On April 12, 1956, the arrival of Grace Kelly in the Principality of Monaco marked a transformative moment for the House of Grimaldi. While history often focuses on the "wedding of the century" that followed a week later, a specific artifact of that day remains a focal point of the nation’s heritage: the 1956 Chrysler Imperial that transported the future Princess from the port to the Prince’s Palace.
The American actress arrived aboard the S.S. Constitution, which anchored off the coast before she was brought to shore on Prince Rainier III’s yacht, the Deo Juvante II. Upon reaching the harbor, she was met by Prince Rainier and escorted to the waiting Chrysler Imperial. The car, an American-made luxury sedan, served as the primary vessel for her first public journey through the streets of her future home.
The vehicle was not a standard acquisition. Prince Rainier III had the car brought over specifically from the United States for the occasion. Powered by a 5.4-liter V8 engine producing 280 horsepower, the limousine featured modern technical innovations of its era, including push-button shifting. Originally finished in green, the car was later repainted in black and silver - colors deemed more appropriate for official state functions. Beyond its role in the arrival ceremony, the Chrysler was a fixture in the couple’s early public life, appearing in the wedding procession and during the 1960 official visit of French President Charles de Gaulle.
Seven decades after its historic journey through the streets of Monte Carlo, the Chrysler Imperial is now housed within the Collection of Automobiles of H.S.H. the Prince of Monaco. Located at the Port Hercule since its 2022 relocation, the collection preserves the car with only 21,000 miles on its odometer, serving as a "witness" to the day Kelly transitioned from Hollywood actress to a Monégasque sovereign. The preservation of the vehicle serves as more than a nod to automotive history; it remains a tangible link to the beginning of the Princess Grace era. For the public, the car offers a rare, physical connection to the afternoon when a Philadelphia-born actress first viewed the Principality from the back seat of an American classic.
Photo credits: Collection of Automobiles of H.S.H. the Prince of Monaco Instagram