Princess Grace's Legacy

[Kitty1224]

In the biography 'Grace Kelly:The Secret Life of a Princess' by James Spada, Grace's trousseau is mentioned.

She 'hired fashion consultant Eleanor Lambert to help her and purchased $25,000 of clothes from New York's most celebrated designers.' These included ' a $7,000 sable coat, $4,000 mink, six cocktail dresses, four light dresses, two evening gowns, two ball gowns, a leopard skin coat, two light jackets and 20 hats.'

The author wrote 'The studio gave Grace a bonus of over $65,000 for 1956 and kept her on a $1,500 weekly salary for several months after the wedding.'

'MGM designer Helen Rose created Grace's $7,226 wedding dress, and the studio provided 'free of charge, a studio hairdresser for her first few months in Monaco.'

So also once she was Princess of Monaco she also got everything free of charge? Designer clothes? Private airfare, just everything that didn’t have to do with royal/government tours? Grace lived in a Paris apartment at Avenue Foch whose to say she paid for that as well?

 

[cdm]

From who do you think she got her appartment then?

 

[Curryong]

Why would Princess Grace get everything free of charge? Prince Rainier wasn't as wealthy in the earlier years of his marriage as he was later, but he wasn't a pauper either. He could afford to buy his wife some designer clothes and air tickets if she needed them. Grace was herself the daughter of a millionaire and had money of her own from her modelling and studio days.

Celebrities and Royals sometimes get discounts off clothing and accessories etc but they don't get flights, garments or jewellery or anything else absolutely free. Nobody in the world would get that.

 

[Florestane]

So also once she was Princess of Monaco she also got everything free of charge? Designer clothes? Private airfare, just everything that didn’t have to do with royal/government tours? Grace lived in a Paris apartment at Avenue Foch whose to say she paid for that as well?

No, she didn't. And she didn't get everything free of charge as an actress either. The Avenue Foch was Grimaldi property - why would she pay for that? However, its upkeep wouldn't have been free.

Seems to me you ask a question, get an answer, that answer doesn't fit your predetermined but largely unbased on any known facts narrative, then keep repeating the same question - or assertion.

 

[Kitty1224]

Why would Princess Grace get everything free of charge? Prince Rainier wasn't as wealthy in the earlier years of his marriage as he was later, but he wasn't a pauper either. He could afford to buy his wife some designer clothes and air tickets if she needed them. Grace was herself the daughter of a millionare and had money of her own from her modelling and studio days.

Celebrities and Royals sometimes get discounts off clothing and accessories etc but they don't get flights, garments or jewellery or anything else absolutely free. Nobody in the world would get that.

"Celebrities and Royals sometimes get discounts off clothing and accessories etc but they don't get flights, garments or jewellery or anything else absolutely free. Nobody in the world would get that." That has changed now in this day and age because of advertisement and endorsements. How did Grace and Rainier make Monaco such a wealthy country then?

 

[Florestane]

"Celebrities and Royals sometimes get discounts off clothing and accessories etc but they don't get flights, garments or jewellery or anything else absolutely free. Nobody in the world would get that." That has changed now in this day and age because of advertisement and endorsements. How did Grace and Rainier make Monaco such a wealthy country then?

Much of Monaco's wealth derived from the Casino at first. Grace attracted many of her Hollywood friends making it a destination for high end tourism. Prince Rainier claimed land from the sea and oversaw a period of luxury businesses setting up in the Principality. There is a not insignificant light industry sector. And a lot of it is offshore investments from overseas residents.

Monaco didn't become wealthy/ier because of freebies for its Princess.

 

[Kitty1224]

No, she didn't. And she didn't get everything free of charge as an actress either. The Avenue Foch was Grimaldi property - why would she pay for that? However, its upkeep wouldn't have been free.

Seems to me you ask a question, get an answer, that answer doesn't fit your predetermined but largely unbased on any known facts narrative, then keep repeating the same question - or assertion.

Sorry, just want to ask other questions. I always thought royalty got majority for free thats all.

 

[Florestane]

Sorry, just want to ask other questions. I always thought royalty got majority for free thats all.

OK. Lots of people here are very well informed so I'm sure they can help.

 

[Lee-Z]

Sorry, just want to ask other questions. I always thought royalty got majority for free thats all.

