Rainier III, Prince of Monaco

Prince Rainier III (Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi; May 31, 1923–April 6, 2005), styled HSH The Sovereign Prince of Monaco, ruled the Principality of Monaco for almost fifty-six years.

Marriage and family

After a year-long courtship described as containing "a good deal of rational appraisal on both sides" (Times of London, April 7, 2005, page 59), in 1956, Prince Rainier married Oscar-winning American actress Grace Kelly (1929–1982). Their children are:

Related Topics:
Times of London - April 7 - 2005 - 1956 - Oscar - Grace Kelly - 1929 - 1982

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• Princess Caroline Louise Marguerite, born January 23, 1957 and now HRH the Princess of Hanover and heiress presumptive to the throne of Monaco
• Albert II of Monaco, born March 14, 1958
• Princess Stéphanie Marie Elisabeth, born February 1, 1965

Prince Rainier has eight grandchildren:

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• Andrea, Charlotte and Pierre Casiraghi - children of Princess Caroline and Stefano Casiraghi;
• Princess Alexandra of Hanover - daughter of Princess Caroline and Ernst August of Hanover
• Louis and Pauline Ducruet - children of Princess Stéphanie and Daniel Ducruet
• Camille Gottlieb - the illegitimate daughter of Princess Stéphanie and Jean Gottlieb
• Alexandre Coste - the illegitimate, but recognised, son of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Nicole Coste

In the years since his wife's death, he was romantically involved with a distant cousin, Princess Ira von Fürstenberg, a former movie actress turned jewelry designer who is also a Fiat heiress and the former sister-in-law of fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg. Like him, she is a great-grandchild of Lady Mary Victoria Hamilton, the Scotch–German wife of Prince Albert I of Monaco, though by Lady Mary's second marriage.

Related Topics:
Cousin - Ira von Fürstenberg - Fiat - Diane von Furstenberg - Scotch - German - Albert I of Monaco

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Rainer III was also a football fan, having followed AS Monaco FC to the 2004 Champions League final. Monaco has for years hosted the European Super Cup.

Related Topics:
Football - AS Monaco FC - 2004 - Champions League - European Super Cup

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