Dominique Lory and Marcel Ravin all cooking for high profile guests. 

This summer, rumours circulated that the couple were living separate lives, with Charlene spending much of her time in Switzerland. 

German newspaper Voici reported that the couple were co-parenting their eight-year-old twins, Jacques and Gabriella, but that their marriage itself was ‘for appearances only’ and that they were a ‘ceremonial couple’.

In stark contrast, the couple appeared to put such rumours to bed during the Rugby World Cup Final in October as they looked incredibly close while cheering from the stands.

But their loved-up display was an example of ‘trying too hard’ amid ongoing rumours about the state of their marriage, a body language expert claimed.

Judi James, an expert based in the UK, assessed the Monegasque royals’ very affectionate body language as South Africa triumphed over the All Blacks to claim the world title at the Stade de France in Paris.

The royal couple – which has in past months faced rumours about their crumbling marriage – huddled up next to each other as they posed for a photo at the glamorous gala celebrating Michelin-starred chefs

As the pair embraced and appeared not to be able to take their hands off each other, Judi explained the display was ‘uncomfortable’, with the Princess leading the way while a bewildered Prince responded.

She harked back to a visit Prince Albert took to Charlene’s native South Africa during her long stay there, in which she ‘clung to him like a limpet’ during a photoshoot – and reflected that the Monegasque royal’s display at the rugby was not dissimilar.

Judi also noted that Princess Charlene’s overall body language during public appearances can be difficult to interpret because it ‘lurches between two opposing extremes’. 

In September, Charlene also attempted to quell persistent rumours that her marriage to Albert is on the rocks, describing them as ‘exhausting’.

The expert said: ‘For most of [Charlene’s] appearances she will stand tall, rigid and statuesque, looking detached and terribly sad, with the most tragic-looking eye expression, even when she’s forcing a mouth smile.

Princess Charlene of Monaco put on a loved-up display with husband Prince Albert at the Rugby World Cup Final in Paris last month

The royal was spotted cheering and hugging her Prince Albert as he congratulated her on her home country’s win against New Zealand at the Stade de France

‘But then, rarely but dramatically, she has a habit of launching into extreme PDAs, like the ones here.’

Judi added that Charlene was the one ‘leading the PDAs’ in the Stade de France, while in response, Albert’s body language signalled that he was ‘uncomfortable and slightly startled’.

She said: ‘Charlene’s excited knuckle-bumping looks sweetly childlike here and she gazes at her husband as though seeking a complimentary response. 

‘Placing a hand on Albert’s shoulder she moves in for a kiss although her mouth is still open in a smile and her eyes are glancing away to make this a distracted kiss.’ 

This summer, rumours circulated that the couple were living separate lives, with Charlene spending much of her time in Switzerland. Both pictured in May 

In an earlier interview with Italian newspaper Corriere della Sierra, Albert has said: ‘I don’t understand all these rumours, which hurt me, about us…they’re lies.’

For her part, Charlene maintains that she is ‘serene and happy’ in her marriage, denying rumours that surfaced in German and French media that she was now ‘living in Switzerland’ and that her marriage was ‘ceremonial’.

Speaking to South Africa’s News24 before her return last month, the princess, who shares twins Jacques and Gabriella with Prince Albert, said: ‘I find the rumours [about my marriage] tiring and exhausting.’

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