Since Princess Charlene of Monaco gave birth to twins late last year, things have been pretty quiet in Monte Carlo. Pre-pregnancy, all of the gossip was about Charlene being a mess and a disappointment, and how Charlene and Albert kind of hated each other and their marital bed was pretty cold. But then Charlene “did her duty” and provided an heir and a spare in one go. Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella are already more than three months old! I think Charlene might be done, don’t you? She gave him an heir. Now it’s time for Charlene and Albert to enjoy a “traditional” royal marriage, which is to say… living separately. But Albert gave a lengthy, exclusive interview to People Mag about his life as a new dad (cough… he has a bunch of other kids) and how he and Charlene are just fine. Some highlights:

On the rumors of marriage trouble: “It’s totally incredible that we have to justify ourselves all the time. It’s ridiculous. It’s just impossible to believe that these stories have come up again. It’s surreal! It’s impossible to believe responsible media would pick up on these totally false stories.”

Charlene took the babies to the South of France: But not because of marriage trouble, she moved away temporarily because the Prince’s Palace is being renovated. Albert says: “We’ve been planning to renovate and redecorate for a long time. It’s not totally calm and quiet the way you would like to have when there are very young children around. There’s a lot of work going on, lots of noise, a lot of people running about. We thought it was a lot of work to have done around kids.”

Gabriella & Jacques will share one nursery: “My sisters [Princesses Caroline and Stephanie] and I shared one nursery and I know times have changed, but they can get by with one nursery as well I think.”

Charlene got to have a big say in the renovations: “As far as redecorating the apartments. I’ve had some input of course, but I’ve let my wife decide things. And she’s let me have some input. I mean, c’mon, I need my man cave!”

Taking care of the babies: Albert has “been involved with the children, and with them as much as I can, ever since their birth…I try to help out with their feeding, I give them their midnight bottles, I change and bathe them, and thank goodness we have help because it’s twins. But it’s been an incredible experience.”

Baby personalities: “Jacques is a little more loud and he moves a little bit more. Gabriella takes her time, she’s more, well, of a baby. But it changes quickly. It changes in a few days, in a week, they’ve already changed personalities, several times.”

[From People]

There’s a lot of stuff about the extensive renovations to the Prince’s Palace. Apparently, the grand pink palace hasn’t had a major overhaul since the 1950s or early 1960s. Albert says he hopes the main part of reno is done “by Easter,” but if Monegasque contractors are anything like American contractors, they’ll be lucky to have the reno done by the babies’ first birthday. I think it’s sort of sweet that Albert just wants the one nursery, so Gabby and Jacques can play together as they grow up. And I don’t really think there are major marriage problems with Charlene and Albert right now – I think she’s just focused on the babies and he’s focused on the reno, so he was just like “Fine, go to the South of France for a few months and I’ll see you when I see you.”

Oh, and we’ll see the babies again on May 10, for their christening in Monaco.

Photos courtesy of WENN.