The Truth Behind Grace Kelly’s Marriage to the Prince of Monaco

Biographical accounts describe Grace contributing half of the reported $2 million dowry from her own money. The family’s portion was charged against her inheritance, protecting the shares intended for her brother and sisters. Becoming Rainier’s wife involved a major financial commitment as well as a change of home.

The arrangement showed how much practical planning lay beneath the engagement photographs. Grace was helping fund her entry into royal life before the wedding had even taken place. Money was only one part of what she was committing. Another question remained unresolved in public: would marriage also mean giving up her acting career?