[6], Rainier established a postal museum in 1950: the Museum of Stamps and Coins, in Monaco's Fontvieille district[7] by using the collections of the Monegasque princes Albert I and Louis II. Monaco's royal palace made the announcement Wednesday morning. https://hollywoodlife.com/2018/04/19/prince-death-scene-video-dead-body Select from premium Prince Rainier Of Monaco Dies of the highest quality. [1] His parents divorced in 1933. Prince Rainier smoked 60 cigarettes a day. Prince Rainier of Monaco, Europe's longest-serving monarch has died aged 81, Wednesday April 6, 2005. [citation needed] Rainier's sister, Princess Antoinette, wishing her own son to ascend the throne, spread rumors that Pascal was infertile. He underwent surgery in late 1999 and 2000, and was hospitalized in November 2002 for a chest infection. Rainier III (Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi; 31 May 1923 – 6 April 2005) was the Prince of Monaco from 9 May 1949 to his death in 2005. On 26 March, the palace reported that despite intensive ongoing efforts to improve the prince's health, he was continuing to deteriorate; however, the following day, he was reported to be conscious, his heart and kidney conditions having stabilized. He married American film star Grace Kelly in 1956, which generated global media attention. Sean Connery died on Oct. 31 at age 90 ... Hollywood actress Grace Kelly, who became Princess Grace when she wed Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956, suffered a … [19], On 31 March 2005, following consultation with the Crown Council of Monaco, the Palais Princier announced that Rainier's son, Hereditary Prince Albert, would take over the duties of his father as regent since Rainier was no longer able to exercise his royal functions. She married a French aristocrat, Count Pierre de Polignac, who subsequently adopted the Grimaldi name. At one point in the funeral ceremony, while a part of Samuel Barber’s soaring Adagio for Strings was being played, Prince Albert, who is 24, covered his face in his black-gloved hands. Prince Albert, 47, Rainier's heir, was at his side when he died at 6:35 a.m. Rainier's doctors had called Albert around 6 a.m. to tell him the end was near, the palace said. Rainier was the first native-born prince since Honoré IV in 1758. Rainier received the French Croix de Guerre with bronze star (representing a brigade level citation) and was given the rank of Legion of Honor in 1947. The oldest European monarch Prince Rainier III died at Monaco’s Cardiothoracic Centre at the age of 81. A 1994 biography of Princess Grace claimed that the marriage had gone sour and that Rainier’s “neglect” forced her to find solace in alcohol — and younger men. In the 1940s and 1950s, Rainier had a ten-year relationship with the French film actress Gisèle Pascal, whom he had met while a student at Montpellier University,[2] and the couple lived at Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. In November of that year, Prince Albert appeared on CNN's Larry King Live and told Larry King that his father was fine, though he was suffering from bronchitis. They had three children: Princess Caroline, Prince Albert, and Princess Stéphanie. The UConn teams did it again in 2014. The union was met with mass attention from the public, and was described as the "wedding of the century" and the "world's most anticipated wedding" by the media. Other successful gambling centres had opened to compete with Monaco. The American actress had washed her hair only to realize a labor strike had caused a power outage in Cannes, France, where she was staying at the Carlton Hotel. Prince Rainier with Albert II. Let’s see how it all started. Title . At the time of his death, he was the world's second longest-serving living head of state, just below the King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej. He was buried next to his late wife. Family had stormy pastRainier Grimaldi was the 30th descendant of Otto Canella, who founded the house of Grimaldi that has ruled Monaco since 1297. From Wikinews, the free news source you can write! Prince Rainier, with his daughter Princess Caroline and son Prince Albert, at the funeral of Princess Grace of Monaco, September 18, 1982 Photo: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images Did … In April 2002, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development listed Monaco as one of seven tax havens refusing to cooperate with a major international effort to end harmful tax practices and tax evasion. Prince Rainier III of Monaco has died after nearly two weeks in a hospital intensive care unit. Before there was Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, there was Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly -- the real-life fairytale couple of the ‘50s. Monaco changed its succession law in 2002 to allow power to pass from a reigning prince who has no descendants to his siblings. Rainier was the royal couple’s only son and thus, the natural heir to the throne. Prince Rainier almost courted another