Prince Rainier III

Prince of Monaco from 1949 to 2005, modernizer of the principality.

Rainier III (Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi; 31 May 1923 – 6 April 2005) was Prince of Monaco from 1949 to his death in 2005. He ruled for almost 56 years and was responsible for transforming Monaco's economy from casino gambling to a tax haven and cultural destination, and for reforming the constitution to limit sovereign powers.

Quick Facts

Full name

Rainier Louis Henri Maxence Bertrand Grimaldi

Reign

9 May 1949 – 6 April 2005

Predecessor

Louis II

Successor

Albert II

Regent

Albert (2005)

Issue

Caroline, Princess of Hanover
Albert II, Prince of Monaco
Princess Stéphanie

House

Grimaldi

Father

Pierre de Polignac

Lore & Background

Rainier was born at the Prince's Palace of Monaco, the only son of Hereditary Princess Charlotte and Prince Pierre. He married American film star Grace Kelly in 1956, and they had three children: Caroline, Albert and Stéphanie. He died from complications of a lung infection due to years of cigarette smoking.

Did You Know?

Rainier was a native-born prince of Monaco, but not the first since Honoré IV; earlier native-born princes include Honoré V and Florestan I.
He served in the Free French Army during World War II and received the Croix de Guerre.
At his death, he was the longest-reigning monarch in Europe and the world's second longest-serving incumbent head of state after King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand.