Prince Rainier III of Monaco - Monaco-Ville, Monaco
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 43° 43.899 E 007° 25.261
32T E 372836 N 4843279
A statue of Prince Rainier III of Monaco is located on the Rampe-Major leading down from he Place Du Palais in Monaco-Ville section of Monaco.
Waymark Code: WMV0MC
Location: Monaco
Date Posted: 02/03/2017
Views: 14
A life-size bronze statue of Prince Rainier III of the House of Grimaldi, one of the longest serving monarchs in European history, 55 years from May 9, 1949 to his death on April 6, 2005, is located on the the upper end of The Ramp leading down from the Place du Palais. The Prince is depicted standing on a stone base wearing a ceremonial dress uniform. He is wearing a jacket with many medals pinned to his chest, an ornate belt with a ceremonial sheathed sword hanging from his right side, and a ceremonial hat tucked under his right arm. His left arm is bent up and his left hand is touching his belt.
The statue was created by Kees Verkade in 2013. The base is inscribed in gold lettering:
LE PRINCE RAINIER III DE MONACO
1923 - 2005
A sign on the rock wall next to the statue is inscribed:
Don du sculpteur
KEES VERKADE
Prince Rainier III was born in Monte Carlo, Monaco on 31 May 1923. He was the only son of Prince Pierre of Monaco, Duke of Valentinois and his wife, the Monegasque Hereditary Princess, Charlotte, Duchess of Valentinois. Princess Charlotte was only child of Prince Louis II of Monaco.
In 1944, Princess Charlotte renounced her right to the Monegasque throne and Rainier III became the Prince of Monaco. During, World War II Prince Rainier served as a second lieutenant with the Free French Army under General de Monsabert. For his actions during the German counter-offensive in Alsace, he received the French Croix de Guerre with bronze star, He was awarded the rank of Chevalier in the French Legion of Honor in 1947. He was promoted to Captain then Colonel by the French government in April 1949 and December 1954 respectively.
Prince Rainier became an international celebrity when he married Academy Award winning actress Grace Kelly in April 1956. He and Princess Grace had three children, Princess Caroline Louise Marguerite, The Princess of Hanover; Albert II, the current Prince of Monaco, and Princess Stéphanie Marie Elisabeth.