Celebrating the life of Prince Rainier
and his Philadelphia princess

By CHRISTIE L. CHICOINE
CS&T Staff Writer

The same day as Prince Rainier was being remembered at his funeral Mass April 15 in Monaco, he was remembered in a Mass at Princess Grace’s childhood parish of St. Bridget in the East Falls section of Philadelphia.

Prince Rainier III of Monaco, whose 1956 Catholic wedding to the Philadelphia native and actress helped put his tiny European principality in the world spotlight, died in Monaco April 6 after being hospitalized with lung, heart and kidney problems. He was 81.

“There is an intimate relationship between the Prince, his family and the Church,” said Father John J. Kelly (no relation), pastor of St. Bridget, in his homily at the Mass at St. Bridget Church.

The Prince of Monaco, who married one of St. Bridget’s own, is remembered by parishioners, he said. First accompanied by Grace, and later their children, coming to St. Bridget Church to “pray in these very pews.”

Rainier was the world’s longest reigning monarch, taking over leadership of Monaco from his grandfather in 1949. Rainier made the principality constitutionally Catholic, declaring that “the Catholic, Apostolic and Romaine religion is the religion of the State.” Rainier’s wife, Princess Grace, died in 1982. They are survived by their two daughters, Princesses Caroline and Stephanie; and son, Prince Albert II — the heir to the throne.

Lizanne LeVine, 73, Grace Kelly’s youngest sister and sole surviving sibling, was at the Mass for Prince Rainier at St. Bridget.
“It’s a very difficult day,” said LeVine. “We really loved him. I just can’t believe that he’s gone. Our Grace is gone and he’s gone.”

LeVine added that she was consoled by the fact that with Prince Rainier’s death, the prince and princess were reunited. “She’s very happy to have him up there with her.”

Commending the character of both his uncle and aunt, 44-year-old J.B. Kelly III, son of the late Jack Kelly, Grace’s brother and a member of Our Mother of Consolation Parish in Chestnut Hill, said: “The bachelor prince and the movie star — they were the celebrity couple of their decade, if not the century.”

Recalling his childhood days of play with Prince Albert while in Monaco, J.B. Kelly said that away from the palace, “the prince was truly just ‘Uncle Rainier.’”

Years later, he would also be just great-Uncle Rainier to J.B. and Karen’s two children, Katherine, now 17, and Nick, now 12. J.B. recalled as a case in point a visit in 1997 to celebrate 700 years of Grimaldi rule in Monaco. His Uncle Rainier was “on the floor wrestling with Nick over a toy they both wanted.”

“Uncle Rainier was a remarkably strong and commanding man,” he said.

After his uncle’s death, J.B. Kelly, accompanied by his wife Karen and his sister, Susan Kelly vonMedicus, spent three days with Caroline, Albert and Stephanie. J.B. Kelly remembered Prince Rainier as one who gave his undivided attention to whomever was speaking — as if he or she were the only person in the room. His charm and charisma were genuine, he added.

J.B. Kelly said that of all the spectacular events held in Monaco, Prince Rainier’s favorite was the annual circus.

“This year’s circus was his last public appearance. The crowd of Monaco, sensing the end might be near, erupted into spontaneous, roaring applause in appreciation for their prince.

“Surrounded by his children, with a smile on his face and a tear in his eye, Prince Rainier appeared to wave goodbye to his subjects.”

CS&T Staff Writer Christie L. Chicoine can be reached at (215) 587-2468 or cchicoin@adphila.org

— Catholic News Service contributed to this article.