Biography of Prince Rainier of Monaco. Reference. Rainier III, Prince of Monaco: biography, children Prince Rainier and Grace

In the fairy tale about Cinderella, in any of its variations, the prince is assigned a secondary role. His main advantage is that he is a prince. Yes, he loved Cinderella. But I would try not to fall in love with such a kind, beautiful, hardworking girl who went to her happiness through suffering and trials! The prince himself is not very interesting to the public, he is only a necessary attribute for the happiness of the main character.

Hollywood star Grace Kelly, who became the Princess of Monaco, is the main Cinderella of the 20th century. Her husband, Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi, better known as Prince Rainier III, experienced the hard way what it was like to be a minor character.

Born to Order

He was born in Monaco on May 31, 1923. The principality at that time was ruled by his grandfather, Louis II. It is curious that the grandfather, like Louis II from Alla Pugacheva's song, had problems with the opportunity to marry for love. As heir to the throne, Louis fell in love with a cabaret singer. Not only is the profession Marie Juliette Louvet was unsuitable, as she was also a "divorcee" with two children.

The result of the stormy romance of Louis and Marie was the birth Charlotte's daughters. But the courage of the heir to the throne was not enough: he left his mistress and daughter, fearing that for his adventures he would be deprived of the rights to the throne.

But fate played a cruel joke with him: the fact is that Louis desperately needed an heir. According to the agreement with France, in the event of the suppression of the princely dynasty, Monaco was to come under the rule of Paris.

Father told Louis: if there is no heir (or at least an heiress), then you will not receive the throne. Cornered Louis remembered the illegitimate daughter, who by that time was already 20 years old. Charlotte was granted the title of Duchess Valentinois and urgently began to look for a suitable groom. The choice fell on Pierre de Polignac, the son of a French count and a hot Mexican. The wedding took place in March 1920, and soon the couple had their first child. To the disappointment of Louis and all the inhabitants of Monaco, it was a girl. But the whole combination was conceived in the name of the boy!

Pierre and Charlotte had to try hard, and in May 1923 they gave birth to Louis-Henri-Maxens-Bertrand ... In general, the future Rainier III.

Raising an Ideal Prince

Rainier's mother Charlotte did not dream of a crown, and she was not happy with her husband either. Being formally the heir to the throne, she was relieved to renounce her rights to it on the day when her son turned 21 years old. When Renier ascended the throne, she left Monaco, spending the last three decades of her life in Paris.

Rainier was born as a result of such complex combinations that he had a little less chance of being an ordinary child. Monaco wanted a well-trained prince with excellent education, good manners and high moral principles.

He studied in the UK, then at the private school Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland and at the Higher School of Political Science in France.

In September 1944, 21-year-old Renier joined the French army as an officer and took part in the military campaign against Nazi Germany in Alsace.

In May 1949, Louis II died, and his grandson ascended the throne under the name of Prince Rainier III.

In love at will

Monaco didn't even come close to being the billionaire's paradise it's now known to be. The young prince faced a difficult task: to make sure that the state stood firmly on its feet. But there was no oil and other minerals in the tiny territory, and the situation with sights was also not very good. Aristotle Onassis, a friend of the prince and a billionaire, was convinced that Rainier could turn the principality by the sea into a world pearl. To do this, you just need to attract the attention of the world. When the prince asked how to do this, Aristotle said thoughtfully:

- Best of all, of course, a princely wedding. To be the bride of some world movie star. Marilyn Monroe, for example, or Grace Kelly.

Renee just chuckled. But stupid people don't become billionaires.

In 1955, during the Cannes Film Festival, a meeting was organized between Grace Kelly and Rainier III. Apparently, they were brought together by the agents of the actress and the officials of the prince, who needed the event, so to speak, “for show”. Both were late and were extremely annoyed. Grace's hotel power went out while she was drying her hair. As a result, she appeared at the meeting with the Lord of Monaco in a rumpled dress and with a bun on her head. Rainier, who had a busy day with a bunch of activities, dreamed of only one thing: to exchange courtesies with the lady on duty and go to bed.

He saw her a little earlier than she expected. Grace, like an exemplary schoolgirl, rehearsed in front of the mirror the courteous bow that should have greeted the prince. Renier smiled and felt sympathy for this pretty blonde.

Then there was a conversation during which they surprised each other. Grace discovered that the prince was actually an attractive young man, calm, reasonable, self-confident and well versed in films. Rainier, in turn, realized that a movie star is not a “dummy”, but an educated person with a broad outlook.

Grace Kelly and Rainier III. 1956 Photo: www.globallookpress.com

Virginity test

Correspondence began, and with each new letter, Renier realized that he was increasingly drawn to Grace. Talk about her numerous novels did not bother the prince. After all, his own mother was illegitimate, so it was foolish to put on a pose of offended innocence. In addition, he remembered the words of his friend Onassis and realized that there was a great chance to combine personal and public.

December 25, 1955 three-time Olympian and millionaire American industrialist Jack Kelly hosted the Prince of Monaco in his house. The legend says that Jack, who rose from the very bottom, did not figure out who was in front of him, deciding that Rainier was the prince of Morocco. Even so, the lord of Monaco was not offended and carried out what he came for, officially making an offer to Grace. The movie star agreed.

Yes, Rainier III married a very conditional Cinderella. The dowry of the bride, allocated by her parents, was 2 million dollars: they don’t write about this in fairy tales. Jack Kelly and his wife, at the expense of their daughter's marriage, received a pass to high society, where they, the descendants of Irish immigrants, had not been favored before.

From that moment on, Rainier III will become a villain for many, imprisoning the beautiful Grace Kelly in a “golden cage”. And the bars of this cage for the first time hurt the girl on the eve of the wedding. The rules required the bride to undergo a medical examination for the ability to give birth to offspring, as well as, excuse me, a virginity test.

With the first, everything turned out to be in order, but about the second, Renier was well aware even without examination. For him, this procedure was a pure formality, but Grace experienced not the most pleasant moments.

Wedding of Rainier III and Grace Kelly. Photo: Youtube frame.

Ah, this wedding, wedding...

