THE PRINCESS DIARIES

Words: Robina Dam

Two enchanting new exhibitions capture the timeless allure of the late Princess Grace of Monaco and Diana, Princess of Wales

IT WAS A FAIRY TALE for grown ups: a prince who fell in love with the modern young miss, married her in a maelstrom of publicity and whisked his radiant princess off to a castle to live happily ever after.

While interpretations of fairy tales may differ when it comes to the late Diana, Princess of Wales or Princess Grace of Monaco, what is certain is that their allure remains as strong as ever.

This month sees the launch of two exhibitions to commemorate their lives, style and work. From 12 July, the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo (near Nice airport) is hosting the first ever exhibition dedicated to Grace Kelly, marking the 25th anniversary of her death. Entitled Princess of Monaco, the collection of photographs, letters, dresses and jewellery reveals public and private moments. It charts her childhood in Philadelphia, career as a model/actress and her transformation to Her Serene Highness, consort to Prince Rainier III. Their marriage in 1956 was described as “the wedding of the century”. For Kelly, already a screen star and Oscar-winner after appearing in Rear Window, Dial M for Murder and To Catch a Thief, the role of princess was to be just as compelling.

It was seen as unlikely that she would be able to maintain her Hollywood career. Director Alfred Hitchcock, who was her biggest champion, even quipped that he was “very happy that Grace has found herself such a good part”. Although further roles were offered to her, Prince Rainier’s reluctance that she accept them meant that she never appeared on celluloid again.

The show ­ curated by Frédéric Mitterand, nephew of the late French president François Mitterand ­ has the support of her three children. Her son Prince Albert II states: “I hope that visitors will discover that behind the mythical image lay an extremely sensitive woman and a deeply loving mother.”

Grace’s relationships with the fashion set marked her as a thoroughly contemporary princess. It was for this reason that when Lady Diana Spencer married the Prince of Wales in 1981, aged just 20, many drew comparisons with Princess Grace.

Within a matter of years, Diana had firmly established herself as a global fashion icon, even becoming a Vogue cover star (Kelly had appeared on the covers of Life magazine and Time). Hence, many of the portraits on display at the Diana exhibition in London’s National Portrait Gallery are by renowned fashion photographers such as Mario Testino and Terence Donovan.

The show, which opens on 14 July, marks the tenth anniversary of her death at 36. The pictures towards the end of her life reveal a greater informality, which is summed up by Testino’s recollection of his photo session with her: “My original reaction was to photograph her in her traditional role as the fairytale princess. Then I realised that the most exciting image you could hope to see of her was as if you were alone in private with her.”

DIANA Princess of Wales
National Portrait Gallery
St Martin’s Place
London WC2
www.npg.org.uk
+44 (0)20 7306 0055

THE GRACE KELLY YEARS
Princess of Monaco Espace Ravel
Grimaldi Forum Monaco
10 avenue Princesse Grace
98000 Monaco
www.grimaldiforum.mc
+377 99 993000

© Archives du Palais Princier-Monaco
© John Swannell
© Mario Testino
© Archives du Palais Princier-Monaco
© David Bailey
© Archives du Palais Princier-Monaco