famous Hollywood blonde. Laid to Rest. To compensate for the loss of income, Rainier decided to promote Monaco as a tax haven, commercial centre, real-estate development opportunity, and international tourist attraction. Grace Kelly was an acting icon of the 1950s and noted for her natural beauty and in 1956, Kelly became Princess of Monaco after marrying Prince Rainier III. Prince Rainier may have had a vested interest in marrying a beautiful starlet, but that didn't mean he had any admiration for the acting profession. It has been rumored that Prince died from an overdose of Percocet, and had nearly passed away on board his private plane while touring six days before he was found unresponsive at home. Rainier was known as the “builder prince” for his many infrastructure projects, and he increased the size of his territory by 20 percent with land reclamation. [24] Because his death occurred shortly after that of Pope John Paul II, Rainier's death was overshadowed in the media. Rainer had many health problems in later life, and died in hospital on April 5th 2005 following a long illness, at the age of 81. Long before Prince Harry wed Meghan Markle, there was another lavish fairytale wedding between a European royal and an American actress… when Prince Rainier III of … [8] Throughout his reign, Rainier surveyed all the process of creation of Monaco stamps. The day Grace Kelly was to meet Prince Rainier of Monaco for the first time started out terribly. The prince's funeral will be held on April 15 at the 19th-century Monaco Cathedral where he and Princess Grace wed. Rainier's early education was conducted in England, at the public schools of Summerfields in St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex, and after 1935[2] at Stowe School, in Buckinghamshire. ADVERTISEMENT. Rainier was born at the Prince's Palace of Monaco, the only son of Prince Pierre and Princess Charlotte of Monaco. It remained a luxury tourist draw, but he also lured major companies to headquarter there because of its absence of taxes. Eternal lifestyle is the ultimate Good life magazine. She had two children by a former bodyguard, then married him in 1995. After its premiere in Monaco, Princess Grace showed it to ABC TV executives in New York in 1982, who expressed interest if extra scenes were shot. [1], After ascending the throne, Rainier worked to recoup Monaco's lustre, which had become tarnished through financial neglect and scandal (his mother, Princess Charlotte, took a noted jewel thief known as René the Cane as her lover). [21] On 6 April, Prince Rainier died at the Cardiothoracic Centre of Monaco at 6:35 am local time at the age of 81. Prince Rainier III in the childhood. She had a third child in 1998 and refused to reveal the name of the father. In 1979, the Prince made his acting debut alongside the Princess in a half-hour independent film, Rearranged, produced in Monaco. [22] He was buried on 15 April 2005 beside his wife, Princess Grace, at the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate, the traditional burial place of princes and princesses of Monaco,[23] and the place where Prince Rainier and Princess Grace had been married in 1956. MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/.../1487262/Prince-Rainier-III-of-Monaco.html She later had a much-publicized romance with the director of the Swiss national circus. The American Oscar winner, who became a princess after marrying Prince Rainier of Monaco, suffered a stroke driving home to Monaco with her … He was 81. His prognosis remained "very reserved". Princess Caroline’s rocky first marriage ended in 1980, and her second husband was killed in a boating accident in 1990. “I am like the head of a company,” he once said of his role in transforming Monaco. Pierre and Charlotte produced two children, Rainier and Princess Antoinette, but their marriage was not happy. Presided over by Bishop Gilles Barthe, the marriage was broadcast by MGM Studios, and viewed by over 30 million people across the globe. New luxury hotels, towering high-rises and some of the world’s most expensive real estate now hug Monaco’s coastline. In 1920, Charlotte married Rainier’s father, Prince Pierre de Polignac. Monaco's Prince Rainier, Europe's longest-reigning monarch, has died at the age of 81, after spending several weeks in hospital. Susana Mariana de la Torre y Mier y Terán, Holy See: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the, Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Bailiff Knight Grand Cross of, Sovereign Military Order of Malta: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the, Republic of San Marino: Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of, Sweden: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the, This page was last edited on 10 February 2021, at 03:26. Rainier’s royal palace announced his death nearly a full month after he was first admitted with a lung infection to a heart and chest clinic that overlooks Monaco’s glittering, yacht-filled harbor. The Princess, the former Grace Kelly, died