A Wedding to Remember

It was on this day in 1956 that American film icon Grace Kelly was married to His Serene Highness Prince Rainier III of Monaco. Huge crowds of tens of thousands of Monegasques turned out to cheer the happy couple and the event really put the tiny Principality of Monaco on the world map, certainly as far as the United States was concerned as 'Monaco fever' swept America from coast to coast. Ever since that happy day, many Americans have taken a special interest in Monaco and the House of Grimaldi -and obviously, a great many still do. For traditional style and modern glamour, the wedding of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace remains almost impossible to top. A happy occasion to remember.

One Year Anniversary

It has been one year today that TSH Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene said their "I do's" in the courtyard of the Princely Palace amidst throngs of well-wishers, royal guests and the extended family of all Monegasque. How time flies! The Sovereign Prince was asked about his feelings on his first anniversary and said that, "We are really happy and I have the feeling that it happened yesterday. I am very proud of what my wife has accomplished this past year, creating Her foundation dedicated to children and sport, and being so involved in her new role in Monaco . She is fulfilling a difficult mission in a perfect way and I thank Her for that".

Indeed so. Princess Charlene has, I think it is safe to say, become an accepted and beloved part of the Principality and member of the House of Grimaldi. We wish the Princely Couple a very happy anniversary with many, many more to come. And, on a day like this, it is appropriate to take a look back and remember the happy occasion itself. Here is a photographic post from one year ago today The Princely Wedding - At Last!

On This Day in History

On this day in Monegasque history HSH Prince Rainier III succeeded his grandfather, HSH Prince Louis II, as Sovereign Prince of Monaco. The begining of what would be one of the most successful and glorious reigns in Grimaldi family history.

Today in History

On this day in 1956 a new era in the history of the House of Grimaldi was opened when HSH Prince Rainier III married Miss Grace Kelly of the United States.

Today in Monegasque History

Today in 1731 HSH Prince Jacques I became Sovereign Prince of Monaco upon the death of his wife Princess Louise-Hippolyte, ushering in the reign of the Mantignon branch of the family.

And it was on this day in 1983 that HSH Princess Caroline of Monaco married her soulmate Stefano Casiraghi at the Princely Palace, starting off what would probably be the happiest years of her life.

Today in History

It was on this day in 1841 that HSH Prince Florestan I became Sovereign Prince of Monaco.

Accession Day of Albert I

It was on this day in 1889 that HSH Prince Albert I succeeded his father (Charles III) as Sovereign Prince of Monaco. Under his leadership, the character of Monaco was to change a great deal as the principality became a center for scientific research, culture and peace. Although his father had never understood his fascination with the sea, Prince Albert I established the Oceanographic Institute of Monaco which has grown in prestige ever since and remains a major center for oceanographic research to this day. His interest in archaeology also prompted him to found the Institute for Human Paleontology and the actions of his consort, Princess Alice, brought high culture to Monaco in the form of the opera, ballet and theater. When the threat of world war began to appear on the horizon, Prince Albert founded the International Institute of Peace in Monaco to try to find a way to avoid such a disaster and having been a veteran of the Franco-Prussian War, the Prince was only too aware of what horrors resulted from the last time the French and Germans had had at each other. When the war came anyway, he intervened with the German Kaiser, who had been his friend, to lessen the suffering of people in Belgium and Alsace and he established hospitals and recovery centers in Monaco for the Allied soldiers. He was a great man and widely respected all around the world, the first Prince of Monaco to be known in America as well as Europe (he was the first Grimaldi to visit the United States) and it was quite traumatic when he died in 1922, honored by the people of Monaco and scientific societies all around the world.

Historic Anniversary

It was on this day in 1946 that HSH Prince Louis II of Monaco married Ghislaine Marie Francoise Dommanget and, as regular readers will know, she was not exactly welcomed with open arms by the rest of the Grimaldi family besides the Sovereign Prince. However, Prince Louis II adored her and she brought him a great deal of happiness in his remaining years. She always kept up a dignified front and even after the death of her husband when she was a rather unwelcome Princess Dowager, she lived in Paris, rarely attending family functions but gaining the respect and admiration of more and more people by the way she carried herself, whatever the circumstances. She did get along well with Princess Grace, which is not surprising since, if nothing else, they had at least two things in common; they were both actresses and both had run afoul of Princess Antoinette upon entering the family.

