Prince Albert II of Monaco has been spotted with visible scars on his face and scalp following a minor medical intervention. The 67-year-old sovereign was seen with the marks as he attended an audience with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Saturday.
Details of the Royal Procedure
The Princely Palace of Monaco released a statement on Friday, explaining the situation. The palace confirmed that Prince Albert had undergone a "scheduled, short medical procedure on his scalp and face to treat a benign condition" following a routine dermatological check-up.
The statement clarified that the procedure, which was planned in advance, required only a few stitches. Officials were keen to stress that it was a minor intervention, with the palace adding that "The Sovereign Prince's schedule of activities continues as normal."
Observers noted a distinct scar on the Prince's cheek and another on the top of his head as he exited a vehicle en route to the Vatican meeting. Despite the visible signs of the recent surgery, Prince Albert carried out his duties without interruption.
Audience with the Pontiff
The meeting with Pope Leo XIV marks the second time the Monegasque royal has met the new Pontiff. Their first encounter was in May 2025 during the historic inauguration mass following the Pope's appointment.
Prince Albert, a committed Catholic, has a history of papal audiences. He previously met Pope Francis in both 2022 and 2016, and had an audience with Pope Benedict XVI back in 2013.
For the latest Vatican visit, the Prince looked dapper in a navy suit, arriving alongside his wife, Princess Charlene. The palace has not indicated that the procedure caused any delay or alteration to his official engagements.
Princess Charlene's Royal Duties and Health
The news of Prince Albert's minor surgery comes after his wife, Princess Charlene, has faced her own well-documented health challenges. The 47-year-old former Olympic swimmer took a step back from public life in 2021 to recover from a serious ear, nose, and throat infection.
Prince Albert has spoken publicly of his pride in his wife's recovery. In a past interview with People magazine, he said, "I'm really proud of my wife. Charlene's doing really well... she's been active in any number of different events."
He added that the Princess is "engaging more in public life and looking after things that she's passionate about." Indeed, in May of last year, Princess Charlene joined Queen Letizia of Spain and Queen Mathilde of Belgium for an audience with Pope Leo XIV after his inauguration mass, where the Catholic royals exercised their rare privilege to wear white.
The Monegasque royal family continues to maintain a full schedule of public and private duties, with this latest medical update presented as a routine matter successfully resolved.
