Death of a Princess: Remembering Princess Grace of Monaco

Princess Grace of Monaco. Image via Pinterest

The death of Princess Grace of Monaco on September 14, 1982 not only shocked her family, but also stunned the world over. Hers is a story of a fairy tale princess, who transitioned from being an acclaimed Hollywood goddess to that of a world-famous royalty. The former Grace Kelly died at a hospital in Monaco at the age of 52 due to cerebral hemorrhage some 36 hours after her vehicle tumbled 120 feet down a mountainside with the princess trapped inside, Associated Press revealed.

The princess was driving to Monaco from Roc Agel, her country home, on September 13, 1982 when she suffered a stroke. She eventually lost control of her vehicle, leading her to the steep, winding road and down the 120 foot mountainside.

The entire Monaco fell in deep sorrow and flags were raised to a half-staff. Prince Rainier was beside the princess "practically without interruption," a palace spokesperson said. It was, however, unknown whether or not the prince was beside her the moment she breathed her last. A French report can tell that Prince Rainier left Princess Grace's bedside about 30 minutes before she died at around 10:30 pm.

All possible means were done to revive the princess but to no avail. Princess Stephanie, the youngest daughter, who was 17 at that time, was with Princess Grace, trapped inside the car. She suffered from severe bruising.

The moment her death was announced, Monaco's exciting world suddenly stopped. Casino roulettes halted, floodlights were turned off, and doors silently closed. Even the lurid Cafe de Paris, as well as other restaurants, cafes, bars and night stops became eerily quiet to grieve the passing of the American princess who they loved for decades.

In Hollywood, where she reigned as a movie queen for two years, tributes began to pour from fellow screen legends, including Frank Sinatra and President Ronald Reagan.

Frank Sinatra, Princess Grace's leading man in the movie High Society (1956), recalled Grace as "a gracious, wonderful woman who was a princess from the moment she was born."

According to Palace the princess suffered a broken right leg, but unconfirmed reports revealed that it was two broken ribs and fractured collarbone. Her condition eventually worsened at night time before she died due to intra-cerebral vascular hemorrhage.

Grace Patricia Kelly was born on November 12, 1929, to a wealthy and influential family in Philadelphia. She became a movie star in such movies as High Noon (1952), Dial M for Murder (1954), Rear Window (1954) and High Society (1956). She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1955 for the movie The Country Girl.

She was 26 years old when she retired from acting after marrying Prince Rainier III of Monaco. She was survived by her three children: Caroline, Albert and Stephanie.