Everything was smoothed out by a luxurious wedding, which was played in April 1956. Perhaps it was the most magnificent celebration in Europe in the 20th century. One bride's dress took one hundred meters of old lace, which, by order of Renier, was bought from the storerooms of the French Museum. Events began a few days before the wedding itself. During the meeting on the pier, where Grace got off the ocean liner, red and white carnations fell from the sky on the bride and groom: this was the work of the restless Aristotle Onassis.

Thousands of guests were invited to the wedding: members of royal families, millionaires, Hollywood stars and producers, politicians...

The marriage became one big worldwide advertisement for Monaco. Aristotle Onassis gave the young a luxurious yacht, on which they went on their honeymoon trip.

What is written in fairy tales in this place? "They lived happily ever after and died on the same day." Wise authors don't specify exactly what a "happily ever after" looks like.

Rainier III entered the history of Monaco as the "prince-builder". The new station, the restoration of the old port, the construction of a new quarter of Fontvieille, for which, with the help of bulk soil, the territory of the principality was increased by 22 hectares, and much more.

Tourists and the rich sought to look at the state, where the princess was "Cinderella from Hollywood", and Rainier III created comfortable conditions for them.

If Grace paid for her marriage with her career, then her desire for privacy cost her her life. Wanting to have a one-on-one conversation with her youngest daughter Stephanie, who refused to study to be a fashion designer because she was going to learn to drive racing cars with her son Belmondo, Grace did what she usually did not do: she got behind the wheel of a car. The end of this trip was tragic.

Happy together

The principality flourished, and Rainier was happy. And Grace?

At first, definitely. She liked to play the role of a princess, participate in events in this role, and do charity work.

The people of Monaco loved her, although she made them nervous. The first child of the couple in 1957 was a girl who was named Carolina. But Renier reassured the people: they say, do not worry, there will be a boy. And when in 1958 was born Prince Albert, the Monegasques began to idolize Princess Grace.

But still they were too different. Calm and balanced, Rainier preferred home silence, while Grace's temperament demanded a heat of emotions. And what, tell me, can there be emotions in family life, if the husband's main hobby is collecting stamps?

Rainier was indeed an avid philatelist and in his later years even became an honorary member of the European Academy of Philately. But Grace, over time, could no longer see how her husband, instead of devoting time to her and the children, was fiddling with pieces of paper.

In 1965, a second daughter was born, who was named Stephanie.

Offers came from Hollywood to resume her acting career, but in Monaco they believed that their princess should not appear on the screen if it was not a protocol shooting.

Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

Big kids are big bugs

Renier behaved like a classic husband. He believed that the duties of a princess and the upbringing of three children could not leave time for something else.

And raising children was difficult. Grace honestly tried to raise classic princes and princesses, but Albert and the sisters grew up as rebels. The easiest way to say that mother's genes are to blame. But have we not forgotten about Louis II and his illegitimate daughter?

The eldest daughter Carolina, a lover of equestrian sports and skiing, at the age of 20 married a Parisian banker with a scandal, divorced two years later and went into all serious trouble, changing lovers like gloves. Albert, heir to the throne, kicked a soccer ball, tried his hand at judo and bobsleigh and did not miss a single girl who longed to share a bed with a prince.

Stephanie, the youngest, was too young for lovemaking, but she walked around exclusively in jeans and scared respectable Monegasques, rushing through the streets of the principality on a motorcycle.

Renier was convinced that this whole nightmare was the result of insufficient control on the part of the mother. Grace, tired of all this, began to spend a lot of time away from her husband, in Paris, appearing only at mandatory official events. The prince was quite happy with this. Their marriage has passed for a quarter of a century, and he perceived such cooling calmly. The main thing is that this did not affect the affairs of the principality.

Catastrophe

On September 13, 1982, the 1980 Rover SD1 (3500V8) that Grace and Stephanie were driving lost control, veered off a sharp curve, and crashed into a mountainside.

Stephanie's condition did not cause concern, but rescuers removed Grace unconscious and with serious injuries. On September 14, she died in a hospital in Monaco.

The broadcast of her funeral was watched by 100 million viewers. The funeral ceremony, which brought together movie stars, politicians and members of the royal families, again drew world attention to Monaco.

Rene was scary to look at. “With the death of the princess, emptiness entered my life,” he would later say. Always cheerful and energetic, he aged in a few days.

Only in fairy tales can a prince revive his beloved with a kiss of love. Even the greatest miracle could not return Grace.

Rainier III, Albert, Caroline, Stephanie, Nancy Reagan and Robert Adams at the launch of a monument to Princess Grace at the National Portrait Gallery in October 1986. Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

twenty years of solitude

“I am destined to outlive you and yearn forever,” said the Wizard from “Ordinary Miracle” to his wife.

Rainier III outlived his wife by 22 and a half years. When she died, he was not even 60. But neither new novels, nor - even more so - a second marriage in the life of the Prince of Monaco did not happen. He remained faithful to the one who in the last years of his life doubted his feelings.

Renier left the children alone, despite the fact that their personal lives went topsy-turvy. Only Alberta asked to finally get a family, so as not to arrange a dynastic crisis. When he realized that his son could not be persuaded, he decided that the matter would somehow be settled. In the end, the eldest daughter Carolina pleased her father with her grandchildren back in the eighties.

In the nineties, Rainier began to have serious health problems, and he was even a little glad about it. Illness kept him less likely to attend the obligatory events he had cooled off after Grace's death. Gradually, he began to transfer responsibilities for public administration to Albert.

Rainier III died on April 6, 2005, having found peace next to his beloved wife. His dreams of transforming the principality came true, but they would hardly have come true without the one who is considered "the main Cinderella of the 20th century."

What girl does not dream of meeting her prince one day! The beautiful actress Grace Kelly managed to meet her love in the face of the 33-year-old Prince of Monaco and build a strong family with him. The union was considered ideal, but Grace in marriage was both the happiest woman at the beginning and unhappy, like a bird imprisoned in a golden cage, at the end of her life.

