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The principality of Monaco is like a dream: sparkling waters, warm beaches, clear skies, fashionable boutiques, and more yachts than you can count.

There are casinos, spas, and everything you could possibly want for entertainment. For a taste of elegant culture, there is the Princess Grace Irish Library, the Monte Carlo Opera House, and Monaco’s preeminent ballet company.

It all seems so wonderful, but there have been scandals hiding behind the sunshine and sparkle. Marriage breakups, infidelity, and death cloud the Mediterranean skies of Monte-Carlo. Somerset Maugham even referred to Monaco as a “sunny place for shady people”.

This is the story of the Grimaldi family, who gained their principality through cutthroat maneuvers and are even said to be cursed when it comes to finding love.

Gaining power… Read more

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Princess Charlotte Louise Juliette of Monaco (1898 – 1977), mother of Prince Rainier III ca. 1921
Rainier’s parents, Princess Charlotte and Count Pierre Polignac.

Prince Rainier married Grace Kelly, American movie star 19th April 1956

Rainier’s glamorous wife, Princess Grace

Tiny siblings Caroline and Albert out for a drive with their nanny, ca. 1961

On the balcony of their Swiss hotel with two of their children, Prince Albert and Princess Stephanie, April 1968.

Rainier at dinner with Princess Caroline (right) and Princess Stephanie, ca. 1974

The Princely couple attend the Bal Petits Lits Blancs at Powerscourt, Enniskerry, County Wicklow

Prince Rainier stands on a terrace overlooking Monaco and its harbour with an architect’s model of the city

Princess Caroline with her first husband, Philippe Junot, after their marriage in Monaco 29th June 1978

Princess Caroline of Monaco with her second husband, Stefano Casiraghi.

Princess Caroline of Monaco and Hanover, with her husband, Ernst August of Hanover attending a gala

Hereditary Prince Albert II of Monaco

Princess Caroline attends the wedding of Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary

Princess Caroline and her sister, Princess Stephanie, who are the president of Amade Mondiale and Fight Aids Monaco respectively, sign the renewal of the agreement for the convention to profit Amade Burundi, Amade Mondiale and Fight Aids Monaco, at the Hotel de Paris in Monte-Carlo on April 3, 2009

Caroline with her daughters, Princess Alexandra of Hanover and Charlotte Casiraghi, at the Award Ceremony for employees at the Prince’s Palace as part of Monaco’s National Day November 19, 2008

A happy Princess Alexandra

Prince Albert with his sisters

Caroline, right, with daughter Charlotte and Tatiana Santo-Domingo, girlfriend of Caroline’s son Andrea

Aerial View Monaco

The Prince's Palace By Night

The Throne Room

Palais Cours d'Honneur/Courts of Honor

Monaco's Famous Catholic Cathedral