of a cerebral hemorrhage, a palace spokesman said in Monaco. Grace Kelly's Hollywood fame brought significant and valuable publicity to Monaco, but Rainier disapproved of Grace's former career. Rainier, who assumed the throne on May 9, 1949, also endured the tragedy of his famous wife’s death and relentless scandals — including international criticism of the principality’s tax laws — that plagued the final two decades of his rule. Prince Rainier III of Monaco has been died on Apr 6, 2005 ( age 81). Prince Rainier of Monaco and Grace Kelly with her parents, ... much like his political career. He was 57. Prince Albert, Rainier’s son and heir, was at his side when he died at 6:35 a.m. Rainier’s doctors called Albert a little before 6 a.m. to tell him the end was near, the palace said. Olivia de Havilland decided to talk with the actress before arriving on the Côte d’Azur. [16] In February 2004, he was hospitalized with a coronary lesion and a damaged blood vessel. Rainier was born on 21st May 1923. Find the perfect Prince Rainier Of Monaco Dies stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. The changes ended autocratic rule, placing power with both the Prince and a National Council of eighteen elected members.[5]. Princess Grace wa driving her British Rover 3500 … Rainier had one sister, Princess Antoinette, Baroness of Massy. [3], During his reign, the Societé Monégasque de Banques et de Métaux Précieux, a bank which held a significant amount of Monaco's capital, was bankrupted by its investments in a media company in 1955, leading to the resignation of Monaco's cabinet. "Obituary: Prince Rainier III of Monaco. But it was his April 18, 1956, marriage to Hollywood heartbreaker Grace Kelly that put Monaco on the world stage and defined the golden age of his reign. [3] The early years of his reign saw the overweening involvement of the Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis, who took control of the Société des Bains de Mer and envisioned Monaco as solely a gambling resort. For many, her death in a car accident on Sept. 14, 1982, signaled the end of Monaco’s halcyon days. The marriage of his great-grandfather Prince Albert to Lady Mary Douglas Hamilton was dissolved in 1880. [24], "Prince Rainier" redirects here. Long before the Irish-American actress perished in a tragic car crash, her husband, Prince Rainier of Monaco, had found out about dalliances with a string of young Hollywood stars. Educated in England, Switzerland and France, Rainier undertook military service near the end of World War II. Rainier's mother, Charlotte was the only child of Louis II, Prince of Monaco, and Marie Juliette Louvet; she was legitimised through formal adoption and subsequently named heiress presumptive to the throne of Monaco. He also developed a love of fast cars. [17] In October he was again in hospital with a lung infection. Prince born under the Gemini horoscope as Prince's birth date is May 31. He was 81. [18], On 7 March 2005, he was again hospitalized with a lung infection. He had two operations the following year, including having a nodule removed from a lung, and was hospitalized in 2002 for fatigue and bronchitis. Gambling receipts account for only 3 percent of the revenues of the principality, home to slightly more than 32,000 people. For 158 years now, it has continued to be the well-worn and widely accepted conclusion that Albert, Prince Consort to Queen Victoria, died an untimely death by typhoid fever on 14 December 1861.Without recourse to detailed research or the challenging of past conclusions, this cause of death has been repeated from one source to the next as a given. The sister of Prince Rainier III, Antoinette has been cast as ambitious schemer, potential usurper, outcast, crazy old aunt and finally accepted member of the family in recent years. Prince Rainier III, whose marriage to U.S. film star Grace Kelly brought elegance and glamour to one of Europe’s oldest dynasties, died Wednesday. His Serene Highness Prince Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand was born in the palace of Monaco on May 31, 1923. The life lived by His Serene Highness Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, who has died aged 81, must have been a challenge to his equilibrium. Rainier ruled the Principality of Monaco for almost 56 years, making him one of the longest ruling monarchs in European history. "His Most Serene Highness Prince Rainier III died on Wednesday, April 6, 2005, at 6:35 in the morning (0435 GMT) at Monaco's Cardiothoracic Centre following broncho-pulmonary, cardiac and … ADVERTISEMENT . Princess Grace gave birth to their first child, Princess Caroline, on 23 January 1957. [1], In 1944, upon his 21st birthday, Rainier's mother renounced her right to the Monegasque throne and Rainier became Prince Louis's direct heir. “His Most Serene Highness Prince Rainier III died on Wednesday, 6th April 2005, at 6:35 in the morning (0435 GMT) at Monaco’s Cardiothoracic Centre following broncho-pulmonary, cardiac and kidney disorders”, the official