On the anniversary of the wedding, which took place on April 19, 1956, HELLO.RU recalls the love story of one of the most beautiful couples of the last century - Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier.

Click on the photo to view the gallery She is like a volcano under the snow. Behind her coldness lies an unimaginable heat of passion. Grace Kelly was born in 1929 to a wealthy American family. Her father was engaged in construction, and her mother, from whom she inherited a beautiful appearance, was a fashion model. The future princess, living in a luxurious mansion in one of the most prestigious areas of Philadelphia, was eager to be free. She wanted creativity, fame and a little bit of madness.

Little Grace Kelly

Grace Kelly first appeared on stage while studying at a religious college, where she received a strict, even for those times, education. After graduation, Grace moved to New York. It seemed to her that one day the whole world would lie at her feet. And so it happened, but not immediately. At first there were hundreds of trials, failures and falls. Grace did not lose heart, worked as a fashion model and at the same time learned the basics of theater at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Grace had a truly amazing appearance: porcelain skin, high cheekbones, big eyes, a chiseled nose, sensual lips and a slender figure. She skillfully emphasized her appearance with the help of exquisite outfits. Later, Tommy Hilfiger will say about her:

Grace Kelly is the only Hollywood actress to wear white gloves so naturally and gracefully. Even at home, alone with herself, she remained invariably glamorous and elegant. She dressed elegantly and feminine, and loved pastel-colored clothes and wide-brimmed hats.

At 20, Grace got her first role on Broadway. And two years later - the coveted role on television. Two more years have passed, and she has already become an Oscar nominee for her work in the film "Mogambo". She did not receive the award then. But still, in her small but bright acting career, one Oscar appeared - for the painting "Country Girl" in 1954.

Even the father of the actress Jack Kelly could not believe in such a quick and unexpected success:

I just can't believe Grace won an Oscar. Of all my four children, she is the one from whom I least expected help in my old age.

Grace Kelly, 1952

The most striking, and subsequently used in many films, was the image of an adventurer girl. Alfred Hitchcock was the first to find the "gold mine" and Grace's talent for working in this genre.

Grace Kelly and Alfred Hitchcock with wife Alma Reville, 1954 Grace's accelerating career could have brought her many golden statuettes and prestigious awards, but it could have ended with the fading of youth and beauty, which are so important in the acting world.

Grace herself was afraid of age, repeating:
Forty years is torture and the end for a woman. Be that as it may, she met Rainier in the prime of her life and at the peak of her career - at 27 years old. Brilliantly educated, intelligent and gallant - his manners betrayed in him the aristocrat that he was. Already at the age of 26, he ascended the throne of Monaco. After the death of Louis II, Rainier's mother, who was formally the heiress, abdicated in favor of her young son.

Grace Kelly and Rainier III

Rainier and Grace met at the Cannes Film Festival in 1955 during a visit by a delegation of actors to the Prince of Monaco.

As the spouses themselves later recalled, that day both were in a bad mood. Grace seemed to get up on the wrong foot, and on the way to the meeting she even got into a small car accident. Renier also had minor problems since the morning. But meeting Grace "lighted up his day," in the words of Renier himself.

Grace Kelly, 1955

Their romance did not start immediately, it was preceded by a long and interesting correspondence. Grace was very pleased with courtship and romantic letters, she noted that Renier wrote letters in a lively and easy language. He told her about the life of the monarch, told her about his castle and garden, describing everything, down to the scent of flowers.

But it was probably not only the romance of the young prince. Of course, he was fascinated by Grace, but as the sole ruler, he understood the importance and necessity of marriage. And the beautiful and fragile Grace seemed to him the best candidate.

A few months later, Rainier packed up and came to Philadelphia, where Grace's parents lived, to make an official proposal to his beloved.

I found my princess
Rainier said that day.

Grace and Rainier's engagement at the Kelly family home in Philadelphia

Grace agreed without hesitation, and soon stepped aboard the inter-Atlantic liner, which delivered her, along with her beloved poodle, close friends and personal hairdresser, straight to the dwarf state.

The actress's parents did not immediately accept her decision, believing that marriage to the prince of such a small state is a step back in her career. And her potential suitors were richer, for example, a few years before that, an Arab sheikh with a huge fortune asked for her hand.

Be that as it may, a week after Grace's arrival in Monaco - on April 19, 1956 - a magnificent wedding took place, after which a new life began, in which there was no longer a place for Hollywood. Grace Kelly became the Princess of Monaco.

Grace and Rainier's wedding, 1956

Rainier and Grace managed to fulfill the often unattainable dream of other monarchs - to become a truly loving married couple. Although there were those who doubted the sincerity of their feelings, saying that Grace does not love Rainier, but only tries and learns to love him. There were also those who believed that the heart of the beauty belongs to a former lover - fashion designer Oleg Cassini.

Be that as it may, Grace did everything to make their family look perfect. The subjects of Monaco immediately accepted the new princess, who was so well able to smooth sharp corners in her husband's negotiations, and also had the ability to win over anyone.

The birth of children, in 1957, the daughter of Carolina, and in 1958, the son of Albert, increased the camp of her fans. The citizens of Monaco idolized their princess: she was young, beautiful, and during her outings to the people, any person from the crowd could shake her hand.

Grace Kelly and Renier with Albert and Caroline, 1958 After the birth of her youngest daughter - Stephanie - Grace was again offered to act, and her favorite director Alfred Hitchcock did it. But the princess could not decide on such a serious step without consulting with her new family - the inhabitants of Monaco. The public did not support the idea, calling it a terrible frivolity. Of course, Grace had to give up the role, because her image, so carefully built over the years, could collapse at once.

Kelly justified all the hopes placed on her by her subjects, becoming an ideal wife for Rainier. Grace was actively involved in charity work, patronized the arts and gave birth to heirs, and her world fame and American spontaneity led to the many times increased popularity of Monaco. Grace Kelly was very fond of, she was considered the standard of style and feminine charm.

Grace Kelly, Rainier III, Albert and CarolineGrace Kelly with Caroline and Albert

Life went on as usual, but it was no longer possible to call the relationship between Grace and Renier impeccable over time. Over the years, the prince became withdrawn, practically refused social outings and spent most of his time in the castle with his beloved pets.

