A Love Story in Bloom: Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace
The romance of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace was marked with flowers. From the moment they met to the legacy she left behind, flowers symbolized their love, devotion, and enduring presence in Monaco.
Flower power
Their first meeting in May 1955 during the Cannes Film Festival was serendipitous. Princess Grace, then one of Hollywood’s brightest stars, wore a floral-print dress to the Palace of Monaco, where she met her future husband. Her choice of dress for her first meeting with Prince Rainier III was made out of necessity rather than intention. A power outage in Cannes left her unable to press her preferred outfit, so she wore the only dress that didn’t require ironing—a silk dinner dress with a bold floral print. In a twist of fate, this unplanned choice became a poetic foreshadowing of their romance, as flowers would be prominently featured in the most significant moments of their love story.
Garden of romance
Their April 1956 wedding was the epitome of regal romance. Princess Grace’s bouquet was a simple arrangement of lilies of the valley—symbolizing purity, happiness, and the promise of a beautiful future. These delicate white flowers were an elegant complement to her exquisite lace and silk bridal gown, embodying the grace that defined her. Her headpiece was embellished with a wreath of wax orange blossoms, with the leaves fashioned from tiny pearls. Symbolizing blessings and joy, orange blossoms have long been a cherished tradition in Mediterranean weddings. Monaco’s Saint Nicholas Cathedral was adorned with various flowers, including lilacs, hydrangeas, lilies, and snapdragons, transforming the royal nuptials into a garden of romance. Renowned French rose breeders, the House of Meilland, created the “Grace de Monaco rose” as a wedding gift to the couple. This hybrid tea rose features lush, fragrant petals in a soft pink hue with a silvery highlight.
Natural beauty
With the birth of their son, H.S.H. Prince Albert II, on March 14, 1958, Princess Grace was gifted thousands of orchids from around the world. Exotic, rare, and deeply symbolic of love and beauty, orchids became a testament to their growing family and enduring bond.
Flowers continued to mark the milestones of their love story. In Monaco, they were surrounded by lush gardens, inspiring Princess Grace to establish the Monaco Garden Club. The couple also presided over the Bal de la Rose (Rose Ball), a highlight of the principality’s social calendar. After her tragic passing, Prince Rainier III ensured that her memory would forever bloom by creating the Princess Grace Rose Garden in Monaco, where over 300 varieties of roses flourish in her honor.
At Grace de Monaco, every fragrance is a tribute to Princess Grace’s enduring love for flowers, especially roses. Each scent features a carefully selected rose variety—such as rose centifolia, damask rose, and Turkish rose—infusing our compositions with the elegance and romance that defined her spirit.
Orchids also held a special place in Princess Grace’s heart. Only one species of orchid produces the coveted vanilla bean. The soft, sweet aroma of vanilla allows us to weave the essence of orchids into Promenade Sur Le Rocher and Promenade Sous Les Étoiles in the most delicate and sumptuous way.
With floral top and heart notes at the core of every creation, Grace de Monaco fragrances echo the flowers that colored Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace’s most cherished moments of their life together. Shop Grace de Monaco and immerse yourself in sophisticated scents. Find your signature fragrance amid our luxurious parfum, eau de parfum, scented candles, diffuser oil, and featured in our exclusive discovery sets, La Rêverie and Les Trois Lumières.
Grace de Monaco is the World's First Luxury Brand for Good
Honoring the legacy of Princess Grace, all profits of Grace de Monaco support the brightest stars of tomorrow through the Princess Grace Foundation-USA.
