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 biggest royal romances of the last two centuries in 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 heir to the throne. The fact is that otherwise the throne could go to his second cousin - Wilhelm von Urach, who fought in the First World War on the side of Germany. perspective to see inas Prince of Monaco, the German did not suit France, which threatened in this case to occupy the principality. Therefore, Prince Louis II went to the violation of all laws, giving the girl the title of Duchess 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.
Renier III, Prince of Monaco: biography before accession to the throne
The future monarch completed a course in the best private schools in Switzerland and the UK, 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 for service 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 president of the French provisional government awardedheir to the crown of Monaco with the Order of the Legion of Honor and the Knight's Cross.
Reigning
Renier 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 we althy 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 the firstfashion model, and then a sought-after movie star. Moreover, long before Rainier III, 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. Further family life 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.
The death of his wife
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 necessary medical equipment was 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 forever paralyzed and would never be able to 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 Dakar rally. In 2005, Prince Albert II succeeded to 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 into the worldanother, 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, the son of Charlotte Casiraghi, was born.
Renier III, Prince of Monaco. Sister Antoinette
In the marriage of Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois, and Pierre de Polignac, in addition to the son of 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 Giselle Pascal, spreading the rumor that this young French actress 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
Renier III, Prince of Monaco, whose children are often the subject of tabloid attention, 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.
