Phyllis Brown
Princess Grace Kelly holds a special place among the 15 women recognized as Hollywood’s beauty icons of the 20th century, standing alongside legends like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn.
What sets her apart is not just her stunning looks or her acting career, which spanned a mere five years with only about ten films.
Instead, it’s the lavish yet restrictive life she led as the Princess of Monaco and her tragic, mysterious death that continue to captivate the public.
The proud debutante who shone brightly in Hollywood
Grace Kelly was born into a life of luxury and was blessed with a proper education. She hailed from a wealthy family—her father was a millionaire, and her mother came from noble lineage.
This privileged background provided her with a staggering dowry of $2 million, an unprecedented amount at that time.
Grace attended the prestigious Assumption Academy in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From a young age, she was influenced by her uncle’s artistic talents, which led her to abandon her studies in pursuit of a film career.
This decision caused severe friction with her father, who believed acting was just a notch above prostitution. Her family almost disowned her when she auditioned for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.
Grace Kelly made a remarkable impression on directors from her very first audition. With her elegant beauty and regal demeanor, success came swiftly.
Just four years into her career, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her outstanding role in “The Country Girl.” Additionally, she earned a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress in “Mogambo.”
Within just four short years, Grace Kelly became one of the brightest stars in Hollywood. Her pure beauty, impeccable fashion sense, and undeniable acting talent attracted admirers, including top actors of the time.
Kelly’s status rivaled that of Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, making her a role model for countless women across America. Her life was constantly bathed in the glow of stardom.
Leaving a shining career to become royalty
In May 1955, during the glamorous Cannes Film Festival, Grace Kelly met Monaco’s Prince Rainier under rather unexpected circumstances. Their introduction, arranged by mutual friends, didn’t go as smoothly as one might expect.
Rainier arrived late, and a city-wide labor strike had cut the electricity, leaving Kelly unable to properly style her hair. Despite these less-than-ideal conditions, the two quickly found a connection.
A photograph capturing their fateful meeting graced the covers of numerous prestigious magazines with the headline: “The Iconic Handshake Between Grace Kelly and Monaco’s Prince Rainier III.”
Prince Rainier was on a mission to find a wife at that time. His choice was not just a matter of personal preference but of national importance—without an heir, Monaco risked becoming a French protectorate.
Rainier openly expressed his vision of the woman he wanted to marry: “The ideal woman, I see her with long hair floating in the wind, the color of autumn leaves,” he said in December 1955.
He continued, “Her eyes are blue or violet, with flecks of gold… I want an ordinary woman who will give me an extraordinary feeling. I want her to give me the feeling that she is mine, only mine.”
Six months later, the Prince made his intentions clear by traveling to the United States to meet Grace’s parents. Their engagement was announced in January 1956, leading to their iconic wedding in April of the same year. Dubbed the “wedding of the century,” their marriage was a spectacle of grandeur.
The wedding took place on April 18, 1956, marking the official end of Hollywood’s brightest star. Grace Kelly was forced to make the most heartbreaking decision of her life: to abandon her passionate love for acting and take on a far more complex role as the Princess of Monaco.
The royal wedding was broadcast live across Europe, catapulting Monaco—a previously obscure corner of the world—into the spotlight.
Millions of tourists began flocking to the tiny principality each year, all drawn by the allure of its enchanting Princess. They came not for her husband or any other reason but because of her.
This grand royal wedding, celebrated by the prestigious status of both the bride and groom, seemed to promise a dream life. But was everything truly as glamorous as it seemed?
A cold life in a lavish castle
Grace Kelly’s life in Monaco, often portrayed as a fairytale, was far from the idyllic existence many imagined. Shortly after moving to Monaco, Kelly found herself homesick, longing for the familiarity of her previous life.
In the book “Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier” by J. Randy Taraborrelli, Prince Rainier himself reflected on this, admitting,
“It would have been better if she’d spent some time here with her parents before we married. Looking back, I was also probably too impatient that she should fit in and feel at ease.”
However, Kelly’s struggles went beyond mere homesickness. Biographer Wendy Leigh, in her book “True Grace: The Life and Times of an American Princess,” alleges that Rainier was unfaithful, maintaining three mistresses within months of their marriage.
Leigh shared with the Daily Mail, “Grace was humiliated and she was extremely unhappy. She was surrounded by decadence and Rainier’s disreputable friends.” This betrayal compounded Kelly’s sense of isolation and disappointment.
Kelly faced constant public scrutiny as she settled into her new role. Biographer Jay Jorgensen recounted to Closer Weekly how Kelly longed for time alone with her husband.
Bearing the responsibilities of a nation, Grace lost the freedom to live as her true self. According to sources, millions adored Grace, and the Prince’s jealousy and discomfort grew.
He banned all of Grace’s films from being shown in Monaco, and in 1962, she declined a film role to avoid upsetting the people of Monaco.
Reports suggest that she even contemplated returning to Hollywood and possibly seeking a divorce.
A close friend, Judith Balaban Quine, reflected on Kelly’s disillusionment, saying,
“[Rainier] was her prince on a white charger and he was going to rescue her from all this. He could not possibly have known that what he was taking her from was what made her the very person he loved. She did not know it either.”
Rainier was determined to keep their marriage intact. In a 1974 interview, he revealed, “I think the experience of my parents’ separation when I was only six has subconsciously made me very much want my own marriage to succeed.”
He added, “We try to turn differences into jokes, and not give them more importance than they should have.”
It appears that this royal couple found a way to navigate their differences and maintain their bond. Their marriage lasted 26 years, and the couple had three children: Caroline, Albert, and Stephanie.
A tragic death of a “compassionate and gentle lady”
On September 13, 1982, while driving her youngest daughter back to the palace, Grace Kelly was involved in a severe car accident.
While her daughter Stephanie emerged unscathed, Grace suffered life-threatening injuries. She was rushed to Monaco Hospital but never regained consciousness.
Condolences came in from all over the world, with U.S. President Ronald Reagan describing Grace Kelly as “a compassionate and gentle lady,” showing how much she was loved and admired.
Monaco authorities concluded that the accident was caused by Grace suffering a sudden stroke, but her family insisted there were too many suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.
Some speculated that she was assassinated by factions opposed to Prince Rainier III’s economic policies and governance. However, to this day, these allegations remain shrouded in mystery.
After Grace’s sudden death, it became evident that beneath Prince Rainier’s jealous and patriarchal exterior lay deep affection for his late wife. He never remarried and lived alone until his death, requesting to be buried next to Grace so they could be together forever.
