The term “fairy tale” is often used to describe the love story between Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco, and it is not an exaggeration. The movie diva and the heir to the Monegasque dynasty swore eternal love to each other seventy years ago today, resulting in one of the twentieth century’s most legendary bonds. He, of blue blood, was considered Europe’s most coveted bachelor; she, an icon of elegance and muse of Alfred Hitchcock, had already won an Academy Award.
Their gazes famously met for the first time on the Croisette in 1955, and from that moment on, nothing was the same. At that time, however, neither of them had a truly stable romantic situation. Grace was dating Jean-Pierre Aumont, while Rainier was involved with actress Gisèle Pascal. A few months after their first meeting, however, Rainier asked for Grace’s hand in marriage, with an extraordinary engagement ring embellished with a 12-carat diamond.
With that, Grace decided to abandon her blazing career in Hollywood and move to the small principality of Monaco. Instead of flying to her wedding destination, she chose to cross the ocean: she set sail from New York Harbor accompanied by an entourage of 70 people (including her six bridesmaids and no less than 80 suitcases).
Rainier and Grace pronounced their long-awaited “I do”s on April 19, 1956, at St. Nicholas Cathedral, during a lavish and well-attended ceremony. The event was filmed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer—apparently in exchange for the actress’s termination of her contract. It was broadcast worldwide, enchanting some 30 million viewers. Because of its enormous media coverage, the royal wedding of Rainier and Grace is often considered one of the earliest examples of reality TV.
The church wedding was actually the couple’s second wedding ceremony, as required by Napoleonic law. The first, a civil affair, had taken place at the royal palace the day before. With Rainier III of Monaco, the principality ushered in a new season of renewal, while Grace Kelly devoted herself diligently to charity and raising their three children: Caroline, Albert and Stéphanie. A fairy tale on which a tragic curtain fell with the untimely death of the beloved princess on September 14, 1982.
Much has been forgotten about the fairy tale ceremony 70 years ago— but not by Vanity Fair. Below, find 10 details from Grace Kelly and Rainier of Monaco’s royal wedding that you might not know.
The secret correspondence
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