Seventy years after a Hollywood star became a Princess, Washington D.C. is preparing to give her a permanent place among its most storied grounds.
On September 1, the Smithsonian Institution will unveil a lasting tribute to Princess Grace of Monaco on the National Mall, marking the seventieth anniversary of her marriage to Prince Rainier III.
The evening begins privately, in the Smithsonian's Kathrine Dulin Folger Rose Garden, where a reproduction of a historic swan bench will be dedicated in her name. Planted beside it will be the Princess Grace rose, a blush-pink variety chosen to echo her lifelong love of flowers and gardens, drawn in part from her final film, The Swan.
The public programme that follows, hosted at the Smithsonian's Arts and Industries Building, will trace her journey from Oscar-winning actress to Princess of Monaco, and the influence she left behind in fashion, film and philanthropy. It will also spotlight the continuing work of the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, established by Prince Rainier in 1982, which has since supported emerging talents including playwright Tony Kushner and actor Oscar Isaac.
For a Principality that has spent decades preserving her memory, the tribute marks something new: a permanent piece of Monaco's story, rooted not on the Rocher, but on American soil.
Thinking of attending? The public programme is free, though tickets have already sold out. A waitlist is available through Smithsonian Associates.