Accession of Charles III

It was on this day in 1856 that HSH Prince Charles III became the Sovereign Prince of Monaco. He came to the throne beloved by the people, a handsome prince known for his sharp mind and decisiveness but he inherited many problems and his path to the throne was not without bumbs. His mother Princess Caroline had ruled the place, more or less, while his father, Prince Florestan, had the artistic nature that inclined him toward liberalism and never getting down to business. Prince Charles became so disgusted with the situation that at one point he threatened to go to the King of Piedmont-Sardinia to have him intervene to force Prince Florestan to abdicate in favor of Charles. His mother was not amused to say the least.

She was a formidable and talented woman but Charles had good reason to be concerned. All of her financial wizardry had not been enough to keep the family on solid financial ground as Prince Florestan was as liberal in his spending as he was in his political opinions. Prince Charles III wanted to get out from under the Savoys and return Monaco to the old protectorate with France. He also wanted to restore the Grimaldis to their place at court in Paris, having sorely felt the lack of attention from King Louis XVIII, Charles X and Louis Philippe. He hoped Emperor Napoleon III would be more friendly. However, all of these ambitions would cost money and that was something Monaco nor the House of Grimaldi had in abundance. The tensions were also growing worse with Turin. It was left to Prince Charles III to sort all of these issues out and to steer through the complex world of Franco-Sardinian relations. In the end, it cost Monaco the towns of Menton and Roquebrune but, in the end, in every other way Prince Charles III was to see all of his goals accomplished and would usher in a new era for the Principality of Monaco.

THE Wedding of Monaco

Yesterday was the annniversary of the wedding of HSH Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Miss Grace Kelly of Philadelphia, USA. With all the excitement over the upcoming princely wedding of Albert and Charlene it is obvious once again that the wedding of his parents set the standard by which all other Grimaldi unions have been judged -and it was a high bar indeed. I'm sure everyone by now knows the story. Grace Kelly had been having trouble finding a man who her family approved of and Prince Rainier had been having trouble finding someone he truly loved who was princess material. He made a pilgrimage to Lourdes to ask the Blessed Virgin Mary to intercede for him that he find a good, Catholic wife. Not long after came Grace's now famous photo-shoot in Monaco. The two met and Rainier III was immediately smitten, which is hardly surprising, I'm sure every man who ever met Grace fell in love with her instantly. There was a whirlwind courtship, Rainier turned on the old Grimaldi charm and Grace was swept off her feet. Soon he was coming to the States to 'meet the folks' and make the 'deal'. Grace finally had her parents at a loss for words, here was a man even they could find no fault with. He was young, handsome, a good Catholic and -a prince for crying out loud! Some women look for a man with a good job or a nice car, Grace found one with his own country. The parents could not object.

A friend remembered Grace telling her that she had finally 'found her prince' only to later discover that for Grace, her "prince" actually was a prince. Their match and marriage put Monaco on the map. People all over the world and particularly in the United States, who had never heard of the tiny principality before suddenly became obsessed with all things Monegasque. Prince Rainier designed his own special uniform for the big day and Grace was given an early release from her MGM contract on the condition that the studio be given exclusive rights to film the princely wedding and release it to the public. It was an excellent short film, showing not just the wedding but Grace arriving in Monaco, exploring the Princely Palace that would be her new home and getting a taste of the centuries of history of the Grimaldi monarchy she was marrying in to. Prince Rainier had plenty of logistics to handle as his tiny country was literally swarmed with press and Grace had to have felt pulled in every direction from the wedding plans to relocating to Monaco to quickly learning French (or at least enough to get through the ceremony, to be refined and completed later). The Princess said later the actual wedding was rather difficult, so intense and crushing was the media glare. However, true to form, one would never have suspected it as everything was carried off flawlessly.

Not only did the wedding day and wedding ceremony set a standard for class and excellence but so did the marriage itself. Rainier and Grace were absolutely devoted to each other and would remain so for the rest of their lives. The Prince of Monaco could not have made a better choice. Princess Grace brought world attention to Monaco, made it the premier vacation spot for the Hollywood crowd among whom she had many friends but, with the help of Prince Rainier, Monaco also became known to the average person and was welcoming to a new wave of middle class visitors rather than remaining the exclusive retreat of the super-rich. Much of the artistic and charitable dates on Monegasque social calendar even today go back to what was first set up by Princess Grace. Recently, in the United States, a poll was taken as to the most beautiful princesses in the world. Kate Middleton made the list, as did (not surprisingly) Princess (later Queen) Rania of Jordan, Diana Princess of Wales, but still topping them all was our own Princess Grace of Monaco. Clearly, she set the standard in more ways than one.

Favorite Princely Images: The Passing of Rainier

It was on this day in 2005 that HSH Prince Rainier III went to his eternal reward and Albert II became Sovereign Prince of Monaco.

