FAMOUS MONEGASQUES
This union was not destined to be happy , and in 1930 the princely couple broke up . On February 18 , 1933 , by decree of Prince Louis II , their official divorce was announced . Their mission was accomplished , however , as the couple produced two heirs — Prince Rainier , the future ruler of the Principality , and Princess Antoinette .
THE HEREDITARY PRINCESS
A
strong-willed woman , reluctant to engage in politics and live in Monaco , Princess Charlotte spent most of her life between Paris and the Château de Marchais in the French Aisne , in the company of her many dogs .
After her marriage , Princess Charlotte studied at university and became qualified as a social worker . She was famously a " prison visitor ", seeking to restore justice , and was then living with the renowned jewellery thief René Girieux , also known as " René la Canne ". He was also her driver , although deprived of his driving license . In 1956 , for the celebration of her son Rainier ' s marriage to Grace Kelly , the inimitable Charlotte became high profile in the news . She was driven by René La Canne , then on parole . “ After all these years in the shade , I thought a little sun would do him good ,” she supposedly explained to her stunned son . The former gangster then lived in Marche , in a small villa in a park , just a few steps away from this independent-minded Princess . By the way , later , in one of his interviews , Rainier III recalled that Charlotte was more of a friend to him than a mother .
Princess Charlotte , nurse at the Riviera Palace ( Beausoleil ) transformed into a temporary hospital during World War I . The Princess is on the right of the photo , her governess , Miss Amaury is on the left . Beausoleil , 1914
Charlotte abdicated in her son Prince Rainier ’ s favour , thus perpetuating the Grimaldi dynasty .
Her son became Prince Rainier III and ascended the throne in 1949 . As to Charlotte , she retained the titles of Princess of Monaco and Duchess Valentinois . After 1956 Charlotte never returned to Monaco and definitively moved to Paris where she passed away in 1977 at the age of 79 .
Hello Monaco is very appreciative of the kind assistance of the audio-visual archives of Monaco who provided the illustrations .
© Droits réservés - Archives du palais de Monaco – IAM
France later awarded Princess Charlotte for her efforts reintegrating former prisoners into society . French Medal of Recognition , the Epidemics Medal of Honour , the French Red Cross Silver Medal , the 1914 – 1918 War Commemorative Medal and the French Prison Medal were just some of her trophies . Charlotte was also a cavalier of the three Monegasque orders — the Order of St . Charles , the Order of the Crown and the Order of Grimaldi .
ADBICATION
On May 30 , 1944 , at the time of Prince Rainier ' s 21st birthday and coming of age , Hereditary Princess Charlotte abdicated in his favour , thus perpetuating the Grimaldi dynasty . She assumed that Monaco ' s population wouldn ' t accept a leader who was divorced and whose parents weren ' t married when she was born .
Prince Rainier III on the occasion of his accession standing in the gardens of the Prince ' s Palace . He wears the insignia of the order of Saint-Charles . A young girl dressed in traditional Monegasque costume presents a tray to Prince Rainier . One can see the Prince ’ s parents Princess Charlotte ( on the right ) and Prince Pierre ( behind ). April , 11 , 1950
© Fausto Picedi
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