Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III in Monaco on 6 May 1955. Grace had been in Cannes to promote her film The Country Girl when a French journalist arranged a meeting between her and the Prince at the palace.
On the day of their meeting there was labour strike which meant that there was no electricity in the city and so Grace could not dry her hair or iron her clothes. Instead she put her hair up, covering it with a floral headband and wore a drop-waist silk floral dress that didn't require ironing. She had to take the stairs as the elevator was out of order and would later get into a minor car accident causing her to be late to her meeting with Rainier, who had to leave. Grace was given a tour of the 225-room palace by herself and later met with the Prince who gave her a tour of his private zoo.
The two didn't expect to meet again but soon after this meeting they would continue to write to each other in secret for eight months. Over Christmas that year Prince Rainier was invited to stay with the Kelly family in Philadelphia - only the second time he and Grace had met in person. Shortly after arriving Prince Rainier proposed to Grace. Their engagement was announced in January 1956 and the two married in Monaco in April.