Grace, being a sociable person, really wanted to share her thoughts and ideas with people, she constantly held meetings, communicated with others. And Renier was jealous, believing that the inhabitants of Monaco love his wife more than himself.

At the age of 40, Grace had a depression - as she once assumed, the crisis associated with the fading of beauty did not pass her. By this time, the children had already grown up, and the spouses increasingly began to experience public scandals, which greatly upset Grace, who loves the ideal in everything.

Grace Kelly with her husband and daughters - Stephanie and Carolina Carolina had a high-profile and scandalous marriage behind her, Albert, who was the future heir, was not interested in anything but sports and girls, and the youngest daughter Stephanie grew up as a "boy" - she drove a motorcycle and despised feminine clothes. The image of an impeccable family that Grace had built so diligently was crumbling. She no longer considered her life fabulous, but her family ideal, although she tried not to show her disappointment to the public.

Grace Kelly, Rainier III and Stephanie

Shortly before the disaster that claimed her life, Grace, according to contemporaries, took a lover in Paris and practically moved to live with him. At the very end of her life, she dreamed of only one thing - to resume her acting career. Her violent and restless nature, which had been hiding behind the facade of the impregnable "snow queen" for so long, rushed out.

On a clear autumn day on September 13, 1980, Grace and her daughter Stephanie had an accident. The princess, who had used the services of a driver all her life, decided to drive the car herself that day - under the pretext of a serious conversation with her daughter. On the way, Grace had a stroke and lost control.

Prince Rainier III with his daughter Caroline Celebrities and monarchs from America and Europe came to the funeral of the princess, local residents sobbed right on the streets, and Rainier walked arm in arm with his daughter and did not hide his tears.
Lord, I don't ask you why you took her from me, but I thank you for giving her to us. - these words were uttered at Grace's grave by her husband, Prince Rainier III of Monaco.

Rainier outlived his wife by a quarter of a century, having died in April 2005.

Grace would have turned 85 this year and Rainier would have turned 91. And their fabulous but not perfect marriage would have been 58 years old.

Remember Andersen's fairy tale? “Once upon a time there was a prince, he wanted to marry a princess, but only a real princess. So he traveled all over the world, looking for such, but everywhere there was something wrong; there were plenty of princesses, but whether they were real, he could not fully recognize this, there was always something wrong with them. Grace Kelly did everything to become the most real princess. It just didn't bring her happiness.

Text: Natalia Turovskaya

The main street of New York on the eve of the new year, 1956, was as noisy and crowded as ever. When, in the midst of the crowd, a short, thick man in an elegant coat suddenly stopped and handed his companion a box with an engagement ring with the words: “Marry me,” hardly anyone paid attention to them. And it would be worth it! After all, this man was none other than the Crown Prince of the Principality of Monaco Rainier III, Duke de Valentinois, Count Carladez, Baron Bui, Sir Matignon, Seigneur Saint-Remy, Count of Torigny, Duke of Mazarin. And his charming chosen one is an American movie star, beautiful blonde Grace Kelly. She answered "Yes!" And only one sad thought tormented the bride: according to the protocol, before the wedding, she had to undergo a medical examination, confirming that the future princess was able to give the throne an heir. But... it will also reveal the fact that Grace is no longer a virgin. In the evening, sharing her doubts on the phone with an old friend and ex-lover Don Richardson, she received good advice: “What's the problem? Say that you once failed a gymnastic exercise at school. Grace did just that. And the prince believed her. However, it could not be otherwise - Grace from a young age knew how to make the best impression. Although in fact she was from the breed of women, about whom it is customary to say: "devils live in a still pool" ...

"Snowy Volcano"

“She is like a volcano under the snow,” director Alfred Hitchcock said about Grace Kelly. “Behind her coldness lies an unimaginable heat of passion.” A femme fatale is usually represented as a burning brunette or a red-haired beast, but by no means a fragile blonde with the face of an angel. Touching and naive, Grace only seemed outwardly. Inside, she was a passionate, hot woman, looking for love and adventure. Her first lover was acting teacher at the American Academy of Dramatic Art Don Richardson. He was much older than the girl and for a long time could not decide to explain himself - she seemed so pure to him. And when he nevertheless ventured to invite the beauty to visit, he was quite surprised by her emancipation. “I lit the fire,” Richardson later recalled, “and went to make coffee. When I came back, I saw that Grace was already waiting for me on the bed. She took off all her clothes… I have never seen anything more beautiful!”

Grace Kelly was a girl, as they say, without complexes. Although she was raised in a Puritan family with strict rules. But she longed to escape from parental care and quickly appreciated the beauty of an independent life when she left home. Natural external data helped her quickly find a job as a fashion model. Shooting for the covers of Redbook and Cosmopolitan magazines, Grace not only supported herself, but also sent home hefty sums. “If the story of my real life is ever told, people will understand that I was a living being and not a fairy tale character,” she would write much later. And wrong.

Grace Kelly is the only Hollywood actress who wore white gloves so naturally and gracefully. Even alone with herself, she remained unfailingly glamorous and elegant.

Tommy Hilfiger

The model with refined features and a marvelous figure was immediately noticed in Hollywood. In 1952, she co-starred with Fred Zinnemann in the western High Noon, paired with Harry Cooper himself. And in 1953, John Ford offered her a role in the film Mogambo, where Clark Gable and Ava Gardner became her partners. A year later, she already received her first Oscar for the painting "Country Girl" and knew her worth. When the host of the ceremony invited Grace to kiss Marlon Brando, who won the Best Actor nomination, she innocently retorted: “I think he should kiss me” ... With a height of 176 cm, Grace weighed 58 kg, had a chest volume of 88 cm, hips - 89, and a waist - 60. She had a wonderful porcelain skin tone, high cheekbones, a sensual mouth and amazing eyes the color of Parma violet. Add to this an innate sense of style: she was surprisingly dressed in pastel colors and wide-brimmed hats. A string of pearls and a Hermes scarf completed the look, as well as massive sunglasses that were then fashionable. Why not a princess? There was only one thing left to do: find your prince.