statement said. Stephanie was born Feb. 1, 1965. The prestigious philatelic collectors club Club de Monte-Carlo de l'Élite de la Philatélie was established under his patronage in 1999; the club has its headquarters at the museum, with its membership restricted to institutions and one hundred prestigious collectors. He died from complications relating to a lung infection as a result of frequent smoking, and was succeeded by his son, Albert II, Prince of Monaco, after his death in April 2005. The sinister truth behind his marriage and demanded dowry went to the grave with him. He spent three weeks in hospital in January 2004 for what was described as general fatigue. The civil ceremony took place at the Palace on 18 April, with the religious wedding being held on 19 April at the Saint Nicholas Cathedral. In April 1955, while attending the Cannes Film Festival, Kelly accepted an invitation to appear at the Palace of Monaco for a photo shoot with the prince. That day, despite such obstacles as an electrical strike at Kelly’s hotel, the actress made it on time to the palace, wearing what she later said was a hideous dress with big cabbage roses. Princess Stephanie was known for her tempestuous affairs. Both Rainier and Kelly were stars in their own right -- he was a royal who assumed the throne in Monaco, whereas she was an Academy Award-winning actress in Hollywood. Having received the consent of Grace to meet with Prince Rainier, Pierre Galante called the actress, saying that the Prince expected her by 4 o’clock. Grace Kelly always chose her sovereign duties over her film career. The American actress had washed her hair only to realize a labor strike had caused a power outage in Cannes, France, where she was staying at the Carlton Hotel. Drums used at the traditional midday changing of the palace guards were covered with black cloth Wednesday. Without electricity, she couldn't dry her hair or iron her clothes. The day Grace Kelly was to meet Prince Rainier of Monaco for the first time started out terribly. He preferred stamps printed in intaglio and the art of engravers Henri Cheffer and Czesław Słania. Without electricity, she couldn't dry her hair or iron her clothes. Talk:Prince Rainier III of Monaco has died. However, Grace died in a car crash caused by a stroke in 1982, making it impossible to expand the film for American release. Where did Prince Rainier of Monaco die? Prince Albert is unmarried and has no children. Princess Grace wa driving her British Rover 3500 … He was placed in intensive care two weeks later with heart and kidney failure and hooked up to a respirator. Princess Antoinette of Monaco, Baroness of Massy (Antoinette Louise Alberte Suzanne Grimaldi; 28 December 1920 – 18 March 2011), was a member of the princely family of Monaco and the elder sister of Prince Rainier III and aunt of Albert II, Prince of Monaco.Her parents were Count Pierre de Polignac and Princess Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois. Prince Rainier of Monaco and Princess Grace (1929 - 1982) greet well-wishers in the palace courtyard in Monte Carlo prior to their wedding, 18th April 1956. Grace Kelly was an acting icon of the 1950s and noted for her natural beauty and in 1956, Kelly became Princess of Monaco after marrying Prince Rainier III. ** FILE ** An April 20, 1956 photo from files of Prince Rainier III of Monaco after his marriage to Hollywood actress Grace Kelly, right, in Monte Carlo. [1], Rainier became the Sovereign Prince of Monaco upon the death of Prince Louis, on 9 May 1949. But Albert insisted Kelly’s legacy lives in. Prince Rainier of Monaco and Princess Grace (1929 - 1982) greet well-wishers in the palace courtyard in Monte Carlo prior to their wedding, 18th April 1956. One day later, on 23 March, it was announced he was on a ventilator, suffering from renal and heart failure. In 1962, Rainier ratified the Principality's new constitution, which significantly reduced the power of the sovereign. [4] He had suspended the previous constitution in 1959, saying that it "has hindered the administrative and political life of the country. Rainier's father, Pierre was half-French and half-Mexican, who adopted his wife's dynasty, Grimaldi, upon marriage, and was made a Prince of Monaco by his father-in-law. [8] Rainier organized exhibitions of rare and exceptional postage stamps and letters with the club's members. In January 1956, they announced their engagement and were married in April. There was no unemployment, but Monaco did grow crowded as a result of the boom. Recurrent chest infections put him in the hospital on numerous occasions. On 6th April 2005, the Palace announced the death of “the Builder Prince”. Prince Rainier, second from right, attends a Monaco national day celebration with Prince Albert, left, Princess Caroline, second left, and Princess Stephanie, right, on Nov. 19, 2000. Rainier's son to assume throneMonaco had been preparing for the demise of its prince for several years. Following his decommission from the French Army, he was promoted by the French government as a Captain in April 1949 and a Colonel in December 1954. Rainier ruled the Principality of Monaco for almost 56 years, making him one of the longest ruling monarchs in European history. [20], On 1 April 2005, the Palace announced that Rainier's doctors believed his chances of recovery were "slim". Rainier also won battles with France to keep his principality’s ban on personal income tax and with Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis for control of the company that operates Monaco’s gambling operations and most of its luxury hotels. “Let’s say the change is that we worked as a team and the team has been split up.”