Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi, also known as Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi, was Monaco’s king for nearly 56 years. He has the distinction of being one of Europe’s longest-reigning rulers. Rainier Grimaldi was born in Monte Carlo, Monaco, to divorced parents when he was a child. He stayed with his mother, Louis II of Monaco’s only child and the sole heir to the Monegasque throne. He went on to complete his education in the top schools in England and Switzerland before serving in the French army during World War II, fighting against the Nazi occupation. After his grandfather died, his mother relinquished her right to become princess, and he was anointed as His Serene Highness Rainier III, Sovereign Prince of Monaco. Following his ascension to the throne, he worked diligently and began attempts to revitalize Monaco’s economy, which had been debilitated since World War II. He was also in charge of reforming Monaco’s constitution and developing the country’s economy. Later, he became well-known around the world as a result of his fairy-tale marriage to Grace Kelly, an American movie star. Kelly, on the other hand, buried himself in his art after his sad death in an automobile accident and lived a single life, refusing to marry again. He died at the age of 81 after a long illness in his old age, and was buried close to his late wife.
Childhood and Adolescence
Prince Pierre, Duke of Valentinois, and his wife, Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois, gave him the name Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi on May 31, 1923, in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Princess Antoinette, Baroness of Massy, was his older sister.
His mother was Prince Louis II of Monaco’s sole child and was born out of wedlock. She was later legitimized and titled Heiress-Presumptive to the Monegasque Throne. When Rainier was six years old, his parents split.
He attended elite public schools in England as a child and then studied in Switzerland. He graduated from the University of Montpellier in France with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1943.
Reign & Ascension
Prince Rainier III joined the Free French Army as an artillery officer in 1944, during World War II, and fought against the Nazi occupation of France. Rainier became the direct successor of Prince Louis II of Monaco in the same year that his mother relinquished her claim to the Monegasque throne.
After the death of Prince Louis II of Monaco on May 9, 1949, Prince Rainier became the Sovereign Prince of Monaco. He governed for more than 50 years, making him one of Europe’s most long-serving heads of state.
Rainier worked tirelessly after assuming the throne to revitalize Monaco’s economy, which was in dire straits at the time. He worked with
Aristotle Onassis, a Greek shipping magnate, to help the country recover its fortunes.
Rainer also pushed to attract new sectors and enterprises to Monaco, luring investors and businesses that benefited the principality’s economy and helped it reclaim its prosperity in the coming years.
Major Projects of Rainier III, Prince of Monaco
He worked hard as Prince of Monaco to revitalize Monaco’s economy, which had been damaged since World War II. He pushed Monaco as a tax haven, a commercial center, a real-estate development community, and an international tourism magnet in order to revive the economy. He also brought back the Grand Prix de Monaco, one of the world’s most important automotive races.
Prince Rainier was also in charge of drafting Monaco’s new constitution, which was adopted in 1962. The new constitution eliminated autocratic rule and gave power to the prince and an eighteen-member National Council.
Achievements & Awards
The French Republic awarded Prince Rainier III the War Commemorative Medal for his service during World War II.
In 1953, he was awarded the Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Italian Republic’s Order of Merit.
Portugal bestowed upon him the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saint James of the Sword in 1964.
Grand Master of the Order of the Crown, Grand Master of the Order of Grimaldi, and Grand Master of the Order of Cultural Merit were awarded to him in Monaco.
France also honored him with the Knight Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour.
Personal History and Legacy
Rainier was in a relationship with Gisèle Pascal, a French film actress, during the 1940s and 1950s, whom he met while studying at Montpellier University.
In April 1956, Prince Rainier married Grace Kelly, an Oscar-winning actress from the United States, and she was named Princess Consort of Monaco. Caroline, Princess of Hanover, and Princess Stéphanie were the couple’s two daughters, while Albert II, the present Prince of Monaco, was their son.
Grace died in an automobile accident in 1982 after suffering a stroke while driving, which caused her car to crash off a cliff. Stephanie, their youngest daughter, was seriously injured in the tragedy. Prince Rainier never married again after his wife died.
His health deteriorated in his later years as he battled lung infections and cardiac difficulties.
Prince Rainier died on April 6, 2005, in Monte Carlo, Monaco, and was buried next to his late wife, Princess Grace, at the Saint Nicholas Cathedral.
Estimated Net Worth
Prince is one of the wealthiest and most well-known princes. Prince Rainier III of Monaco has a net worth of $1.2 Billion, according to Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.