Happy birthday Princess Grace Kelly!
Before Kate and Wills and Charles and Di, there was Grace – Princess Grace.
She was the iconic Hollywood actress who turned her back on Tinseltown to marry the love of her life, Prince Rainier III of Monaco.
Following two 1956 ceremonies – civil and religious – America’s sweetheart went on to become a Princess of the pint-size principality that is Monaco and despite her sudden death from injuries stemming from a car accident in 1982, the legacy of Grace Kelly has endured.
So, to celebrate what would have been Princess Grace’s 85th birthday on November 12 LIFE Magazine has shared a number of rare and unpublished photos of Kelly and her husband.
As LIFE writes, “The tale of the American movie star and Philadelphia native marrying the prince of a small, sensationally wealthy city-state was simply too perfect to ignore.”
Before Grace’s death the Grimaldi’s enjoyed a marriage spanning 26 years and the Princess gave birth to the couple’s three children – Princess Caroline, Prince Albert and Princess Stephanie.
Here’s a look back at some of the images that made the world fall in love with Grace Kelly.
A picture from LIFE magazine, where Grace is greeted by hordes of photographers outside a hotel shortly before her marriage. PHOTO: LIFE Magazine.
Cover du jour: Grace Kelly on the Cover LIFE Magazine in 1955. PHOTO: LIFE Magazine.
Grace, the classic beauty as featured in LIFE magazine. PHOTO: LIFE Magazine.
1956: Prince Rainier III of Monaco joins his then-fiancee Grace Kelly and her dog, Oliver, aboard the princely yacht ‘Deo Juvante II’ in Monte Carlo’s harbour as Kelly arrives from USA for their wedding ceremony.
1956: Prince Rainier III of Monaco, with Grace Kelly, receiving the car as a wedding gift from the people of Monaco, the day before their marriage ceremony.
1956: American actress Grace Kelly wearing sunglasses and a cloche hat during her wedding rehearsal at Monaco Cathedral.
1956: A white dove is presented to film star Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III as a gift from the people of Monaco on their wedding day.
1956: Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco pose for photographer after a short walk near their Paris home.
1959: Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly arriving at Rome Airport on a private visit during which they are to see Pope Giovanni XXIII and the Italian President Giovanni Gronchi.
1959: Princess Grace and Prince Rainier of Monaco shopping in London’s West End.
1959: Princess Grace of Monaco arrived at the Lyon train station in Paris with her two children, Princess Caroline, then aged 2, and Prince Albert, in the arms of his English nurse.
1959: Prince Rainier III of Monaco carrying in his arms his son Albert, and Princess Grace and daughter Caroline in Saulieu.
1959: Princess Grace of Monaco and Prince Rainier with former French President, Charles de Gaulle at a banquet in their honour at the Elysee Palace, Paris, 14th October 1959.
1959: French President Charles de Gaulle talks with Prince Rainier of Monaco as wifes Yvonne and Princess Grace stand close by.
Princess Grace of Monaco circa 1960.
1956: Actress Grace Kelly just a few days before she left for Monaco to marry Prince Ranier III in Hollywood, California.
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