Looking for a prince

Of course, like many girls, Grace dreamed of meeting a noble prince on a white horse one day, but she could not even imagine that in her case the dream would come true so literally! She was amorous and more than once tried to get married, but it seems that fate itself kept the girl from this step, as if saying: “Do not rush, your happiness is yet to come!” At first, Grace dreamed of connecting her life with the famous fashion designer Oleg Cassini, but her parents were categorically against it: he was older, and also divorced. In 1949, Kelly had a hot affair with the Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. He proposed to her, Grace agreed again, but then, reasonably judging that the shah could have two or three wives, she took her word back. However, the expensive gifts of the "groom" - a gold cosmetic bag adorned with diamonds, a gold bracelet with a watch and a gold brooch in the form of a bird in a cage with diamond wings and sapphire eyes - were left as a keepsake ... The next lover was Clark Gable, the same Rhett Butler from "Gone with the Wind". He was twenty-eight years older than Grace, married four times, so he himself decided "not to complicate the girl's life."

In 1955, Grace Kelly led the Hollywood delegation to the Cannes Film Festival. The program of the visit also included a meeting with Prince Rainier III of Monaco at his personal residence. This idea belonged to the Paris Match photographer Pierre Galant, who longed to take an exclusive photo for the cover of the magazine. The idea did not arouse the enthusiasm of either the prince or Grace Kelly. But both were people of action, so the meeting took place. This fateful day began for Grace very unsuccessfully: due to a trade union strike, the electricity was cut off throughout the city, and her hair, which did not have time to dry after washing, she had to curl up at the back of her head with a simple bun. And instead of the prepared elegant outfit, put on - oh horror! - the only thing that did not require ironing: a simple black dress with a large rose. Since it was etiquette to arrive at the palace wearing a hat, and Grace did not have one with her, she made a wreath of artificial flowers and pinned it to her hair. On the way out of the hotel, her car collided with another, and although no one was hurt, Grace considered this a bad omen ... Prince Rainier also spent the morning not in the best way: because of the same strike, he was pretty late for a meeting with the actress and therefore was not in spirit. Entering the hall, he found a Hollywood movie star practicing curtseying in front of a mirror. Such immediacy instantly dispelled the bad mood of the 32-year-old prince. The "heavenly creature" enchanted His Grace, and after this meeting, a lively correspondence began between them in the most romantic style. Grace was flattered by the attention, and besides, the new admirer was not only good-looking, but witty and extraordinarily gallant. Already at Christmas, he arrived in Philadelphia to Kelly's parents and officially announced that he "finally found his princess!"

Small kingdom for big love

In the 1920s, the famous writer Somerset Maugham wittily called Monte Carlo "a sunny place for dark personalities." Grace Kelly was not afraid. On the contrary, the small “state within the state”, in which she was to ascend the throne, seemed to the actress a paradise on earth.

Stepping on board the ocean liner "Constitution" in the company of a personal hairdresser from her native studio "Metropolitan-Goldwyn-Mayer", her beloved poodle Oliver and her five girlfriends, who were to become the bride's witnesses at the wedding, Grace was unusually happy. She wore a long, elegant coat of dark silk, and a round white hat of starched muslin, which gave her face an air of charming mystery. The future husband arrived at the pier to meet his bride in full dress uniform, and when they finally joined hands, a rain of red and white carnations fell from the plane over their heads - a gift from a friend of the royal family, millionaire Aristotle Onassis. A week later, a magnificent wedding took place, after which Grace gave her friends gifts from the sheikh: the same golden cosmetic bag, watch and brooch. The past was over. From that moment on, Grace Kelly began a completely different life, which can be described in one phrase: noblesse oblige, which means “position obliges” in French.

The appearance of a Hollywood movie star in Monaco as a princess influenced the financial situation of the principality in the most positive way. A stream of wealthy tourists from Europe poured into the country. Grace is actively involved in charity work. Already in the winter of 1956, she organized a Christmas tree in the palace for the children of the principality from three to twelve years old. This won the hearts of the locals so much that it immediately became an annual tradition.

In 1957, their daughter Caroline Marguerite Louise was born with Prince Rainier, and a year later, the long-awaited heir to the throne, little Albert II, appeared. The citizens of Monaco idolized their princess: she was young, beautiful, and during the holidays, any person from the crowd could shake her hand.

After the birth of Grace's youngest daughter Stephanie in 1965, the uncrowned "king of horror" Alfred Hitchcock, in whom Grace played her best roles, unexpectedly invited the actress-princess to his new picture. Kelly really wanted to return to the cinema and work with his favorite director, but the principality's public literally reared up from such a "frivolous undertaking." And Grace resigned herself, deciding to devote herself completely to her husband and children. In the press, she commented on her decision as follows: “You see, actors in the United States can separate their public, public life and personal life. Here in Monaco, as the wife of Prince Rainier, I can only play one role... To be his princess.”

How do fairy tales end?

Alas, it is only in books that good princes promise that after the wedding “you will have everything you want, and we will live with you so friendly and fun that your soul will never know tears and sadness.” In real life, everything is much more prosaic. Even real princesses. Very soon, Grace Kelly realized that her husband, despite the royal title, was endowed with the same shortcomings as most ordinary men.

Rainier turned out to be a quick-tempered, unsociable recluse, so unlike the gallant gentleman who bombarded Grace with love letters. He did not like social life, preferring communication with animals, for which the palace had a personal zoo. He went to bed early and spoke little, while Grace just before going to bed wanted to chat with her husband. Trying to find something to do, Grace became interested in creating paintings from dried wild flowers. The princess was offered to arrange a charity exhibition of her work, and it was a huge success. This little luck alienated the spouses even more: Renier was jealous of his wife for her ability to win over people. His Highness repeatedly ridiculed and humiliated Grace in public. The princess often began to leave her husband’s office in tears, while he furiously beat the dishes outside the door, once again “offended” by his wife for something ... “Any man, and not just an actor, can hardly become a good husband,” Grace confides her disappointment to the diary.

