The death of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco 1923-2005

The death of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco  1923-2005

Monarch

Rainier III ruled the Principality of Monaco for almost 56 years, making him one of the longest ruling monarchs of the 20th century.

Born: May 31, 1923, Monaco-Ville

Died: April 6, 2005, Monaco, France

Spouse: Grace Kelly (m. 1956-1982)

Children: Albert II, Prince of Monaco, Caroline, Princess of Hanover, Princess Stéphanie of Monaco

Siblings: Princess Antoinette, Baroness of Massy

Parents: Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois, Prince Pierre, Duke of Valentinois

Monaco's Prince Rainier dies at 81: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice

Mobile Register (AL) - Thursday, April 7, 2005

Deceased Name: Monaco's Prince Rainier dies at 81

Monaco's Prince Rainier dies at 81 By THIERRY BOINET

Associated Press Writer

Source:

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Throne now goes to Prince Albert II, the monarch's only son with Grace Kelly

MONACO - The famed Monte Carlo casino was closed, its spinning roulette wheels at rest as Monaco mourned the death Wednesday of Europe's longest-reigning monarch, Prince Rainier III, who worked to overcome this tiny principality's reputation as "a sunny place for shady people."

The throne now goes to Prince Albert II, Rainier's only son with actress Grace Kelly.

In power for 56 of his 81 years, Rainier was the only ruler many of Monaco's 32,000 residents had ever known. A veritable father figure, he dragged Monaco into the modern age while preserving much of its Mediterranean charm and royal trappings.

Before age slowed him, Rainier poured his energies into public works, earning the name "the builder prince." He put Monaco - which is smaller than New York's Central Park - on the world map with his April 18, 1956 marriage to Kelly, who gave up Hollywood fame to become Princess Grace.

Albert, 47, has been groomed from birth to succeed Rainier. Multilingual, U.S. educated, and a five-time bobsledding Olympian, he was at his father's bedside when Rainier died at a hospital overlooking Monaco's yacht-filled main harbor.

Rainier had been treated there for the past month for heart, kidney and breathing problems. Albert took over the royal powers last week because of Rainier's ill health.

Rainier's funeral will be held April 15 at the 19th-century Monaco Cathedral where he and Princess Grace wed. He is expected to be buried alongside her.

At the traditional midday changing of the palace guard’s ceremony Wednesday, drums were covered with black cloth. The body of Rainier, whose family dynasty took power in 1297, was moved to his hilltop palace where it will in lie in state, the palace said.

The Monte Carlo casino closed in a sign of respect. Monaco's soccer team postponed a weekend match.

Flags, already lowered for Pope John Paul II, remained at half-staff. Monaco's TV networks interrupted programming with documentaries on Rainier's life and reactions to his death.

"Each of us feels like an orphan because the principality has been marked by his imprint over the 56 years" of his reign, said Patrick Leclercq, head of Monaco's government.

Rainier's doctors called Albert about 30 minutes beforehand to tell him the end was near, the palace said. The palace did not say if Rainier's daughters, Princesses Caroline and Stephanie, were with him when he died.

Christopher Le Vine, whose mother is Princess Grace's last surviving sibling, said Albert and Caroline called to inform him of Rainier's death.

"They're doing remarkably well under the circumstances," he said.

He said he and other Philadelphia-area relatives will go to Monaco for Rainier's funeral. He said the prince had a "unique sense of humor" but he expects Albert to make his own imprint on the French-speaking principality.

"It's not something that he hasn't anticipated over these many years. He will make his own space there," Le Vine said.

Albert is unmarried and has no children - a source of consternation to Rainier, who worried about continuing the Grimaldi family line.

Monaco changed its succession law in 2002 to allow power to pass from a reigning prince who has no descendants to his siblings. Albert's sisters have children.

President Bush said in a statement that Rainier "will be remembered as a respected leader who secured the prosperity of Monaco's people."

"Monaco and the United States have long had a special bond of friendship," Bush said.

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II sent a message of condolence. Rainier's death means the queen, who acceded to the throne in 1952, becomes the longest-serving monarch in Europe.

As a youth, Rainier had a long romance with French actress Gisele Pascal, became a fan of jazz and studied oceanography, later helping to finance Jacques Cousteau's Oceanographic Institute in Monaco. He also developed a love of fast cars. He met Kelly in 1955 when he was 31 and she was the 25-year-old star attraction of the Cannes Film Festival. Kelly already had an Oscar from the 1954 film "The Country Girl," one of only 11 movies she made. In January 1956, they announced their engagement and were married in April. Ten months later they had the first of their three children, Caroline. Albert's birth came the following year, on March 14. Stephanie was born Feb. 1, 1965. CUTLINES: LAURENT REBOURS/Associated Press Prince Rainier III of Monaco, third from left, stands with his children Princess Caroline, left, Princess Stephanie, second from left, and Prince Albert during ceremonies held in Monaco on Jan. 8, 1997, for the 700th anniversary of the Grimaldi family's reign. Rainier, Europe's longest-serving monarch at the time of his death with 56 years in power, died Wednesday. MARIO TORRISI/Associated Press Princess Grace and Prince Rainier of Monaco walk in St. Peter's Square as they leave the Vatican Palace after a private audience with Pope John XXIII on June 18, 1959.

Author: THIERRY BOINET
Edition: 01
Page: 08
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