Caro's Birthday

Yesterday, HRH the Princess of Hanover (Caroline of Monaco to you and me) celebrated her 54th birthday. A very happy occasion but, as we have mentioned before, it is also the anniversary of her marriage to Prince Ernst August V which I'm sure is not seen as quite the happy occasion now that it once was. There has been no news on that front, the 'married in name only' situation still seems to prevail but, the important thing is that Caroline seems to be taking it all in stride, little Princess Alexandra is back in school in Monaco and they all seem to be doing well. Mad for Monaco wishes Princess Caroline a very happy birthday with many more to come. Even with the upcoming marriage of her little brother, it is safe to say that no matter who the 'first lady' of Monaco is, Princess Caroline will always hold a unique place in the hearts of her people and many fans around the world. Like her mother before her, others may take over some of her duties, but her shoes will never be filled. She is one of a kind and has always been a class act. Vive l'Princesse!

Two Events in Grimaldi History

It was on this day in 1731 that HSH Princess Louise-Hippolyte passed away, leaving the throne of Monaco to her husband HSH Prince Jacques I, begining the Mantignon line of the Grimaldi family. However, Monaco was never a good fit for the prince and he soon abdicated in favor of his young son HSH Prince Honore III. He then retired to his more familiar haunts of Paris and Versailles. His former home is now the residence of the French prime minister.

It was also on this day in 1983 that HSH Princess Caroline of Monaco married Italian businessman Stefano Casiraghi. Although their marriage would be cut short by tragedy their years together were thankfully happy ones and Princess Caroline has stated more than once that Stefano was her true 'one and only'. Stefano died in 1990 while boat racing but he gave the Princess three wonderful children; Andrea, Pierre and Charlotte.

Historic Anniversary

It was on this day in 1816 that HSH Prince Florestan of Monaco married Maria Caroline Gilbert de Lametz in what was to be one of the most successful and influential marriages in Grimaldi family history and would have quite an impact on the future of Monaco. The results of this match are still felt today.

Today in Grimaldi History

It was one of the most controversial matches in Monegasque history and the search for a husband for Princess Louise-Hippolyte, daughter of Prince Antoine I of Monaco, was extremely contentious. The Princess was not supposed to have any say in the matter, her father had packed her off to the Convent of the Visitation at Aix-en-Provence for two years until he settled the matter for her. However, her mother, Princess Marie de Lorraine, slipped out of Monaco in the dark of night, without the knowledge of her husband (with whom she did not have the greatest relationship) and went to Paris where she and her father decided on the dashing nobleman Jacques de Mantignon, Comte de Thorigny. He was wealthy, 25-years-old and from a very good family and they considered him the best choice. However, Marie de Lorraine knew Prince Antoine I would oppose any choice she made so she and her father approached the Duchess of Lude to approach the Sovereign Prince of Monaco on the subject.

Prince Antoine was totally duped. The Duchess convinced him that Jacques was her own suggestion and not only did he agree but he extracted a promise from the duchess to keep the name “secret” from his wife. He thought he had put one over on his wife, not knowing she was behind the whole affair. Antoine wrote to Marie de Lorraine to inform her that the choice had been made and if King Louis XIV of France agreed (necessary because of the place the Grimaldis held in the French aristocracy) Jacques de Mantignon would be married to their daughter. Needless to say, Princess Marie wrote back to her husband congratulating him on such an excellent choice and asking to come back to Monaco. The marriage negotiations got underway but things came to a halt when King Louis XIV, who had been a great friend of Monaco, passed away. But, after his death, the young King Louis XV and his regent signed the marriage contract on September 5 and on October 20, 1715 the marriage of 18-year-old Princess Louise-Hippolyte and Jacques de Mantignon took place.

Unfortunately, problems seemed to plague the young couple from the very start. Before they were married even a year they lost a child, a tragic event for all concerned, and to make matters worse Prince Antoine and Princess Marie were at odds again. After having established something of a truce Prince Antoine found out how he had been fooled into accepting Marie’s candidate for husband to their daughter and he was furious. Always known for his short-temper, Antoine made things so heated that Princess Louise-Hippolyte and Prince Jacques could not stand the atmosphere in Monaco and moved to Paris. Prince Antoine also came into conflict with his daughter and (more so) his son-in-law after the death of his wife in 1724. Marie de Lorraine (as per her own marriage agreement) left her fortune to her daughter and the cash-strapped Prince Jacques sued for control of the estate of his late wife, accomplishing nothing in the end but making some lawyers wealthier and himself all the poorer.