And after 40 years, a new trouble was added to Grace's frequent depressions: she began to inexorably gain weight. The children grew up and also rarely pleased their mother: the unsuccessful romance of the eldest daughter Carolina was on everyone's lips, the son Albert was only interested in sports and women, and not state affairs, and the youngest Stephanie grew up as a “difficult teenager” at all, rode a motorcycle with the son of an actor Jean-Paul Belmondo and sang cheap pop hits. The family for which Grace sacrificed a stellar film career was not her reliable rear. Each lived his own life, little regard for the interests of others. The princess now dreamed of only one thing: to escape from the golden cage to freedom.

What does a desperate woman do, surrounded by the indifference of family members, bound by the rituals and protocol of the palace? Takes on a lover. And Grace tried to save herself from loneliness, changing like the gloves of young lovers, "teddy boys", as she herself called them. First it was the 30-year-old documentary filmmaker Robert Dornhelm, then the 29-year-old American businessman Jeffrey Fitzgerald... She dreamed of returning to her former life, to the acting profession, she even began to read poetry from the stage, taking part in poetry festivals throughout Europe . Grace thought that she could create her own drama theater in Monaco, where the best foreign actors would play, but these plans were not destined to come true.

On the road to heaven...

On a clear September morning in 1982, Grace Kelly and her youngest daughter Stephanie were about to go for a car ride. Her personal chauffeur was respectfully waiting for both ladies at a polished 1972 Rover-3500, when the princess, always superstitiously afraid of cars, suddenly announced decisively: “Thank you, but I’ll drive myself: I need to have a serious talk with my daughter alone.” .

What they were talking about, we will never know, because ten minutes later the royal "rover" fell into the abyss at great speed. Princess Stephanie escaped with a slight fright, and the Princess of Monaco was taken to the hospital unconscious with a severe head injury. She had no chance to survive, and the next day, with the permission of her family, she was disconnected from the artificial respiration system ...

Prince Rainier III outlived his wife by more than twenty years and never remarried. “With the death of the princess,” he said, “emptiness entered my life.” After Grace's death, her subjects fell in love with her even more than during her lifetime, and almost elevated her to the status of a saint. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of her death, the government of Monaco issued a series of 2 euro coins with a portrait of the princess on the reverse. She is depicted with her trademark hairstyle - curled hair laid at the back of her head - and her favorite earrings with large pearls. Frank Sinatra once said of Grace: "She was a real princess from the day she was born." Perhaps the old heartthrob was right. But... even if SUCH Grace Kelly did not exist, it would be worth inventing it as a consolation to millions of Cinderellas around the world who dream of marrying the prince, even "if they are a little over thirty."

Monaco is a tiny state in the south of the European continent, which is famous mainly for its world-famous casinos and as a venue for Formula 1 competitions. Since the end of the thirteenth century, it has been ruled by the Grimaldi dynasty, represented by Prince Albert II, who took the throne after his father Rainier III. This monarch, who passed away in 2005, became the subject of one of the most high-profile royal romances of the last two centuries during his youth.

Parents

The future monarch, whose full name sounded like Louis-Henri-Bertrand Grimaldi, was born in 1923 in the family of the illegitimate daughter of Louis II Charlotte, who four years before was officially recognized as the heir to the throne. The fact is that otherwise the throne could have passed to his second cousin, Wilhelm von Urach, who fought in the First World War on the side of Germany. The prospect of seeing a German as Prince of Monaco did not suit France, which threatened to occupy the principality in this case. Therefore, Prince Louis II went to the violation of all laws, giving the girl the title of Duchess of Valentinois, and also marrying her to a Frenchman, Count Pierre de Polignac. The marriage of Rainier's parents did not last long and was terminated when the boy was ten years old, due to his father's homosexual affairs, information about which became public.

Rainier III, Prince of Monaco: biography before accession to the throne

The future monarch completed a course of study at the best private schools in Switzerland and Great Britain, and then received a certificate of completion of a general liberal education in Montpellier and graduated from the Paris Higher School of Political Sciences. Having reached the age of majority, Louis-Henri Grimaldi volunteered to serve in the French army as an officer and took part in the fighting against Nazi Germany in Alsace.

As Crown Prince

In the same 1944, his mother, with the consent of Prince Louis II, transferred her rights of succession to her son. At the same time, the young man did not leave his military career; for his military merits, Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, was awarded the Bronze Star and the Military Cross. After the end of World War II, he was sent on a French military mission to Berlin, where he took part in solving economic issues. In this field, the young man also achieved success, and in early 1947, the French president awarded the heir to the crown of Monaco with the Order of the Legion of Honor and the Knight's Cross.

Reign

Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, came to the throne in 1949, after the death of his grandfather. Since that time, a real golden era has begun in the history of this tiny state. Suffice it to say that it was under him that the country acquired its modern look, major economic and political transformations were carried out. In particular, in 1962, Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, initiated the adoption of a new, progressive constitution for the country, and in 1993 this state became a member of the UN with all the ensuing rights. In addition, thanks to his wise policy aimed at increasing the tourist attractiveness of the Principality, the coast of Monte Carlo has become one of the most prestigious luxury resort areas in Europe.

Grace Kelly before marriage

This style icon and one of the most charming Hollywood divas was born in the USA in 1928 in the family of a wealthy entrepreneur and former Olympic champion Jack Kelly. He always dreamed that his children would enter high society, and therefore Grace and her three sisters were raised as little princesses, which helped them a lot in the future. At the age of six, the girl was sent to a strict Catholic college, where she distinguished herself by exemplary behavior and exceptional diligence. Later, in an expensive private school, she became interested in theater and performed in student performances, and at nineteen she went to New York with the firm intention of becoming an actress. The extraordinary beauty of a young girl from Philadelphia helped her to become first a fashion model, and then a sought-after movie star. Moreover, long before Rainier III, the Prince of Monaco, and Grace Kelly met, she had many fans and lovers, including famous Hollywood actors, directors, fashion designers and even the Iranian Shah himself, who, according to rumors, offered her to become his next wife. At the same time, Grace's parents jealously followed their daughter's personal life and really hoped for a profitable marriage. Fate smiled at the Kelly family when, during one of the film festivals, their daughter, already famous at that time, met Rainier III. The Prince of Monaco, whose photo at that time showed him as a respectable young well-groomed man, immediately wrote the girl down as a potential bride, as he had been planning to marry for a long time.

