MONACO PRINCESS GRACE KELLY 1957

This beautiful side portrait of Princess Grace on the 1957 bluish violet stamp is an announcement of the birth of her daughter Caroline Louise Marguerite Grimaldi, who holds the royal title of Princess of Hanover. Princess Caroline “is the eldest child of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and the American actress Grace Kelly.” She was born on January 23, 1957. (wikipedia.org/Caroline). This 30F stamp in one in the series of stamps that are available in a variety of denominations and colors.

“Grace Patricia Kelly was born on November 12, 1929, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.” (biography.com). In her early adult life, she was known for her roles as a leading lady in several films in Hollywood.

It is said that “While filming another Hitchcock movie, To Catch a Thief (1955), in the French Riviera, Kelly met Prince Rainier of Monaco. It wasn’t love at first sight for Kelly, but the prince initiated a long correspondence, which led to their marriage in 1956. Afterward, she became Princess Grace of Monaco and retired from acting. She had three children and occasionally narrated documentaries.” (history.com).

It is mentioned that “In 1955, she was asked to join the United States Delegation Committee at the Cannes Film Festival in France. During a photoshoot, she met Prince Rainier III of Monaco, who happened to be seeking a bride. If he didn't produce an heir, Monaco would become part of France. The prince once described his ideal bride: "I see her with long hair floating in the wind, the color of autumn leaves. Her eyes are blue or violet, with flecks of gold." The press glamorized their courtship, depicting it as a fairy-tale romance.” (biography.com).

The poetic description of Prince Rainier’s ideal bride could be likened to the 1901 painting by Edmund Leighton (1852-1922) of “The Accolade,” of the woman of royalty who appears to be knighting a young man (commons.wikimedia/Edmund…), or of the La naissance de Venus by Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510), (The Birth Of Venus). (commons.wikimedia/La_naissance…).

There could be no doubt that when Prince Rainier of Monaco cast his eyes upon the beauty of Grace Kelly she must have captivated him in such a way that idealistic paintings of the past could not hold a candle to the grace and beauty of his future bride.

It is noted that, “Prince Rainier III of Monaco married Grace Kelly on April 18, 1956, in a civil ceremony in the Throne Room of the Prince’s Palace in Monaco-Ville, Monaco and in a religious ceremony on April 19, 1956, at St. Nicholas’ Cathedral in Monaco-Ville, Monaco.” (unofficialroyalty.com). This union brought forth 9 months and 4 days later the birth of Princess Caroline who this stamp celebrates.


Referenced Articles

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caroline,_Princess_of_Hanover

https://www.biography.com/actor/grace-kelly

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/grace-kelly-and-prince-rainier-marry

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Accolade_by_Edmund_Blair_Leighton.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La_naissance_de_V%C3%A9nus.jpg

https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/wedding-of-prince-rainier-iii-of-monaco-and-grace-kelly/