Prince Rainier of Monaco was once the most eligible bachelor in the world until he married Hollywood royalty, Grace Kelly. Together they embarked on the transformation of the tiny principality into the jewel of the Riviera. April 6th, 2015 marks the 10th anniversary of the death of Prince Rainier. A newly published book gives a rare insight into the man behind the Principality of Monaco – from his role as a devoted father, loyal friend and loving husband, to the obligations of a modern sovereign.
The real story is very different from the movie Grace of Monaco, which masquerades as a biopic. The screenwriter and the director of the film took extreme liberties in misrepresenting the portrayals of both Prince Rainier (Tim Roth) and Princess Grace (Nicole Kidman). In the book, My Days with Princess Grace of Monaco, the reader will discover the man behind the public image, his lesser-known personal side, and his true relationship with Princess Grace – as well as with his three children: Princess Caroline, Prince Albert, and Princess Stephanie.
Excerpt from My Days with Princess Grace of Monaco:
Paris – October 24, 1959
Dearest Mum and Dad,
This has been quite an unforgettable week. Grace and Rainier came to our apartment for cocktails, and then we went out to an Hungarian restaurant for a marvelous dinner, complete with zither, violin, cimbalom – and much wine. We tasted all the specialties: goose liver, sausages, goulash, chicken paprika, stuffed cabbage, etc., and by the time we left after midnight we were very gay. Rainier insisted on taking us to an old student haunt of his (where he said he would not dare take his other more stodgy friends). We danced, saw a floorshow, were offered roses by the owner, consumed four bottles of champagne (!) and staggered home at 4:30 a.m. with great hilarity. We all had a grand time together, but the next morning – Oh! We felt terrible. I cannot drink champagne because of the bubbles.
That was the last night that we had our Mercedes – we shall have a lovely dark blue Mercedes 220 (larger car) on November 20th. The Prince was disturbed that we should be carless and promptly offered us the use of his Peugeot car – which of course we declined. He insisted all during the week, even calling Marty at the Embassy to renew the offer, saying, “you are the hardest people to lend a car to!” He seemed hurt, so the result is we are now driving Rainier’s car! It is difficult to win his friendship, but once won, it knows no limits. He even wanted us to sail from Cannes and stay with them before we left, and as much as we should like to, it is impossible. It would be too much for me at this point in the pregnancy with 12 days on the ship instead of four, additional traveling, etc. They even offered to have [Grace’s dog] Oliver sire [our dog] Fara’s puppies – but she comes into heat at the wrong time, unfortunately…
The next day we went over to their apartment to pick up the car and to say “au revoir” for several years. Rainier gave Charles a little steering wheel with horn and gearshift so that he could drive when Daddy drove. It was sweet of him. They have left now, as they are to be received in Rome by the President in a few weeks…..
All our love, Joan, Marty, Charlesie
…A few days earlier, on an October Sunday when the leaves were a glorious myriad of colors, and the slight nip in the air heralded winter, the Prince asked us to join them on a family outing to the gardens of the Palace of Versailles. Prince Rainier drove his black Peugeot 403 – the same one he wanted to lend us. It was not a very large car, so it ended up being quite packed, with Caroline, age two-and-a-half, Charles and Albert, both under two years of age, Grace and Rainier, Martin and myself. The children were well behaved for being so young, though Albert and Charles would occasionally raise quite a little ruckus, but it did not disturb our very competent driver, Prince Rainier.
People passing the car on the road did a double take as some of them recognized the well-known profile of the Prince. I suppose they were surprised that the family was like any other out for a Sunday drive, and not being chauffeured as one might expect. Rainier loved to drive. He was also passionate about car racing, and I think he would have liked being a professional race car driver if he had not been destined to be a sovereign prince….
On the afternoon of Tuesday, April 7, 2015, Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco accompanied by Her Royal Highness Princess Caroline of Hanover and her children, and Her Serene Highness Princess Stephanie of Monaco and her children arrived at the Cathédrale de Monaco in Monaco-ville to attend a special memorial Mass in honor as well as remembrance of the 10th anniversary of the death of His Serene Highness the late Prince Rainier III of Monaco.
