Why we were told that the wedding between Grace Kelly and Rainier of Monaco was a fairytale crush: it was due to a financial maneuver (by Aristotle Onassis)

In 1956, the world sighed with love at the fairytale wedding between
Grace Kelly, the most elegant actress and regal of the Hollywood of the moment, and
Rainier of Monaco. The incredibly romantic tale of their crush and subsequent marriage has endured for decades, and their wedding has continued to draw sighs of melancholy generation after generation. Her,
gorgeous in her Helen Rose lace dress, millimetrically copied by brides around the world, she was shy and rapt at her prince. He, decorated to the chin, was the spitting image of a prince charming. How could I not soak up the marrow
the love story of the American commoner who fell in love with all of Monaco? And yet, behind this trompe l’oeil of ideal love, a much more earthly story was running. As the detectives say, you just have to
follow the money trail.

In the mid-1950s, the Principality of Monaco had to resolve two urgent matters. One was the succession to the throne, called into question by
Prince Rainier’s long bachelorhood, still without marriage prospects at 33. And, above all, a galloping indebtedness due to World War II that endangered the very continuity of the small state, whose weakness was observed with growing interest by France. In addition, Rainier’s sister, Antonieta, conspired so that Monegasque politicians entrusted the destinies of the country to her, since she could already provide an heir. In such a delicate tessitura,
Rainier had only one powerful ally: Aristotle Onassis, the Greek billionaire ship owner and main investor of the Monte Carlo casino. Move your real ass and get a girlfriend. The right woman can do for Monaco what she did
the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II for Great Britain, ‘he told her.

The word of
Aristotle Onassis are picked up by the movie producer
Robert evans in The Fat Lady Sang, his autobiography. Onassis had taken control of the Monegasque Society of Banks and Precious Metals, a bank that
went bankrupt in the early 50’s and he controlled the Monte Carlo Casino, several hotels and tourist attractions. The debacle of this bank also took away part of Rainiero’s personal fortune. The idea of
turn the wedding of the prince of Monaco into a tourist attraction that would put the Principality back as the desired destination of the vacationers of the European elite. To do this, he ordered Rainier to choose a Hollywood actress, the more famous the better, to reactivate the destinies of the small bankrupt state. He dreamed of turning the country into a place of leisure for international millionaires and movie stars.

The first chosen for
rescue Monaco by way of a televised wedding was
Marilyn monroeBut neither did her profile match what was expected of a queen, nor did her busy married life leave much room for a courtship. Next on the list was
Grace kelly, whose partners did not finish crystallizing in marriages. Robert Evans, Grace Kelly’s lover in the early 1950s, had no confidence in her ability to adapt to what was expected of a princess consort.

“Our Serene Highness was well known in Hollywood for playing summer camps with just about every actor she wanted.
There was not a microscope on earth powerful enough to find a single atom of virginity in its actual anatomy.Evans writes. “She was not a virgin but she was Catholic, fertile, rich and famous, so four out of five was good enough to close the deal.”

Indeed,
Grace Kelly’s father paid her $ 2 million dowry, the wedding took place and
Aristoteles Onassis made the Casino de Monaco the favorite destination of the world’s rich.
Rainier He managed to pay the debts of the Principality and, in fact, in 1964 he was even able to get rid of the Greek billionaire, regaining control of the bank and the destiny of his state. Onassis had to find another playground.