It is the Month of April and what better way to celebrate love and jewelry than to look back on some Famous Historical April Weddings. Today, we dive into the love story of Actress Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco.
What makes Grace Kelly's story unique?
Grace Kelly was an American actress who, after starring in several significant films in the early to mid-1950s, became Princess of Monaco by marrying Prince Rainier III.
THE WEDDING
On April 19, 1956, Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III of Monaco. To this day, this fairytale wedding is still remembered.
Their wedding took place in Monaco's cathedral, and the actress wore a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer wedding gown designed by Helen Rose, which went on to inspire all wedding gowns around the world.
The bell-shaped skirt of ivory faille, supported by three attached petticoats, fans out into a graceful lace train. The high-necked bodice of antique Brussels lace was re-embroidered to render the seams invisible and then accented with seed pearls. Lace embellished with pearls covers the accompanying prayer book, shoes, and cap, which is surmounted by a wreath of orange blossoms. The circular veil was designed specially so as not to obscure the bride's famous face. - Philadelphia Museum of Art
Kate Middleton is said to have asked designers to use Grace Kelly's gown as inspiration for her own wedding gown.
Their televised wedding is now regarded as one of the most beautiful of all time.
THEIR LOVE STORY
Grace Kelly's love affair with Prince Rainier III of Monaco captivated the world. They were a match made in heaven: a movie star matched with a playboy prince of a popular European principality provided endless entertainment for newspapers and magazines all over the world.
Grace Kelly met Prince Rainier III of Monaco when she was 26 years old and was widely regarded as one of America's most beautiful actresses, having starred in films such as Country Girl (for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1954), High Society, and Alfred Hitchcock's classics Dial M for Murder, Rear Window, and To Catch a Thief.
To Catch a Thief was being shot in the south of France, Grace Kelly was persuaded by Paris Match magazine to return to Monaco for a photoshoot with the charming young Prince Rainier III. The rest is history.
Soon after their courtship, Prince Rainier III traveled to Grace Kelly's home in Philadelphia before whisking her away to Monaco to plan the royal wedding.
THE WEDDING RING
Prince Rainier III proposed to Grace Kelly with a Cartier eternity ring encrusted with diamonds and rubies. However, he soon heard that other Hollywood actresses wore larger engagement rings, so he went out and bought her a new one.
The upgrade was a 12-carat emerald-cut diamond ring flanked with two baguettes. The stunning ring, which is estimated to be worth 4.3 million dollars, was later used as the engagement ring for Grace Kelly's character Tracy Lord in the film High Society. The ring was an immediate success, and many men proposed with similarly designed rings thereafter.
Browse through PriceScope's Jewelry Search to shop Grace Kelly-inspired engagement rings.
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Written by Bianca Mac Donald