Grace, Princess of Monaco, 1929-1982

Grace, Princess of Monaco, was born Grace Patricia Kelly on November 12, 1929, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to parents John Kelly and Margaret Majer. Growing up, she took part in school plays and community productions, and modeled with her mother and sister. After high school, she decided to pursue an acting career in New York City and enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She eventually featured in eleven films and starred in over sixty television productions, and won an Oscar for best actress in 1954 and three Golden Globes.

On April 18, 1956, she married Prince Rainier III of Monaco. The wedding was estimated to have been watched by over thirty million viewers on television. Together the couple had three children: Princess Caroline (January 23, 1957), heir Prince Albert (March 14, 1958), and Princess Stéphanie (February 1, 1965). During her marriage, she discontinued her acting career. Instead, she performed her daily duties as princess and became involved in philanthropic work. She founded AMADE Mondiale, a Monaco-based, non-profit organization.

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