From Hollywood to the Rock, retrace Grace Kelly's extraordinary destiny and discover the places in Monaco that keep the Princess's memory alive.
Some destinies seem written for the screen, and Grace Kelly's surpasses them all. An Oscar-winning actress at 25 and the ultimate icon of Hollywood elegance, she left the studios at the height of her fame to marry Prince Rainier III and become Princess of Monaco. Seventy years after the wedding of the century, her presence can still be felt everywhere in the Principality: at the Prince's Palace, in the cathedral where she rests, in the rose garden that bears her name. This guide traces the story of Grace Kelly, from Philadelphia to the Rock, and takes you in her footsteps through the streets of Monaco, just a few minutes' walk from Port Hercule.
Who was Grace Kelly?
Grace Patricia Kelly was born on 12 November 1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, into a wealthy family of Irish and German descent. Her father, John B. Kelly, a triple Olympic rowing champion, embodied the American dream. Yet nothing seemed to destine this reserved young woman to become one of the most photographed faces of the 20th century.
Against her family's wishes, Grace chose the stage. She enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, modelled to pay for her studies, then landed her first television roles. Cinema noticed her almost immediately: her poised bearing, cool blonde beauty and understated acting stood out in Hollywood.
A dazzling Hollywood career
Grace Kelly's film career lasted barely five years, from 1951 to 1956, and eleven films. Its brevity only strengthened her legend.
Alfred Hitchcock's muse
It was Alfred Hitchcock who fully revealed her magnetism. The master of suspense directed her in three films that became classics: Dial M for Murder (1954), Rear Window (1954) opposite James Stewart, and To Catch a Thief (1955) alongside Cary Grant. That last film, shot on the French Riviera between Nice, Cannes and the Moyenne Corniche, introduced the actress to the landscapes of the Riviera... and the winding roads above Monaco.
An Oscar at 25
In March 1955, Grace Kelly received the Academy Award for Best Actress for The Country Girl, opposite Bing Crosby. She was 25 years old, with Hollywood at her feet. Among the essential Grace Kelly films are also High Noon (1952) with Gary Cooper, Mogambo (1953) with Clark Gable, which earned her a Golden Globe, and High Society (1956), her final screen appearance.
Grace Kelly and Rainier III: the wedding of the century
Fate turned in May 1955. On the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival, the young star agreed to a photo session at the Prince's Palace of Monaco with Prince Rainier III. The meeting was brief and courteous, but something took hold. A correspondence began between Monaco and the United States, and the engagement was announced in January 1956.
On 12 April 1956, Grace Kelly arrived within sight of the Rock aboard the ocean liner SS Constitution, welcomed by Prince Rainier in a bay packed with onlookers. The image of the actress stepping ashore in Monaco's harbour, in a white hat and immaculate suit, travelled around the world. From the quays of Port Hercule, it is easy to picture the scene that unfolded there before thousands of Monegasques.
The wedding took place in two stages: the civil ceremony on 18 April 1956 in the Palace throne room, followed by the religious ceremony on 19 April in Monaco Cathedral. In her lace and taffeta gown designed by Helen Rose, costume designer at MGM, Grace Kelly entered history. More than 30 million television viewers followed the event live: an absolute record at the time, which earned the union its nickname, the wedding of the century.
Stay facing Port Hercule, where Grace Kelly made her entrance into Monaco's history.
Check availabilityPrincess of Monaco: a 26-year reign
As Her Serene Highness Princess Grace of Monaco, the former actress gave up cinema for good and devoted herself to her new role. The princely couple had three children: Princess Caroline in 1957, Prince Albert, the current sovereign, in 1958, and Princess Stephanie in 1965. The Grimaldi family, one of Europe's oldest dynasties, found in her a modern, universal face.
Far from limiting herself to protocol, Princess Grace profoundly transformed the Principality's image. In 1964 she created the Princess Grace Foundation, dedicated to children and emerging artists, supported AMADE for the protection of children worldwide, presided over the Garden Club of Monaco and made the Rose Ball shine. Under her influence, Monaco attracted artists, heads of state and great fortunes: the glamorous Principality we know today owes her a great deal.
The Princess's tragic death
On 13 September 1982, the car driven by Princess Grace left the road in the hills above Monaco, on a bend of the departmental road leading down from Roc Agel to the Principality. Suffering a stroke at the wheel, she lost control of the vehicle, in which her daughter Stephanie, then aged 17, was also travelling. The young princess survived her injuries.
Grace of Monaco passed away the following day, on 14 September 1982, at Monaco's hospital, which today bears her name: the Princess Grace Hospital Centre. She was 52. Her funeral, held in Monaco Cathedral on 18 September, brought together crowned heads and Hollywood stars in an outpouring of worldwide emotion. More than forty years on, Monegasques still lay flowers on her grave.
In the footsteps of Grace Kelly in Monaco
In Monaco, the memory of Princess Grace can be explored on foot in half a day. All the places below are less than a 20-minute walk from Port Hercule.