Nope, but royals are often quite wealthy themselves and often get a dotation (a "salary" if you like) from their government for official representations etc, so they do pay for private stuff (clothes, holidays etc) but usually can easily afford it.

 

[Denville]

I was always thought that royals didn't have to pay for anything like their clothes, food, airfare, transportation because they were royals and of higher status. I mean they live in a palace so they did have private chefs. For Grace she was a style icon so designers wanted to dress her and wouldn't be shocked if it was for free. For vacations airfare would be provided maybe without cost, ect...

? Why do you think royals have people who work for free???

 

[Lee-Z]

Also, if royals would accept too many freebies, their integrity might be questioned at some point...it's always a fine line at that kind of job

 

[Denville]

Actually I've read its been like that since the golden age of Hollywood. Royalty of course got the luxury getting things for free because of the status and the publicity and Grace becoming a princess I wouldn't be shocked if she didn't pay for anything.

Where on earth did you read this?? Royalty don't pay for anything? Do you thnk that staff work for free? Certainly royals will often be given discounts but if they aer seen as taking too many freebies, they will generally be criticised.

 

[Kitty1224]

Where on earth did you read this?? Royalty don't pay for anything? Do you thnk that staff work for free? Certainly royals will often be given discounts but if they aer seen as taking too many freebies, they will generally be criticised.

No I am not talking about their staff and people working for them for free. The government pays for that. I am saying sometimes royals can get nice clothes, shoes, accessories, sometimes private airfare, rental cars for free when not on public duty. I am not talking about when on royal tours/ government official tours. Grace being a style icon before she became a princess and her charming foreign leaders and she and Rainier transforming Monaco to what it is today the world fell in love with Princess Grace. I wouldn't be shocked if she was showered with lots of free lavish gifts and then some.

 

[Florestane]

No I am not talking about their staff and people working for them for free. The government pays for that. I am saying sometimes royals can get nice clothes, shoes, accessories, sometimes private airfare, rental cars for free when not on public duty. I am not talking about when on royal tours/ government official tours. Grace being a style icon before she became a princess and her charming foreign leaders and she and Rainier transforming Monaco to what it is today the world fell in love with Princess Grace. I wouldn't be shocked if she was showered with lots of free lavish gifts and then some.

"No I am not talking about their staff and people working for them for free. The government pays for that."

Not in Monaco - the Prince is the head of government in effect. Also, in the UK for example, not all staff are paid by the government.

"I am saying sometimes royals can get nice clothes, shoes, accessories, sometimes private airfare, rental cars for free when not on public duty."

Why do you keep saying this? Where is the evidence?

Several different people have now told you this isn't the case - or not habitual. The odd gift, maybe, regularly accepting all these things you mention - it doesn't happen. Apart from anything, there are tax implications in this, never mind laying themselves open to accusations of being corruptible.

They are undertaking a job, a privileged one, but still a job - they aren't celebrities. Many countries ask their royals to declare gifts above a certain value.

 

[iceflower]

.

Let us please get back to the topic of this thread - thank you!

 

[Kitty1224]

(..) Back on topic, Grace should be given lots of credit for the transformation of Monaco.

 

[Florestane]

(..)

Grace is given plenty of credit but... she's been gone a long time - longer than she lived in Monaco. Her husband and her children also take their share of the credit for the Monaco of today.

 

[Kitty1224]

Sometimes people do not have to live long for their legacy to continue. I wasn't alive but I've read lots of articles and documentary and historians do believe Grace did a lot for Monaco and it all started with the fairytale wedding. You have to remember how big it was for Hollywood A list actress to become a Princess. As someone said at her wedding few attended her wedding but her funeral there wasn't even enough room in the Cathedral for all the royals who wanted to attend. Well you can call it gut feelings but I believe I am right that Grace did get a lot for free a lot of lavish gifts and she was charming as well. This when Princess of Monaco and like you said Monaco royal family are the government so they have more power.

 

[Curryong]

The Royal family of Monaco might be considered glamorous (as Grace was) and the ruling Prince does have more power than most constitutional monarchs.

However, that doesn't mean that the ruler of Monaco, his wife and all his relatives expect or accept people to do things for them without payment every day of their lives as a matter of course.

I can just imagine the reaction within Monaco and elsewhere if Rainier decided he'd like a new large TV and went into a store in Paris and an aide grabbed it and walked while the store staff just shrugged and said 'That's Prince Rainier you know, he doesn't pay.' or a designer said to Grace 'Your Serene Highness has done so much for Monaco. Please accept these four cocktail dresses my staff have slaved over for weeks, as a sign of my respect and love.'

