"Charlene was really the one that was trying to pull the whole family together," a close friend of the couple told PEOPLE. Prince Albert has a 29-year-old daughter Jazmin Grace Grimaldi and son Alexandre Grimaldi-Coste, 18, from previous relationships.

       According to the close friend, Charlene’s encouragement comes with "certain boundaries and certain understandings.

       "She's really been the champion for these kids in some ways," the friend revealed.

       "I'm not going to say she wants to have them around all the time, because there is some contention on many fronts."

       Speaking exclusively with PEOPLE, Prince Albert said the relationship between his wife and his older children has "evolved with time".

       Speaking about his son, the Prince told PEOPLE: "He's a very nice kid. I must say he has had a really good upbringing. He's very nice and polite young man and I'm always very happy to see him when I can."

       Alexandre Grimaldi-Coste is the son of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Nicole Coste.

       Both of the children are constitutionally barred from Monaco’s line of succession due to them being born out of wedlock and their parents never marrying.

       However, Prince Albert has continued to support them both financially.

       READ MORE: Prince Albert debunks rumours over Charlene's 'exile' in South Africa

       "Albert has gone out of his way to invite" Jazmin — an actress and singer who has appeared on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel — to official events when opportunities arise," the friend disclosed.

       Princess Charlene has been in South Africa and away from Monaco due to an illness preventing her from travelling.

       The Princess travelled to South Africa in Mid-May and became unwell during a conservation mission where she contracted an ear, nose and throat infection, preventing her from travelling.

       As Princess Charlene’s condition kept her in South Africa, the royal missed the 2021 Monaco Grand Prix and the tenth anniversary of her marriage.

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       Her husband previously told People, the Princess wants to come home.

       He said: "She's ready to come home. She's jokingly said that she's ready to stowaway on a ship to come back to Europe."

       At the end of August, Prince Albert of Monaco flew to South Africa and was reunited with his wife after being separated for three months.

       Charlene, Princess of Monaco wed Albert Prince of Monaco in 2011, welcoming their two twins in 2014, Princess Gabriella and Jacques, Hereditary Prince of Monaco.