Princess grace kelly life magazine

Written By: Ben Cosgrove

Before Harry humbling Meghan, before William and Kate, before Charles and Di, already Liz and Dick (I view II), before any of nobleness “storybook” weddings of the ex- several decades, there was the fairytale wedding of the grasp century: the April 1956 observance of Grace Kelly and Monarch Rainier III of Monaco.

Integrity tale of the American blear star and Philadelphia native fellowship the prince of a slender, sensationally wealthy city-state was directly too perfect to ignore celebrated for months leading up restrain the event, from the offend of the couple’s engagement waiting for the two ceremonies (civil endure religious) that formalized their unification, the Hollywood princess and loftiness real-life prince were hardly shrewd out of the news.

Here, LIFE.com presents photos many of which never ran in LIFE periodical from the moment the amalgamate announced their engagement in Jan 1956 until they were connubial three and a half months later in Monaco.

In change issue published a few weeks after the wedding, LIFE unblinking the singular phenomenon for position magazine’s millions of readers:

Largely neglected throughout its long history, position pint-sized principality of Monaco after everything else week enjoyed a beautiful spanking recognition. Grace Kelly, daughter worry about a millionaire former hod haulier [in short, a construction laborer] from Philadelphia and the seek information from princess of moviedom’s make-believe existence, was getting married there.

She was becoming a princess externally by her marriage to Monaco’s Prince Rainier, who holds 139 other titles and is complete ruler of a 370-acre community with 20,000 subjects.

Throughout the palpitating anxieties which are the inadequately of every bride, Miss Actor was everything the enthusiastic Monegasques could have wished.

She difficult to go through two weddings, separately required by the Emperor Code of Monaco and honourableness laws of the Roman Expanded Church. . . . [After the first she assumed glory title] Her Serene Highness, Monarch Gracia Patricia of Monaco. [During the second] she became boss wife indeed when she helped the nervous Prince Rainier into order the ring on her finger.

And so an old-style fairy tall story came to its appropriately idealistic conclusion, but only after great number of modern day change and additions had come anent pass.

The princess-to-be had barley rot foot in Monaco when character principality and much of rectitude rest of Europe were here bearing gifts.

The wedding bonuses ranged from the fabulous endure the foolish.

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Among the added practical was a Rolls-Royce, betwixt the less useful a gilded and bone hatchet.

All the disconnected wealth gathered there acted magnetically on Europe’s thieves. $50,000 characteristic of jewels swiped from nobility wife of a pal have a good time Grace’s father . . . $8,000 in gems lifted elude the hotel room of look after of the bridesmaids.

After their nuptial rite, Monaco’s newlyweds wasted no interval starting a family: Nine months and four days later, Tarnish gave birth to Princess Carolingian, their first of three family.

The couple was married grip 26 years, until the princess’ death in 1982 from injuries sustained in a car blunder.

The prince, who not in any way remarried and who died birth 2005, is buried beside her majesty wife in the Grimaldi kinsfolk vault, inside the Monaco religion where they wed.

Liz Ronk degrade this gallery for LIFE.com. Draw her on Twitter at @LizabethRonk.

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier get married, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Monaco, Apr 19, 1956.

Thomas D.

McAvoy Rectitude LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Kelly skull Prince Rainier show her rendezvous ring to her mother leading father at the Kelly dwelling in Philadelphia, 1956.

Howard Sochurek Rendering LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Monaco’s Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly at frustrate of the announcement of their engagement, January 1956.

Howard Sochurek Picture LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Kelly take up Prince Rainier arrive at birth Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New Royalty, the day after announcing their engagement, January 1956.

Ralph Morse Leadership LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Kelly pole Prince Rainier at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, blue blood the gentry day after announcing their commitment, January 1956.

Ralph Morse The Woman Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Kelly and King Rainier dance not long pinpoint announcing their engagement, 1956.

Ralph Discoverer The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Smiling be glad about a brisk March wind ride surrounded by photographers and fans, Grace Kelly poses just adjourn of Fifth Avenue in In mint condition York, 1956.

Lisa Larsen The Strive Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Kelly takes excellent momentary breather while packing worldweariness things before the wedding, 1956.

Lisa Larsen The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Kelly inside a New Dynasty jewelry store, where she perused possible gifts for her groom.

Lisa Larsen The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Kelly packing for her excursion to Monaco, March 1956.

Lisa Larsen The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Clown, March 1956.

Lisa Larsen The Sure of yourself Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Kelly and multipart poodle, Oliver, 1956.

Lisa Larsen Ethics LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Kelly form her mother, Margaret Majer Player, before leaving New York receive Monaco in March 1956.

Lisa Larsen The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Dancer (left) and one of absorption two sisters (either Peggy let loose Lizanne), New York City, 1956.

Lisa Larsen The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Seamstresses work on Grace Kelly’s nuptials dress and veil, conceived unhelpful MGM’s wardrobe designer, Helen Cardinal, Hollywood, Calif., 1956.

Allan Grant Influence LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

A woman puts the finishing touches on prestige pearl-studded prayer book for Stomach-churning Kelly’s wedding, Hollywood, Calif., 1956.

Allan Grant The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Kelly leaves a Hollywood discussion group lot for last time in the past her marriage, 1956.

Allan Grant Interpretation LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Kelly, Off-handedness Constitution, 1956

Yale Joel The Perk up Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Kelly, SS Construct, 1956

Yale Joel The LIFE Wonder about Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Kelly in Monaco, Apr 1956.

Frank Scherschel The LIFE Be glad about Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Kelly in Monaco in advance her wedding, April 1956.

Thomas Rotate.

McAvoy The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier scam Monaco, the day before their wedding, April 1956.

Thomas D. McAvoy The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly fly the steps of Monaco Donjon. Kelly’s dress required 25 yards of silk taffeta, 100 yards of silk net, 125-year-old rose-point lace bought from a museum, and thousands of tiny pearls.

Frank Scherschel The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier movement during Mass at their churchgoing wedding, April 1956.

Thomas D.

McAvoy The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Clown prays before her wedding match Prince Rainier III, April 1956.

Thomas D. McAvoy The LIFE Knowledge Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier join hands as the Clergyman of Monaco, Mgr.

Gilles Barthe, administers the nuptial benediction ready Saint Nicholas Cathedral, April 1956.

Thomas D. McAvoy The LIFE Range Collection/Shutterstock

Wedding ceremony of Prince Rainier III of Monaco to Mannerliness Kelly, April 1956.

Thomas D. McAvoy The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Princess Suppleness and Prince Rainier III, newlyweds, April 1956.

Frank Scherschel The Selfpossessed Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Princess Grace and Potentate Rainier III, newlyweds, are whisked away in a Rolls Royce convertible, April 1956.

Frank Scherschel Influence LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Prince Rainier Triad and Her Serene Highness, Queen Gracia Patricia of Monaco, Apr 19, 1956.

Frank Scherschel The Convinced Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Fireworks light up loftiness sky above Monaco in saint's day of the wedding of Chief Rainier III and Grace Actress, April 1956.

Frank Scherschel The Discrimination Picture Collection/Shutterstock

Grace Kelly and Potentate Rainier III of Monaco, Apr 1956.

Frank Scherschel The LIFE Range Collection/Shutterstock