The Prince's Palace, setting of the civil wedding
The official residence of the Grimaldis on the Rock, the Prince's Palace of Monaco is open to visitors from 30 March to 15 October. The State Apartments, including the throne room where the 1956 civil ceremony was held, can be toured with an audio guide. Do not miss the changing of the guard, every day at 11:55 am on the Palace square.
Monaco Cathedral, where the Princess rests
This is the most moving stop on the route. Monaco Cathedral, where Grace Kelly married Rainier III in 1956, houses her tomb in the chancel, beside that of Prince Rainier, who passed away in 2005. The marble slab bears the Latin inscription Gratia Patricia. Entry is free, every day, outside services.
💡 Concierge's tip
« To pay your respects at Princess Grace's tomb in peace, come to the cathedral right at opening time, 8:30 am. Before 10 am the Rock is still quiet and the morning light in the chancel is magnificent. Our guests often combine this visit with the changing of the guard at the Palace, at 11:55 am. »
The Princess Grace Rose Garden in Fontvieille
Created in 1984 in tribute to the late Princess, the Princess Grace Rose Garden displays several thousand rose bushes in the Fontvieille district. At the heart of the garden, a bronze statue by Kees Verkade recalls Grace's love of flowers. The blooms are at their peak from April to June and from September to October.
The Rock, the avenue and the Princess Grace Theatre
Strolling through the lanes of Monaco-Ville, you will come across the Princess's statue in the Saint-Martin gardens, overlooking the sea. Over by Larvotto, Avenue Princesse Grace runs along the shoreline, while the Princess Grace Theatre, inaugurated by the sovereign in 1981, keeps her passion for the performing arts alive.
Grace Kelly's legacy, from Hermès to Hollywood
Few personalities have left such a lasting mark on fashion and culture. In 1956, photographed holding an Hermès bag close to her, the Princess sparked a worldwide phenomenon: the Parisian house would officially rename the model the Kelly bag, today one of the most coveted accessories in the world.
Her refined style, all white gloves, silk scarves and clean lines, still inspires designers. Cinema continues to tell her story, as in the film Grace of Monaco, presented at Cannes in 2014 with Nicole Kidman. And in Monaco, the Princess Grace Foundation carries on her work with young talents, guided by her children.
💡 Concierge's tip
« Film lovers can retrace the To Catch a Thief route by car along the Moyenne Corniche between Nice and Monaco. Allow an hour round trip with a stop at the Eze viewpoint for the plunging view over the Mediterranean: it is the exact setting of Hitchcock's film. »
Staying in Monaco in the Princess's footsteps
To walk in Grace Kelly's footsteps, nothing beats a stay in the heart of the Principality. From the Port Palace, a boutique hotel and member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World set facing Port Hercule, you can reach the Rock, the cathedral and the Prince's Palace on foot in a quarter of an hour. Our rooms and suites overlooking the harbour embrace the very panorama that greeted the future Princess in April 1956.
When you stay at the hotel, your concierge can arrange every step of your Grace Kelly itinerary: a personalised walk on the Rock, a romantic dinner reservation or a private transfer along the Moyenne Corniche, on the very roads of To Catch a Thief. An escape to extend with our guide to a romantic getaway in Monaco.
Port Palace Monaco
Experience Monaco like a legend
Our rooms and suites facing Port Hercule place you a few minutes' walk from the Palace, the cathedral and all the places dear to Princess Grace. Dedicated concierge service for our guests.
Book your stayFAQ: your questions about Grace Kelly
How did Grace Kelly die?
Grace Kelly died on 14 September 1982, aged 52, following a car accident the previous day on the road leading down from Roc Agel to Monaco. She suffered a stroke at the wheel and lost control of her vehicle. Her daughter Stephanie, a passenger, survived the accident.
Where is Grace Kelly buried?
Princess Grace rests in the chancel of Monaco Cathedral, on the Rock, the very place where she married Prince Rainier III in April 1956. Her tomb, marked with the inscription Gratia Patricia, can be visited freely during the cathedral's opening hours.
How many children did Grace Kelly have?
Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III had three children: Princess Caroline, born in 1957, Prince Albert II, born in 1958 and Monaco's current sovereign, and Princess Stephanie, born in 1965.
What are Grace Kelly's most famous films?
Her most celebrated films are High Noon (1952), Mogambo (1953), the three Hitchcock classics Dial M for Murder, Rear Window (1954) and To Catch a Thief (1955), The Country Girl (1954), which won her the Academy Award for Best Actress, and High Society (1956), her final film.
Can you visit the Grace Kelly sites in Monaco?
Yes. The Prince's Palace is open from April to mid-October, the cathedral where she rests is free to enter all year round, and the Princess Grace Rose Garden in Fontvieille is free and open daily. Allow half a day on foot for the full itinerary from Port Hercule.
From the glare of Hollywood spotlights to the serenity of the Rock, Grace Kelly made Monaco the setting of her most beautiful story. It is now up to you to come and film your own version, facing the yachts of Port Hercule. To plan your visit, also check the Principality's official programme on visitmonaco.com and Palace visiting information on palais.mc.
