Princess Grace of Monaco will be honoured with a permanent tribute on Washington D.C.’s National Mall this September, as the Smithsonian Institution celebrates her enduring cultural legacy with a special public programme marking the 70th anniversary of her marriage to Prince Rainier III.
Hosted by Smithsonian Associates in collaboration with the Embassy of the Principality of Monaco and Smithsonian Gardens, Princess Grace: Celebrating an Enduring Legacy will take place on 1st September at the Smithsonian’s Arts and Industries Building.
The event will begin with a private dedication ceremony in the Smithsonian’s Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden, where four reproductions of a historic swan bench will be unveiled, including one dedicated to Princess Grace. The bench will be permanently installed on the National Mall alongside a Princess Grace rose, creating a lasting public memorial to the former Hollywood actress turned Princess of Monaco and celebrating the longstanding friendship between Monaco and the United States.
The blush-pink Princess Grace rose reflects one of the Princess’s lifelong passions. An avid gardener, she was particularly fond of roses and spent time tending the gardens at her homes in Monaco.
The evening programme, which is already fully booked, will explore Princess Grace’s remarkable life and lasting influence through a presentation by a historian followed by a panel discussion featuring experts on her legacy. Discussions will examine her transition from Oscar-winning actress Grace Kelly to Princess of Monaco, her commitment to the performing arts and her enduring influence on fashion, film and philanthropy.
The event will also highlight the continuing work of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, established by Prince Rainier III in 1982 to honour his late wife’s commitment to nurturing emerging talent in theatre, dance and film. Since its creation, the Foundation has supported generations of artists who have gone on to become some of the most recognised names in the performing arts, including playwright Tony Kushner, filmmaker Jon M. Chu, actors Oscar Isaac and Leslie Odom Jr., and choreographer Kyle Abraham.
Guests attending the evening reception will be invited into a space decorated with a bespoke rose installation by Smithsonian Gardens, alongside a commemorative display inspired by To Catch a Thief, Alfred Hitchcock’s 1955 classic that was filmed on the French Riviera and remains one of Princess Grace’s most celebrated performances.
The celebration coincides not only with the 70th anniversary of the marriage of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace, but also the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Monaco’s Embassy in Washington, D.C. Organisers say the event will recognise the enduring diplomatic, cultural and artistic ties between Monaco and the United States, while celebrating Princess Grace as an enduring symbol of international friendship and cultural exchange.
The programme forms part of Smithsonian Associates’ Enduring Power of International Exchange series, an initiative exploring the role diplomacy, culture and international partnerships have played in shaping relationships between the United States and countries around the world.
Although tickets for the public event have sold out, those wishing to attend can join a waiting list through Smithsonian Associates.
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Photo source: Palace Archives