Inside Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly's Fairytale Love Story

Grace Kelly had to give up her acting career in Hollywood, among other things, to marry the love of her life, Prince Rainier III of Monaco.

Before there was Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, there was Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly -- the real-life fairytale couple of the ‘50s.

MEETING FOR THE FIRST TIME

Both Rainier and Kelly were stars in their own right -- he was a royal who assumed the throne in Monaco, whereas she was an Academy Award-winning actress in Hollywood.

In 1955, while onboard the luxury Le Train Bleu, Oscar Award-winning actress Olivia de Havilland and her husband Pierre Galante had a brilliant idea to make Rainier and Kelly meet.

“It was an idea that struck [Pierre] for the first time while dining on the train after he learned Grace Kelly was a fellow passenger,” the “Gone with the Wind” actress said.

Several instances nearly derailed the couple’s first meeting, including a city blackout and car accident, but eventually, the two met.

The model-bride honored Kelly by wearing a Saint-Laurent mini-dress, similar to what the late royal wore at her civil ceremony.

LIFE AS A COUPLE

Although not much was known about what happened after their first meeting, several theories surfaced on tabloids.

It was no secret that things between the royal and actress were getting serious as he spent the Christmas holidays with her family in Philadelphia.

It wasn’t long until Rainier and Kelly tied the knot with an extravagant two-day wedding celebration at Monaco’s Cathedral of St. Nicholas, which saw A-lister celebrities and several royal families.

“Mom said it was ‘overwhelming,’ -- that ‘excited’ or the word ‘overjoyed’ wasn’t strong enough to express her feelings,” Prince Albert shared.

BECOMING A ROYAL

Before becoming a royal, Kelly was a movie star, whose first film was “Fourteen Hours,” and later had her big break in “High Noon.”

However, the “Mogambo” star had to give up her acting career after marriage and focus on raising three children and eleven grandchildren, including Charlotte Casiraghi, who paid tribute to her grandma on her wedding day.

The model-bride honored Kelly by wearing a Saint-Laurent mini-dress, similar to what the late royal wore at her civil ceremony.

They also chose their ceremony to be held at the Prince’s Palace of Monaco, where Kelly tied the knot with Rainier.