Seventy years ago this month, Grace Kelly arrived in Monaco to marry Prince Rainier III in what became one of the most watched events in television history — a civil ceremony on 18th April 1956 followed by the religious wedding on 19th April, broadcast to more than 30 million viewers worldwide.
To mark the anniversary, MonacoUSA is hosting a free public networking evening on Thursday 17th April at Marius on the port of Monaco, running from 18h to 20h. The event is open to all, with a cash bar, and is restricted to those aged 18 and over.
A magazine that puts private photographs into print for the first time
The featured guests of the evening will be Groupe Nice-Matin, who will present a special hors-série magazine dedicated to the wedding. The 116-page publication is available in both English and French and draws on nearly 150 photographs and documents, the majority of them previously unpublished.
MonacoUSA Director Annette Ross Anderson described what makes the publication distinctive. “Readers will be thrilled to see photos taken by famous photographers but also photographs taken by local Monegasques and hear the personal stories of residents who actually witnessed the arrival of Grace and the many celebratory events before, during and after the wedding,” she said.
Anderson reflected on the broader significance of the union. “This partnership between an Oscar-winning American actress and a handsome European prince was so much more than a fairy tale. Monaco would be changed forever — culturally, socially and economically.”
A three-metre sculpture returns to the port
Brazilian optical artist Marcos Marin will also exhibit his three-metre sculpture of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III at the Marius venue for the occasion. The work, which was first displayed in the Jardins du Casino in 2024, will be on site for the evening of 17 April.
MonacoUSA has indicated that additional animations planned for the event will be announced in the coming days. The evening falls on the eve of the anniversary of the couple’s civil wedding, which took place on 18th April 1956.
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