Princess Louise-Hippolyte and Prince Jacques would go on to have plenty of problems of their own, ended only when the life of the Princess was cut short not long after succeeding her father as Sovereign Princess of Monaco. However, the marriage was an extremely significant event as it made Princess Louise-Hippolyte the mother of a whole new branch of the Grimaldi princely house. Despite their problems Princess Louise-Hippolyte and Prince Jacques had nine children together, though two did not long survive. Because of their marriage the rule of the Grimaldi family in Monaco would go on in the person of their oldest (surviving) son who in due time became Prince Honore III of Monaco.

It Happened Yesterday

It was yesterday in 1990 that Stefano Casiraghi, husband of Princess Caroline, was killed in a boat racing accident off the coast of Monaco while defending his title as world offshore powerboat champion. Princess Caroline was devestated and went into deep mourning for a long time afterward. She became noticably more religious and would often go to Church during the day just to visit the resting place of her beloved husband. In the following years she always said that Stefano was her one true love and, in light of recent events, it is probably safe to say she was never happier than when she was with him. Their marriage had been quick but it took a great deal of time and a good deal of lobbying by her father to normalize things with the Church and it was to come to a tragic end all too soon. However, Stefano Casiraghi, as well as leaving a lasting mark on Princess Caroline, also left behind a striking legacy in the persons of his children; Andrea, Pierre and Charlotte. Undoubtedly he is still greatly missed.

Today in Monegasque History

It was on this day in 1841 that HSH Prince Florestan I became Sovereign Prince of Monaco. One of the more artistic members of the Grimaldi dynasty, he was a reluctant monarch and was faced with many immense problems (through which he was helped by his energetic wife, the first Princess Caroline) and was only too willing to see responsibility pass to his son Prince Charles III. He had only inherited the throne in the first place because of the lack of a wife or children on the part of his brother Prince Honore V.

Today in Grimaldi History

It was on this day in 1846 that HSH Prince Charles III of Monaco married the aristocratic Belgian lady Antoinette de Merode-Westerloo. The marriage was a complete success, securing the future of the Grimaldi dynasty (by the birth of the future Prince Albert I), the couple became quite popular at the court of Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie of France and the dowry Princess Antoinette brought with her proved quite helpful in establishing the original Monte Carlo Casino which finally solved the money-woes of Monaco. Together they provided a new, fresh face of stability and progress for the principality. The Grimaldis may be known for their romantic misadventures but there were plenty of successful marriages in the family's history and that of Charles and Antoinette was certainly one of them. They were faithful to each other, appreciative of each other and a very caring couple. When the health of Charles III began to fail Princess Antoinette was extremely attentive and she sacrificed her own health to some extent to care for her husband to the very last.

MM Video: Princess Grace - Still Missed

It was 28 years ago today that Their Serene Highnesses Princess Grace and Princess Stephanie were involved in the car crash that cost Princess Grace her life and nearly cost Princess Stephanie her mobility. Almost three decades later the absence of Princess Grace is still felt. She was truly one of a kind and there will never be another like her.

R.I.P. Princess

Anniversary of Albert I

It was on this day in 1889 that Albert I became Sovereign Prince of Monaco. Known as "the Scholar" and "the Sailor Prince", Albert I was the son of HSH Prince Charles III and after coming to the Monegasque throne laid the foundation for Monaco to become a center of scientific research and development in the emerging field of oceanography of which Albert I was an enthusiastic student. A veteran of the Spanish and French navies, Prince Albert became a pacifist later in life but was also very good friends with German Kaiser Wilhelm II. His contributions to science are numerous, particularly in the fields of botany and oceanography. He had many trials in his private life but, in many ways, for much of his life his first love was always the sea and he looked with great hope on the modern world and felt that the great scholars he associated with and the new advances in science and technology were about to bring in a new era of understanding and advancement to the world. As such he was always opposed to cruelty and discrimination wherever he found it. The Prince earned a number of enemies in France when he spoke up in defense of the unjustly accused Captain Alfred Dreyfus (a Jewish officer in the French army convicted of spying for Germany on fabricated evidence). In fact, it was through his friendship with the Kaiser that he learned who the real spy was and that Dreyfus was as innocent as he always claimed to be. Prince Albert was crushed when World War I broke out and his vision of the future seemed to go up in flames. Naturally attached to France, the son of a Belgian mother but a friend of the Kaiser he tried to arrange peace but no one would listen. When war came he opened the luxuries of Monaco up for wounded soldiers to recover in the sun and splendor of Monte Carlo. Honored by many nations, Prince Albert I was the first Monegasque prince to visit the United States and who married the first American Princess of Monaco. His life had its ups and downs but the reign of Prince Albert I started today in 1889.