Princess Grace Kelly: A Look at Her Life & Legacy in Monaco

Megan Markle is one of the most famous Americans in the world.

Since her marriage to Prince Harry and transformation as the Duchess of Sussex, there’s been almost non-stop attention on the Royal couple.

It’s been a bumpy and controversial road for Markle—one that culminated with her and Harry stepping down as royals in January 2020.

But for those who remember the story of Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII, Markle and Prince Harry’s trajectory was anything but shocking.

American women & European royalty

TL;DR on Wallis Simpson: an American socialite named Wallis Simpson falls in love with King Edward VIII in the early 1930s. He tries to make Simpson his official consort, but Simpson has two ex-husbands, and the Brits don’t like that.

The marriage was viewed as too threatening to the monarchy, so King Edward VIII abdicated the throne the same year he ascended it in 1936.

Ever wondered how Queen Elizabeth II made it to the throne?

Because her uncle, King Edward VIII, fell hard for a cutie from Baltimore (Simpson). When he abdicated his position, it made Elizabeth II’s father the King of the United Kingdom. (History’s crazy, y’all.)

Clearly, American women haven’t had an overwhelmingly easy time with the British monarchy. And that might paint a misleading picture—one that depicts American women as unfit for royal worlds.

Between Simpson and Markle, it’s easy to lose sight of arguably the US’s most impactful American-turned-European-royalty: Princess Grace of Monaco, a fashion icon and beloved monarch.

Let’s explore the life and legacy of Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco and member of the House of Grimaldi through her marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco.

Grace goes to Cannes

If you’ve heard of Grace Kelly, it’s probably thanks to her royal affiliation.

However, she had an extensive and successful career in Hollywood prior to her marriage. One that saw her take home three Golden Globes and one Academy Award.

In 1955, Grace Kelly headed to the Cannes Film Festival. There, she caught the attention of Monaco’s Prince Rainier III. He invited her to his palace for a photoshoot (classic), and she accepted.

That kicked off a short but sweet year-long courtship that ended with a diamond-studded ring.

Kelly’s life took a sharp turn after her marriage. She swapped her acting career for the daily duties of managing a country, and quickly had two children. (She would go on to have a third in the 1960s.)

But Kelly didn’t wilt behind the scenes or succumb to the monotony of royal life.

Princess Grace rises to the charge

In fact, she immediately fit in.

Her wedding to Prince Rainier III drew in around 30 million viewers from around the world and is still regarded as the first moment of ‘media overkill’ in pop culture.

Just like Princess Diana of Wales, Kelly seemed to genuinely connect with her new constituents—and that sense of doting seemed to radiate from her. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, she headed new programs for Monaco and beyond.

Princess Grace, as she became known, got to work managing the Red Cross of Monaco, the Patron of Rainbow Coalition for Children, and the Garden Club of Monaco.

She even founded AMADE Mondiale, which focuses on providing resources to at-risk children, and the Princess Grace Foundation, which supports local Monegasque artists.

Unfortunately, Princess Grace suffered from a cerebral hemorrhage in 1982 at the age of 52. Following her death, Prince Rainier III never remarried.

How to experience Princess Grace’s legacy in Monaco

Though Princess Grace has been dead for almost half a century, her legacy thrives in Monaco and beyond. If you’re heading to hotspots like the Monte Carlo or are taking a more general tour through Monaco, you’ll be close by dozens of places that carry Princess Grace’s influence.

Here are the spots I recommend checking out:

• Avenue Princess Grace (one of the highest-class shopping districts in the world)
• Fontvieille Park Rose Garden
• Princess Grace Irish Library
• Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo