A tragic end for fairytale marriage

GRACE PATRICIA KELLY was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to John Brendan Kelly Sr and Margaret Majer; her Irish Catholic family were new but prominent figures in Philadelphia society.

Her father was a self-made millionaire and a gold-medal-winning Olympic sculler, and her brother ‘Jack’ followed in that tradition. Kelly Drive in Philadelphia is named for John Jr, who was a city councilman there.

Though her family had opposed her becoming an actress, Kelly became a fashion model and appeared in her first film, Fourteen Hours (1951), when she was 22. The following year, she starred in High Noon, with Gary Cooper.

Kelly earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for Mogambo (1953).

Kelly made three films with Alfred Hitchcock: Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, and To Catch a Thief.

In 1955, she was awarded the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Country Girl. While it was being filmed, she had engaged in a brief affair with co-star Bing Crosby which was kept quiet to protect both their reputations.

The musical comedy High Society (1956) was her last film, as her marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco marked her retirement from acting. Before her marriage, she was previously involved with Clark Gable, Bing Crosby, Ray Milland, William Holden, Oleg Cassini, and Jean-Pierre Aumont. She reportedly was surprised to learn from Rainier that she was expected to give up her film career entirely, but followed his wishes.

Before Kelly drew Rainier’s attention, French film star Gisèle Pascal had been his love interest for six years Gisèle and Rainier supposedly parted when a physical examination reportedly found her to be infertile (she later married and had children). Prince Rainier and Princess Grace had three children: Caroline, Albert and Stephanie.

Kelly’s fairytale marriage made headlines across the world. To welcome their princess, the Monegasque people gave Kelly a Rolls Royce.

Having been forced to give up acting, Kelly turned her attention to charity work and the arts.

But the pressures of being a princess were overwhelming. Kelly did not know French, the official language of Monaco, and was often very depressed.

Tragedy struck on September 13, 1982, when a car in which Kelly and her daughter Stephanie were travelling went over a cliff.

Kelly died the following day.

Princess Grace was interred at St Nicholas Cathedral in Monaco on September 18, 1982.

The issue of who was driving the car that fatal day is still controversial. It has been suggested that Stephanie, not her mother, was driving and was under the influence of alcohol.