You don't think that just a tiny bit of gossip might have leaked over the years about freeloading on that scale?

 

[Kitty1224]

The Royal family of Monaco might be considered glamorous (as Grace was) and the ruling Prince does have more power than most constitutional monarchs.

However, that doesn't mean that the ruler of Monaco, his wife and all his relatives expect or accept people to do things for them without payment every day of their lives as a matter of course.

I can just imagine the reaction within Monaco and elsewhere if Rainier decided he'd like a new large TV and went into a store in Paris and an aide grabbed it and walked while the store staff just shrugged and said 'That's Prince Rainier you know, he doesn't pay.' or a designer said to Grace 'Your Serene Highness has done so much for Monaco. Please accept these four cocktail dresses my staff have slaved over for weeks, as a sign of my respect and love.'

You don't think that just a tiny bit of gossip might have leaked over the years about freeloading on that scale?

I see your point. Your right there would have been something leaked by now. But I still wouldn't be shocked if designers did give Grace free custom made clothing for her public duties. Some companies are nice enough to give for free. Just as today celebs get things for free in return of advertisement and publicity. The British royals get Land Rovers for free. Who knows. But I am amazed how she and Rainier transformed Monaco. Monaco is one of the richest countries in the world. How did they do that?
As for Grace she did amazing things for Monaco's art, culture, charities, ect...

 

[Florestane]

Sometimes people do not have to live long for their legacy to continue. I wasn't alive but I've read lots of articles and documentary and historians do believe Grace did a lot for Monaco and it all started with the fairytale wedding. You have to remember how big it was for Hollywood A list actress to become a Princess. As someone said at her wedding few attended her wedding but her funeral there wasn't even enough room in the Cathedral for all the royals who wanted to attend. Well you can call it gut feelings but I believe I am right that Grace did get a lot for free a lot of lavish gifts and she was charming as well. This when Princess of Monaco and like you said Monaco royal family are the government so they have more power.

I was alive - I have followed the Princely Family since I was a little girl and first saw Grace (who I adored) in a magazine. I have dozens of biographies, both trashy and well researched, histories of Monaco, hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles collected over several decades, I would record/watch any interviews given by Grace and members of the family over and over (still do), I presented my French oral exam for my finals on the history of Monaco from its medieval beginnings and I have contacts in Monaco.

So, without ever having known the woman I do know quite a lot about her - she had an extremely strong work ethic and quite a Puritan approach to matters of money and expenditure. She didn't get freebies.

Grace changed Monaco and is still remembered in so many ways. It became more well known as a result of the marriage, she started developing a cultural profile for the Principality that Caroline continues, she undertook charitable work that all three of her children continue - along with the support of other family members like Princess Charlene. There are places in Monaco named after her lifetime Hospital or the Irish Library - her legacy is palpable. People starting careers in the arts are supported by her Foundation and she, along with Prince Rainier, is still remembered by the Monegasque citizens.

But I am amazed how she and Rainier transformed Monaco. Monaco is one of the richest countries in the world. How did they do that? .

Grace attracted many of her Hollywood friends making it a destination for high end tourism. Prince Rainier claimed land from the sea and oversaw a period of luxury businesses setting up in the Principality. There is a not insignificant light industry sector. And a lot of it is offshore investments from overseas residents.

 

[Kitty1224]

I was alive - I have followed the Princely Family since I was a little girl and first saw Grace (who I adored) in a magazine. I have dozens of biographies, both trashy and well researched, histories of Monaco, hundreds of magazine and newspaper articles collected over several decades, I would record/watch any interviews given by Grace and members of the family over and over (still do), I presented my French oral exam for my finals on the history of Monaco from its medieval beginnings and I have contacts in Monaco.

So, without ever having known the woman I do know quite a lot about her - she had an extremely strong work ethic and quite a Puritan approach to matters of money and expenditure. She didn't get freebies.

Grace changed Monaco and is still remembered in so many ways. It became more well known as a result of the marriage, she started developing a cultural profile for the Principality that Caroline continues, she undertook charitable work that all three of her children continue - along with the support of other family members like Princess Charlene. There are places in Monaco named after her lifetime Hospital or the Irish Library - her legacy is palpable. People starting careers in the arts are supported by her Foundation and she, along with Prince Rainier, is still remembered by the Monegasque citizens.





