Monaco Honors Princess Grace
Grimaldi Forum exhibition focuses on Grace Kelly's life
Grace Kelly brought glamour, beauty and class to her role as Princess of Monaco. The Principality is marking the 25th anniversary of her death with a special exhibition.
This summer, in recognition of the 25th anniversary of her death, the Grimaldi Forum Monaco will present a special, unprecedented exhibition to honor Princess Grace.
Award-winning film producer and writer Frédéric Mitterrand will be the curator for the exhibition, while Nathalie Crinière is in charge of design.
"Princess Grace's premature death 25 years ago wrote her into the tragic lineage of ill-fated legends and imbued her with the timeless fascination of fairy tales. We have long been aware that fairy tales are not solely written for children but tell the truth and interest everyone. But the fairy tale of which Princess Grace is the heroine is undoubtedly one of the most moving, for it is the last of days gone by and the first of modern times," says Mitterrand.
The exhibit features 15 “rooms” that follow Grace Kelly’s life from her childhood in Philadelphia to her life as a star in Hollywood, the fateful meeting with Prince Rainier that led to their wedding and her role as a mother, philanthropist and fashion icon.
- Philadelphia Room highlights Grace Kelly’s early childhood and includes an overview of World War II and the Roosevelt years.
- The New York Room dives into Kelly’s early career as a struggling actress.
- The Hollywood Room, exuding the glamour of old Hollywood, takes visitors on a trip through her years in the movie industry. Kelly won a Best Actress Academy Award in 1955 for her role in “The Country Girl.”
- The Hitchcock Room focuses on the three films Kelly made with Alfred Hitchcock: “Rear Window,” “Dial M for Murder” and “To Catch a Thief,” which is set on the Cote d’Azur.
- The First Meeting Room takes Kelly from her life in the U.S. to her move to Monaco. A film captures the Prince and Kelly’s first meeting and another film shows Kelly crossing the Atlantic to join the Prince.
- The Wedding Room celebrates the April 19, 1956 wedding of Kelly and Prince Rainier. It features the Rolls Royce the couple used that day along with the Princess’ wedding gown.
- The Ball Room captures the Princess’ public life and features a number of formal gowns she wore to events.
- The Chamber of Love offers a rare peek into the Princess’ private life and includes letters, gifts and photos of the couple.
- The Family Room explores the private life of the Grimaldi family. It includes the children’s toys, clothing, furnishings, photographs, documents and more.
- The Private Garden Room is a replication of The Princess’s art studio at Roc Agel with displays of her paintings.
- The Friends Room features tapes of The Princess’s friends as they recall memories of her.
- The Princess Room, designed as an enormous dressing room, and the Glamour Room both feature a number of pieces from the fashionable Princess’s wardrobe. The Glamour Room also includes descriptions of the accessories that The Princess made popular.
- The Fans Room showcases the many gifts and letters The Princess received from fans.
- The Official Room features a display of Her official regalia and explores The Princess’s role as Her Serene Highness.
"Princess Grace has bequeathed us an image of immutable elegance. We may never have seen any of her films or visited the Principality of Monaco, yet this image remains present in all our minds like a necessary antidote to the harshness of the world we live in," Mitterrand says.
If you go:
What: The Grace Kelly Years
When: July 12-Sept. 23
Where: Espace Ravel, Grimaldi Forum Monaco, 10 avenue Princess Grace, Principality of Monaco
Price: 10 euros for adults, 6 euros for students under 25, no charge for children under 12. For tickets, email ticket@grimaldiforum.mc
Info: For more information about the exhibit, click here.
