Grace Of Monaco Princess

Princess Grace of Monaco TLS Mentioning a Friend's Stroke; 10 Years Later She Suffered One herself while Driving & Died

1p TLS signed by Princess Grace of Monaco, née Kelly (1929-1982), as "Grace de Monaco" near the bottom. Written at the Prince's Palace of Monaco on January 23, 1973. On watermarked cream paper with Grace's royal cypher, a crowned "G", at top. Expected light paper folds, and a tiny closed tear in the upper left hand corner mentioned just for accuracy, else near fine. 8.25" x 10.625". Accompanied by a vintage candid color photograph of the royal family, inscribed "Nov 1963" along the right edge.

Princess Grace addressed this letter to an unknown correspondent named "Mrs. Helen Seitz". It reads in part:

"Thank you very much for your letter giving us news of your father-in-law. We had heard of his stroke but did not realize how serious it was, and I was terribly sorry to know about it…

Please give him our warmest thoughts and regards, and do write to give us news from time to time…"

Princess Grace's words are eerie because they foreshadow her own fate. On September 13, 1982, the 52-year-old Grace suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while driving, causing her to lose control of the car, which careened down a mountainside. She and youngest daughter Princess Stéphanie (born 1965), a passenger in the car, were gravely injured. Grace's husband Prince Rainier III decided to remove his wife from life support the following day.

The 3.5" square glossy color photograph printed on Kodak paper preserves memories of happier days. The photo was almost certainly taken on November 19, 1963, the date decreed by Prince Rainier III as the National Day of Monaco, a nationwide patriotic holiday. In the photo, Prince Rainier can be seen looking out of the French door, with son Albert II (born 1958, the current monarch of Monaco) partly visible to his left. In the foreground, a woman, presumably Princess Grace, helps daughter Caroline (born 1957) put on white gloves. The royal family's clothing ranged from full military uniform in Prince Rainier's case, to local ethnic costume--complete with embroidered and fringed shawl--in Princess Caroline's case. Scattered adhesive residue confined to the edges, else very good to near fine.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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