:: ABOUT THE FANLISTING ::

Modern Day Fairy Tale was created on March 02, 2006 by Gill of NothingButSong.org and adopted by Maria of The FacesGH Network on June 16, 2006.

:: ABOUT PRINCE RAINIER & PRINCESS GRACE ::
(Sources: Encyclopaedia Britannica, CNN)

Prince Rainier III of Monaco was born Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand de Grimaldi on May 31, 1923 in Monaco. He was the son of Prince Pierre, the Count of Policnac, and Princess Charlotte of Monaco, daughter of Prince Louis II of Monaco. Prince Rainier ascended to the throne of Monaco in 1949 as the 31st heredity ruler of the principality of Monaco.

Grace Patricia Kelly was born on November 12, 1929 to a wealthy Catholic family in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and went on to star on Broadway and on television before making her big screen debut in Fourteen Hours in 1951. The following year she got her big break after appearing opposite Gary Cooper in High Noon. Grace went on to make a number of movies and win an Academy Award before shocking Hollywood by retiring at the height of her career to marry Prince Rainier III of Monaco.

Prince Rainier first met the American actress Grace Kelly at a publicity photo shoot. It was not until after their second meeting though that the couple connected and fell in love.

The couple were married in Monaco in 1956 in a wedding that captivated the world. The story of the American actress who found her prince was one of fairy tale lore and the marriage brought glamour and prestige to the tiny principality.

Prince Rainier & Princess Grace had three children - Princess Caroline, Prince Albert and Princess Stephanie. Although she still received offers from Hollywood, Princess Grace resisted so as to concentrate on her family and her charitable and cultural work although she did do some narration and poetry readings. In 1976, she joined the Board of 20th Century Fox.

Princess Grace died on September 14, 1982 from injuries sustained in a car accident. She had been driving with Princess Stephanie when she had a stroke and lost control of the car, which plunged down a 45 foot embankment.

Prince Rainier died in April 6, 2005. His reign was the longest in Monaco history and his accomplishments changed the face of Monaco. During his reign, he intensified, expanded and diversified Monaco's enterprises, including its industry. Through land reclamation from the sea, he expanded the principality's territory by one-fifth. His most significant political reform was the promulgation of a new constitution, based on modern principles without repudiating tradition.

Prince Rainier was interred next to his wife at the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Monaco. The Prince, who never remarried, was finally reunited with his Princess.