. Rainier's children, Prince Albert and Princesses Caroline and Stephanie, followed the coffin, along with his grandchildren and 6½-year-old dog Odin, who limped slightly. Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi was born in May 1923 in Monaco’s Prince’s Palace to Prince Pierre and Princess Charlotte, the Duke and Duchess of Valentinois. In March 1985, while out jogging, Kell collapsed and died of a heart attack. Rainier was born in 1923 and his parents divorced soon after. Prince Rainier, now 59 years old, his hair white, his face thickened, seemed crushed and numbed. Albert’s birth came the following year, on March 14. Upon ascension, the Prince held with a treasury that was practically empty. Caroline Joséphine Le Normand de Morando, 5. His mother was Princess Charlotte, sole heir of Monaco's Prince Louis II. His head hung and when he raised his eyes, tears were on his cheeks. Rainier needed a wife who could have children because, under a 1918 treaty with France, the principality would revert to its much larger neighbor if his bloodline died out. As a youth, Rainier had a long romance with French actress Gisele Pascal, became a keen fan of jazz and studied oceanography, later helping to finance Jacques Cousteau’s Oceanographic Institute in Monaco. Prince Rainier died in 2005 at age 81. For the Hungarian nobleman, see. All that remained for them was to persuade Grace to come to Monaco. She had fallen in love with the south of the country during filming there for To Catch a Thief. In World War II, Rainier joined the Free French Army in September 1944, and served under General de Monsabert as a second lieutenant. Albert’s son, Prince Louis II, had a youthful romance with a French girl in Algeria that produced Princess Charlotte, Rainier’s mother. The Prince also coordinated the substantial reforms of Monaco's constitution, which limited the powers of sovereign rule. Prince Rainier of … The Death of Princess Grace Princess Grace (Kelly) died on Sep 14, 1982 after a tragic car crash on the windy roads as she was driving from her country home to the Palace of Monaco. A glamorous marriageHe met Grace Kelly in 1955 when he was 31 and she was the 25-year-old star attraction of the Cannes Film Festival. Kelly already had an Oscar from the 1954 film “The Country Girl,” one of only 11 movies she made. Prince Rainier III was one of those outstanding rulers whose reign has completely changed the image of Monaco. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Prince Rainier III of Monaco Net Worth. According to Trend Celeb Now, Prince Rainier III of Monaco's estimated Net Worth, Salary, Income, Cars, Lifestyles & much more details has been updated below. [11][12][13] After Grace's death, Rainier refused to remarry. Prince Rainier III, whose marriage to American film star Grace Kelly brought elegance and glamour to one of Europe’s oldest dynasties, died Wednesday at the hospital treating him for heart, kidney and breathing problems. Rainier was born at Prince's Palace in Monaco, the second child of the Princess of Monaco, and her husband, the Prince of Monaco, and heir apparent to the throne. Rainier III (Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi; 31 May 1923 – 6 April 2005) was the Prince of Monaco from 9 May 1949 to his death in 2005. Rainier was moved to the hospital's intensive care unit on 22 March. Monaco government officials will observe a one-month mourning period. … As soldier, he witnessed action during the German counter-offensive in Alsace. The couple honeymooned in the Mediterranean on their yacht, Deo Juvante II. Their youngest, Princess Stéphanie, was born 1 February 1965, with all children having been delivered at the Palace. [14] He established the Princess Grace Foundation-USA in 1982 in her honor, to support fledging American artists. He was crucially responsible for the transformation of Monaco economy, shifting from its traditional casino gambling base to its current status as a tax haven and cultural destination. Her third husband, German prince Ernst August of Hanover, was ordered to pay more than $440,000 in 2001 for yelling at an editor of a newspaper that reported he had urinated in public. Despite the attractive offer, Grace behaved professionally, saying that she needed to coordinate the meeting in Monaco with her studio, which sponsored her trip to France. The marriage lasted 18 months, ending