At the time of the acquaintance, which took place in the spring of 1955, Grace was at the zenith of fame. She recently received an Oscar, but, oddly enough, she was all alone. Young people liked each other almost at first sight, and soon their engagement was announced.

Marriage

Grace arrived in Monaco in April 1956 on an ocean liner, accompanied by five friends. She was greeted like a queen and showered with flowers from a helicopter ordered by the groom's friend, Onassis. Most of the inhabitants of Monte Carlo sought to see the bride Rainier III at all costs. The Prince of Monaco, sister, whose mother and father were present at the welcoming ceremony, simply beamed with happiness, which could not be said about his relatives. The “wedding of the century,” as journalists dubbed the ceremony, took place on April 19, after which the couple went on their honeymoon. The rest was quite prosperous, at least the reporters were never able to convict the prince of treason. Grace gave birth to her husband three children, and the last child was born when she was thirty-six.

Wife's death

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco, whose children have long since become parents themselves, lived together for only 26 years. In 1982, the princess, along with Princess Stephanie, got into a terrible car accident and died as a result of her injuries. The couple's daughter was also seriously injured, but she still managed to save her life. According to investigators, the princess, who on that day refused the services of a driver and drove the car herself, lost control due to a stroke. As a result, the car fell off a cliff. Although the accident happened early in the morning, the essentials were delivered to the hospital, where Grace Kelly was brought, only in the evening. Precious time was lost, and the next the doctors informed the family that even if the princess remained alive, she would be paralyzed forever and could never return to normal life. Then Prince Rainier, after conferring with the older children, decided to turn off the artificial life support devices.

Thus died one of the most desirable and charming women on the planet, whose memory is still alive today, more than 35 years after her death.

Son

In 1958, Grace Kelly gave birth to a son, Albert. Most of all rejoiced Rainier III, Prince of Monaco. He was much less interested in the height, weight and appearance of the baby than gender, since he had long dreamed of a son. The boy was fond of sports since childhood and participated in the Olympic Games five times as a bobsledder. In 2006, he visited the North Pole and even took part in the event. In 2005, Prince Albert II inherited the throne, but remained childless until recently. Only in December 2014, his wife Charlene Wittstock gave birth to twins to the monarch: a boy and a girl. According to the laws of the principality, after Albert II the throne will pass to his son Jean.

daughters

The firstborn of Rainier III (Prince of Monaco) and Grace Kelly was Princess Caroline, who was born in 1957. At the moment, she has already been married four times and has four children. As for the second daughter of the princely couple, Princess Stephanie was born in 1965. In her youth, she was known for her eccentric disposition and even had some success as a pop singer for some time, her discs diverged in millions of copies. In particular, the single "Hurricane" in France is considered one of the most famous hits of the 80s of the twentieth century. She has two daughters and a son from two marriages.

Grandchildren and great-grandchildren

The Grimaldi family tree after the marriage of Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly gave many branches. Indeed, in total, at the moment this couple, who have long departed to another world, has nine grandchildren. Great-grandchildren also appeared relatively recently. In particular, a couple of years ago, the eldest grandson of Prince Rainier, Andrea Casiraghi, the son of Princess Caroline, married. In this marriage, he had a son, Alexander, and a daughter, India. In 2013, Rafael Elmacher was born, son

Rainier III, Prince of Monaco. Sister Antoinette

In the marriage of Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois, and Pierre de Polignac, in addition to the son Louis-Henri, a daughter was also born. The girl was born in 1920 and was named Antoinette. Since, until the age of 33, Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, was not married and had no children, the princess, who was born first, hoped to someday take her brother's place on the throne, or at least put her young son on him, born from a marriage with tennis player Alexander But eh. It is said that she tried in every possible way to prevent the young monarch from marrying. In particular, Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and his sister had a serious quarrel when a woman put an end to her brother's affair with a rumor that this young woman was barren. However, all attempts to do the same in relation to the American Grace Kelly were unsuccessful. Most likely, that is why, after the movie star married Rainier III and gave birth to his heir, the monarch's sister, along with her lover, retired from the court. She settled in seclusion on the coast, along with a huge number of cats and dogs, and rarely appeared in the world. However, until her death in 2011, Antoinette of Monaco remained an ardent defender of animal rights.

Death

Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, whose children are often the focus of the yellow press, died in 2005. He is buried in the family vault in Monte Carlo next to his beloved Grace. The main thing that Rainier III, the Prince of Monaco, did for his country was the growth of the well-being of its inhabitants and the transformation of the state into one of the most prestigious resorts in Europe. And in the memory of people around the world, he remained thanks to a beautiful romance with the charming Grace Kelly.

The story of their love seemed to be copied from the most beautiful fairy tales about princes and princesses. He is the hereditary ruler of the Principality of Monaco, an officer, a graduate of the prestigious Institute of Political Studies (the forge of France's political elite) - and a rich man. She is an Oscar-winning Hollywood star, a real beauty and an enviable bride. This union had all the "components" of a brilliant love scenario: handsome heroes, a fateful first meeting, love letters, obstacles to happiness, a magnificent wedding. But was there the main "component" here - love? After more than 60 years from the date of their wedding, there is no doubt: there was love. Fleeting, spontaneous, yet strong enough for Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier to live together for the rest of their lives.

Meeting

It only took them a second to fall in love with each other. And only a year to tie their destinies by marriage. The acquaintance of Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly took place in 1955 in Cannes. Then the star of the films "Mogambo" and "Country Girl" (for the game in which the actress was awarded the "Oscar") led the American delegation at the Cannes Film Festival. Grace's agenda as a whole contained the usual, "routine" affairs of any movie star: choosing a toilet, meeting with journalists, attending a gala dinner in her honor. Oh yes, and a joint photo shoot with the Prince of Monaco for Paris Match - an item that, according to close actresses, Grace really wanted to cross out of her busy schedule.

