Prince Albert II of Monaco had a noticeable facial scar as he returned to public life for the primary time since he underwent a recent medical procedure on his scalp.
The royal, 67, had a scar visible on his left cheek when he attended the opening of the forty eighth International Circus Festival on the Chapiteau de Fontvieille in Monaco, alongside his nephew Louis Ducruet and niece Camille Gottlieb, on Friday, January 16. (Louis, Camille and their sibling Pauline Ducruet’s mother is Albert’s sister, Princess Stéphanie of Monaco.)
Hello! Magazine reported on Friday that Prince Albert wouldn’t miss any royal engagements after undergoing a dermatological procedure.
“The Princely Palace reports that, as a part of a routine dermatological follow-up, H.S.H. Prince Albert II underwent a scheduled, short medical procedure on his scalp and face to treat a benign condition,” an announcement from the Prince’s Palace of Monaco confirmed. “The procedure required a number of stitches. The Sovereign Prince’s schedule of activities continues as normal.”
Prince Albert II of Monaco has a noticeable scar while attending the International Circus Festival. Stephane Cardinale/PLS Monaco Pool/Getty Images
Prince Albert kept up his public appearances on Saturday, January 17, when he traveled to Vatican City to satisfy with Pope Leo XIV for the second time ever.
The Vatican has confirmed that Prince Albert spoke with each the Pope and Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, the Holy See’s Secretary for Relations with States and International Organizations, about fostering a spirit of unity between Monaco and the Vatican.
“Through the cordial discussions on the Secretariat of State, the nice diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the principality of Monaco [and the] historic and significant contribution of the Catholic Church to the principality’s social life [were acknowledged],” The Vatican confirmed. “Attention was given to several problems with common interest, reminiscent of look after the environment, humanitarian assistance, and the defence and promotion of the dignity of the human person.”
Monaco’s first family has had quite a few health issues lately. Prince Albert’s wife, Princess Charlene, fell seriously sick while visiting South Africa in September 2020 as a result of complications from persistent ear, nose and throat issues.
Royal watchers have followed King Charles III’s health battle after he was diagnosed with an undisclosed variety of cancer in February 2024. “During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted,” an announcement from Buckingham Palace read on the time. “Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form […]
The princess, 47, underwent multiple surgeries within the spring and early summer of 2021, before temporarily stepping back from public life as she battled exhaustion. Thankfully, Princess Charlene recovered sufficiently enough to resume her public schedule in 2022.
Meanwhile, Prince Albert has the unlucky distinction of being certainly one of the primary members of a royal family to check positive for COVID-19 in March 2020. He was treated at Princess Grace Hospital and continued working through his convalescence.
A press release released by the palace on the time promised that Prince Albert was “not worrying in any respect” about his condition. The prince encouraged Monaco’s residents to “respect the measures of confinement and to limit contact with others to a minimum.”
When his distant relative King Charles III (then Prince Charles) was diagnosed with COVID-19 shortly thereafter, some suspected Charles can have been infected by Albert at a royal function.
“I used to be at a roundtable for his foundation, but we never shook hands,” Prince Albert later told French radio network RTL on March 26, 2020. “I used to be at the opposite end of the table, way far-off.”
He added, “We nodded hello to 1 one other, so I don’t think I can really be accused of contaminating him. There have been numerous other people around on the congress center, and I do know he continued his schedule afterwards for a variety of days. [He] had a variety of other opportunities to catch it.”
More recently, King Charles has battled an unspecified variety of cancer after being diagnosed in early 2024. He offered a rare update on his health in a December 2025 TV speech about cancer prevention, where he reminded viewers that “early diagnosis quite simply saves lives.”
“Indeed, today I’m in a position to share with you the excellent news that due to early diagnosis, effective intervention and adherence to ‘doctors’ orders’, my very own schedule of cancer treatment will be reduced within the Recent 12 months,” he announced. “This milestone is each a private blessing and a sworn statement to the remarkable advances which were made in cancer care lately; testimony that I hope may give encouragement to the 50 percent of us who will probably be diagnosed with the illness in some unspecified time in the future in our lives.”