Grace Kelly shadows royal wedding of her son in Monaco

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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Kate Middleton's Wedding Dress to Be Exhibited at Palace

There's no doubt that the most buzzed-about dress of the decade is Duchess Catherine's wedding gown, and now fans of the royal couple can see the historic garment with their very own eyes beginning July 23.

The dress was kept under lock-and-key along with its details and designer up until the Duchess's entrance at her April 29th wedding to the Duke of Cambridge, 28. The gown, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, will be on display at Buckingham Palace during the annual Summer Opening, according to a release from the Royal Collection Press Office.

"The Duchess chose British brand Alexander McQueen for the beauty of its craftsmanship and its respect for traditional workmanship and the technical construction of clothing," the Royal Collection Press Office said. "Her Royal Highness worked closely with Sarah Burton in formulating the design of her dress."
Calling it "the experience of a lifetime," Burton explained that "Alexander McQueen's designs are all about bringing contrasts together to create startling and beautiful clothes and I hope that by marrying traditional fabrics and lacework, with a modern structure and design we have created a beautiful dress for Catherine on her wedding day. "The team at Alexander McQueen are very proud of what we have created."

The 29-year-old royal and her gown, made from ivory and white satin-gazar, received praise from some of the fashion world's most renowned designers:

"The dress is classic and goes very well in the Westminster decor," Karl Lagerfeld told Women's Wear Daily. "I love the modest veil with the Queen Mother's Thirties scroll tiara and balanced volume of the whole gown. She's radiant; She never was so beautiful."

"Kate's dress was beautiful," Donatella Versace said. "She looked very regal."

Her shoes, by Alexander McQueen, and her diamond earrings, by Robinson Pelham, will also be a part of the display. Joining the wedding ensemble will be the Duke and Duchess's multi-tiered wedding cake, created by Fiona Cairns, a Leicestershire-based cake designer. The exhibit will be on display through October 3, 2011.

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