after he was photographed cavorting poolside with a Belgian stripper. Rainier was sent to prep school in E… Over the years, Rainier worked to consolidate his authority and expand Monaco’s economic base as a tax haven for international millionaires who gambled at the territory’s swanky casino. The son of Hollywood movie star Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier was once known as one of the world's most eligible bachelors. Albert has two sisters, Princess Caroline and Princess Stephanie, both of whom have children. Monacoville, Monaco; Recently Passed Away Celebrities and Famous People. [15] In the last years of his life his health progressively declined. Our mission is to bring our … https://deadorkicking.com/prince-rainier-of-monaco-dead-or-alive Rainier died from the heart, kidney and lung problems that caused his hospitalization, the palace said. After a year-long courtship described as containing "a good deal of rational appraisal on both sides", Prince Rainier married Kelly[10] in 1956. Had history gone a different way, Rainier might have romantically pursued another famous Hollywood blonde: Marilyn Monroe. Rainier was 81 years old at the time of death. However, she … refused. https://www.thevintagenews.com/2018/01/04/grace-kelly-prince-rainier-iii She would have to use natural lighting to apply her makeup. Following his state funeral, attended by many world dignitaries and royalty, his son formally succeeded him as Prince Albert II of Monaco. Grace suffered a second hemorrhage, likely caused by the accident, and never regained consciousness, according to Robinson. (AP Photo/PA, fls) ** UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES **. Kelly met Rainier on one of her many visits to France. Prince Rainier’s public appearances grew increasingly rare as his health deteriorated, although he attended Monaco’s top social event, the Red Cross Ball, in August 2004. https://www.grunge.com/209981/the-tragic-real-life-story-of-grace-kelly Ten months later they had the first of their three children, Caroline. After a lengthy bout of illness, Prince Rainier died in April 2005 at the age of 81, having ruled over the principality for 56 years. Long before the Irish-American actress perished in a tragic car crash, her husband, Prince Rainier of Monaco, had found out about dalliances with a string of young Hollywood stars. Under Rainier’s leadership, the Mediterranean enclave partially shed its image as “a sunny place for shady people” and became a hub for the high-tech pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. The silver-haired, portly prince underwent heart surgery in 1999. Rainier's ejection of Onassis launched a new and even more prosperous era for Monaco, and the Prince grew to be a savvy manager of Monaco's assets and development. Rainier then attended the Institut Le Rosey in Rolle and Gstaad, Switzerland from 1939, before continuing to the University of Montpellier in France, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1943, before studying Institut d'études politiques de Paris in Paris. The reputation of Monaco itself has also fallen under scrutiny. The prince, who had ruled the tiny Mediterranean principality since 1949, died at 0635 (0435 GMT), the royal palace said. Princess Antoinette of Monaco, who died in Monte Carlo on March 18 aged 90, was the eccentric older sister of Prince Rainier, and aunt to Prince … Grace was Princess Consort to Prince Rainier III and she took part in royal functions as required of her for more than 25 years. Recurring health problemsThe leader of Europe’s longest-ruling royal family, the Grimaldis, Rainier suffered recurring health problems in recent years. Prince Rainier of Monaco was born on May 31, 1923 and died on April 6, 2005. “She was always present and ready to do things either with me or for me if I couldn’t do them,” Rainier said of his late wife in a 1983 interview. He had been Europe’s longest-reigning monarch. Prince Rainier III, whose marriage to American film star Grace Kelly brought elegance and glamour to one of Europe’s oldest dynasties, died Wednesday at … In 2005, Prince Rainier III of Monaco, one of Europe's longest-reigning monarchs, died from multiple organ failure at the age of … In his last years, his health declined as he suffered from lung infections and heart problems.Prince Rainier died on April 6, 2005, in Monte Carlo, Monaco, and was buried at the Saint Nicholas Cathedral, next to his late wife, Princess Grace. Died: April 6, 2005 in Monacoville, Monaco (lung, heart and kidney problems) Birth Name: Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand de Grimaldi He was succeeded by his only son, who became Prince Albert II. Prince Charming. Jump to navigation Jump to search. In the years following Princess Grace’s death, Monaco’s royal family increasingly became grist for the world’s tabloids. The love life of Prince Albert of Monaco has always resembled a soap opera. Most recently, he was hospitalized March 7 at Monaco’s Cardio-Thoracic Center with a chest infection.