As rumors swirl around the strained marriage of Monaco's Princess Charlene and Prince Albert, recent events have only served to heighten speculation about a potential split, according to the tabloid Globe. Despite palace representatives vehemently denying any marital issues, Charlene's decision to remove her wedding ring and miss a high-profile public event have fueled the flames of gossip.

On March 24, during an outing in Milan, Italy, Princess Charlene, 45, was seen without her wedding ring. This came just one day after a French magazine investigation claimed that the royal couple was heading for divorce. In response, palace officials quickly dismissed the story as "malicious rumors."

To quell the gossip, Charlene and Albert, 65, made a public appearance together at the Monte-Carlo Woman of the Year Awards, where Charlene notably wore her wedding ring. However, she was conspicuously absent the following evening at the glamorous Rose Ball, leaving Albert to attend with his sister Caroline instead.

A source close to the couple claims that even their joint appearances are "a charade," and that problems persist in their marriage. "That's why she ditched her ring. She doesn't feel like wearing it and knows the talk it will generate. She knows what she's doing," the insider said.

As previously reported by GLOBE, Prince Albert has grown increasingly paranoid, monitoring Charlene's movements through trusted confidants. Last year, Charlene spent nine months in her native South Africa and an additional four months in a Swiss clinic.

Albert attributed her absence to an ear, nose, and throat infection, but other sources suggested she left Monaco after learning about allegations of Albert fathering a third love child.

Sources close to the couple say that Charlene remains in the marriage for the sake of their eight-year-old twins, Gabriella and Jacques. Her decision to remove her wedding ring is seen as a message to both the public and Prince Albert.

"When she takes off the ring, the one Albert gave her when he proposed, it's sending a message like, 'Watch out. I left you once, I can do it again,'" the source added.