Aristotle Onassis, even before the monarch met the heroine, once mentioned that the best way to draw attention to the principality could be the wedding of Rainier with someone like Marilyn Monroe or Grace Kelly ...

However, the Prince of Monaco himself was not so eager to get to the photo shoot. Moreover, on that day, everyone and everything seemed to be against their meeting. Grace got into a traffic jam for many hours, then a small accident and, as contemporaries testify, she was in a terrible mood - including because she was not happy with either her outfit or her hair. Prince Rainier also got stuck in an endless stream of cars, as a result of which he showed up for a photo shoot half an hour late and without the slightest desire to pose with some actress (albeit the highest grossing one of his time).

However, everything was resolved by a small but very sweet episode. Prince Rainier later admitted that, entering the hall where the meeting was to be held, he was fascinated at first sight by how Grace was rehearsing her curtsey in front of a mirror. Finally, they met and, as legend has it, they fell in love at first sight. This look, by the way, fell into the lens of photographer Pierre Galante, who took one of the most famous photographs of the prince and future princess. Grace was also captivated by the 32-year-old monarch, who impressed her with his courtesy and gallantry. After the photo shoot, he invited her to his residence. There, among the flowering gardens, she was especially touched by a small zoo, as well as how calmly and paternally Renier played with a small tiger cub.

After this meeting, a stormy romantic correspondence began between the young people. And even here there were literary reminiscences (we refer to Romeo and Juliet): his spiritual mentor, Father Tucker, helped send letters to Grace Rainier. In just six months, the prince in love will cross the Atlantic, ask for blessings from Grace's parents, and on Christmas Eve propose to the actress in the center of New York, handing her an engagement ring, which, however, in a month will be replaced by the famous jewelry with a 10-carat diamond from Cartier.

Bets are made

Like any marriage of this caliber, Grace and Rainier's wedding has become a subject of general interest and hope for strategic gains. It must be understood that in the middle of the 20th century, the Principality of Monaco was by no means such a paradise for billionaires as it is today. Then it was a poor and not too popular small state, for which every casual tourist was worth its weight in gold. It is not surprising that the people had high hopes for the new prince, who ascended the throne in 1949. One of the prince's best friends, billionaire Aristotle Onassis, even somehow (even before the monarch met our heroine) mentioned that one of the best ways to draw attention to the principality could be Rainier's wedding with someone like Marilyn Monroe or Grace Kelly ... And here Onassis was as insightful as ever: the wedding of the ruler of a small principality with Grace really made an advertisement for this state for decades to come. Tourists poured into Monaco in droves, and billionaires from all over the world began to consider it their duty to buy their own villa in the principality.

Before the wedding, his spiritual mentor, Father Tucker, helped send letters to Grace Rainier.

Grace's parents also had certain hopes, who, by the way, having met the prince, decided that he was the ruler not of Monaco, but of Morocco. But be that as it may, such an alliance was in the hands of the descendants of Irish immigrants, for whom the path to high society in New York was closed for a long time (despite their solid state).

However, they had to pay for their interests. Parents - about $ 2 million as a dowry, and Grace herself, in turn, had to pass a fertility test (requirement of the protocol), and along with it an informal virginity test. Of course, the Hollywood star, who had many lovers before Rainier, was worried about the results. However, since Grace was all right with the ability to give the monarch heirs, no one paid attention to the “side” conclusions.

But perhaps the most serious sacrifice for Grace was the condition under which she had to give up her career as an actress. From now on, she had to play only one role - the wife of the ruler of Monaco.

Before the wedding, Grace had to undergo a fertility test (a protocol requirement) and an informal virginity test.

And she made that sacrifice. Later, only once did Grace try to break this condition, when Alfred Hitchcock offered her a role in one of his new paintings. The prince was inclined to show understanding and let his wife go to the shooting. However, the people of the Principality of Monaco turned out to be sharply against this idea: “Our princess cannot and should not act in films like some kind of actress!” As a result, Grace stayed at home. According to the testimonies of relatives, she hardly left her room for a week, for her this last missed chance to plunge into her beloved world of cinema again turned out to be a real tragedy.

"Wedding of the Century"

This is how the triumph of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier was loudly called, which, according to some estimates, even surpassed the wedding of Queen Elizabeth and Duke Philip in terms of expenses. It is not surprising: the entire festivities lasted about a week and ended with official ceremonies - civil (April 18) and religious (April 19).

Grace herself arrived at the shores of the Principality on the ocean liner "Constitution" on April 12. As soon as the bride stepped onto the pier and greeted her lover, the legendary “rain” of red and white carnations rained down on the young from heaven (actually just from the plane) - a gift from that very friend Rainier Aristotle. About a thousand guests attended the celebration itself, including Hollywood stars, prominent politicians and even representatives of the Pope.

The wedding celebration cost, according to various estimates, 45-55 million dollars, most of which was covered by the MGM film studio, which collaborated with Grace. By the way, in exchange for breaking the contract with the newly-made princess, the company received the exclusive right to broadcast the ceremony on television and in the cinema.

The famous Grace Kelly dress, which many still consider the standard of wedding attire, was made by about 30 dressmakers over a six-week period. The outfit, designed by costume designer Helen Rose, was embroidered with pearls and vintage Brussels lace and is now valued at around $300,000.

The celebration of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier, according to some estimates, surpassed the wedding of Queen Elizabeth and Duke Philip in terms of spending.

In the evening after the ceremony, the newlyweds went on a honeymoon trip on a snow-white yacht - it was a gift from Aristotle Onassis to his friend and his dear wife.

And they lived a long time...

But is it happy? Today, it becomes clear to many that the strong marriage of Grace and Rainier rested not so much on all-consuming love, but on friendship, respect and loyalty to one's own status. Grace seemed to be an exemplary princess: always elegant, she attended all protocol events, did charity work and behaved like an ideal wife. However, it soon became clear that the principality, which once seemed to her a paradise, became a golden cage for her.