Grace Kelly is shown at her wedding to Prince Rainier III of Monaco
The three-day, $65 million extravaganza in Monaco to mark the marriage of Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock is the biggest event in the principality since American movie star Grace Kelly became Monaco's Princess Grace.
Pictures: The prince and the movie star
Special Section: Royal wedding in Monaco
That April 1956 wedding of Grace Kelly to Prince Rainier III was also spread over several days and drew a mix of guests from Hollywood and fashion as well as royalty and heads of state. And it drew worldwide attention to the small Riviera principality.
Now, as their only son and heir takes a bride at the ripe old age of 53, the shadow of his parents falls over his realm. It doesn't hurt that the blonde Wittstock resembles the late Princess Grace, and is a Monaco outsider, just as the Oscar-winning actress was.
The April 19, 1956, wedding took place before 600 guests at Saint Nicholas Cathedral and was watched by 30 million television viewers, an impressive number in those early days of television.The bride wore an ivory, lace and satin gown that was reportedly the model for Kate Middleton's wedding dress some 60 years later. It was put together by Helen Rose of MGM studios and a team of seamstresses
After the wedding, the royal couple toured the town in a cream and black convertible that was a gift to them from the people of Monaco and hosted a wedding luncheon at the palace for their guests. Then, the bride and groom left on a seven-week honeymoon cruise aboard the prince's yacht.
It is that glamour, which died with Princess Grace three decades ago, that Monaco is hoping to rekindle with its new princess. What do you think? Will it work?
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