Grace attracted many of her Hollywood friends making it a destination for high end tourism. Prince Rainier claimed land from the sea and oversaw a period of luxury businesses setting up in the Principality. There is a not insignificant light industry sector. And a lot of it is offshore investments from overseas residents.

Thank you for that wonderful response!!!! I am still of awe with Grace Kelly story how she became an actress to a princess!!! Guess it was my mistake thinking Grace would get freebies since she became everyone favorite princess back in the day as well thinking she didn't pay for her apartments in Paris; seeing as they had power. I do know today world is different with freebies with the return of advertisement/publicity. Also, why do in your opinion think Grace is still the perfect princess or the perfect princess image that we are still of awe with even today? Did it start with her fairy tale wedding and dress? Is Monaco still known as a glamorous country because of Grace?

 

[Denville]

I think that Grace certainly did do something to improve Monaco's image, making it more cultural and the monarchy more "charity oriented", but I'm not sure if she totally succeeded in making it seem less of a "sunny place for shady people". And her children, esp Caro and Stephanie, certainly, in their youth did NOT add to the lustre of the monarchy, with their very wild lifestyle.
but Certianly Caroline has improved and been a good consort for her father and for Albert, in latter years until he married Charlene. And Albert himself like Rainier has been a good ruler, attracting businesses to the country and making it wealthier..

 

[Kitty1224]

I think that Grace certainly did do something to improve Monaco's image, making it more cultural and the monarchy more "charity oriented", but I'm not sure if she totally succeeded in making it seem less of a "sunny place for shady people". And her children, esp Caro and Stephanie, certainly, in their youth did NOT add to the lustre of the monarchy, with their very wild lifestyle.
but Certianly Caroline has improved and been a good consort for her father and for Albert, in latter years until he married Charlene. And Albert himself like Rainier has been a good ruler, attracting businesses to the country and making it wealthier..

I agree. But Grace and Rainier did a lot for Monaco and I believe Grace brought glamour to Monaco since she was a glmaourous actress turn princess. I certainly believe if it wasn’t for Grace and her charm and all the things she did to help transform Monaco: Monaco wouldn’t be as it is today.

 

[Denville]

Its impossible to say. I don't tink that Rainier was very taken with the fact that she was an actress and she herself was ambivalent about her acting career. Its hard to say what would have happened had he married a European noblewoman... for example...

 

[Kitty1224]

Its impossible to say. I don't tink that Rainier was very taken with the fact that she was an actress and she herself was ambivalent about her acting career. Its hard to say what would have happened had he married a European noblewoman... for example...

I personally believe Grace was the right woman and she did so much for Monaco and restoring it as well.

 

[Victoria's Secret]

In my mind there’s no doubt about the role Princess Grace played to put Monaco on the map. She was — still is — an icon of beauty, style and glamour. Her life and work in the Principality are legendary. Nobody cared about Monaco before her. #respect

 

[Florestane]

In my mind there’s no doubt about the role Princess Grace played to put Monaco on the map. She was — still is — an icon of beauty, style and glamour. Her life and work in the Principality are legendary. Nobody cared about Monaco before her. #respect

She absolutely brought renown to Monaco and did many wonderful things whilst she was Princess. However, the original poster seemed to think Monaco would have been nothing without her (and even would have ceased to exist) - I don't agree with that. A family that has maintained its rule for 7 centuries doesn't just give up...

And with all due respect, the Monegasque people and, to a certain extent, the French government cared about Monaco.

 

[Kitty1224]

In my mind there’s no doubt about the role Princess Grace played to put Monaco on the map. She was — still is — an icon of beauty, style and glamour. Her life and work in the Principality are legendary. Nobody cared about Monaco before her. #respect

I agree!!! Monaco needed Grace

 

[Kitty1224]

She absolutely brought renown to Monaco and did many wonderful things whilst she was Princess. However, the original poster seemed to think Monaco would have been nothing without her (and even would have ceased to exist) - I don't agree with that. A family that has maintained its rule for 7 centuries doesn't just give up...

And with all due respect, the Monegasque people and, to a certain extent, the French government cared about Monaco.

At the time Rainier needed a bride France was going to take Monaco. So Grace was needed. Right place right time.