One of the 20th century’s most celebrated love stories returns to the spotlight with The Wedding of the Century, a new exhibition at the Prince’s Palace of Monaco. Marking the 70th anniversary of the marriage of Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly, the exhibition revisits the events of April 1956 that captivated audiences around the world and helped shape Monaco’s modern identity.
Presented in the State Apartments of the Prince’s Palace from 18 June to 25 September 2026, the exhibition brings together a remarkable collection of photographs, film footage, jewellery, gowns, gifts and previously unseen archival materials. Visitors are invited to follow the story from Grace Kelly’s arrival in Monaco on 12 April to the departure of the newly married couple for their honeymoon a week later.
Often referred to as the original “wedding of the century”, the event marked a turning point in the history of media and celebrity culture. Broadcast to millions worldwide and covered extensively by newspapers, magazines and newsreels, it achieved an unprecedented level of international visibility and became a symbol of glamour, romance and post-war optimism.
Through original objects and rare archival documents, the exhibition reveals the people, places and preparations behind the celebrations, shedding light on an event organised in just 3 months. It also explores the extraordinary media phenomenon that surrounded the wedding and the enduring fascination it continues to inspire seven decades later.
Staged within the historic setting of the Prince’s Palace, The Wedding of the Century offers a unique opportunity to rediscover a defining chapter in Monaco’s contemporary history and the legacy of a celebration that remains embedded in the world’s collective memory.
