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Scientists X-Rayed Grace Kelly's Wedding Shoes and Saw a Copper Penny

Joe Akins
By Joe Akins
Jul 19, 2019
12:26 P.M.

In 2005, scientists took an x-ray of late actress Grace Kelly's wedding shoes and what they found was a good luck charm!

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Traditionally, some believe that for a wedding, there should be something new, something old, something borrowed, and maybe a little something for good luck.

Grace Kelly with husband, Prince Rainier of Monaco.|Photo: Getty Images.

Grace Kelly with husband, Prince Rainier of Monaco.|Photo: Getty Images.

KELLY'S GOOD LUCK CHARM

In Grace Kelly's case, her "good luck charm" can be presumed to be a penny which was found in her wedding shoe decades after her death.

In 2005, scientists performed an x-ray on the wedding shoes which revealed that a penny was sewn into it, thereby meaning that she like many was a fan of the tradition. The coin was found outlined against the shank of the right shoe along with the screws. The x-ray also showed the lovely beaded rosettes on the vamps of the heels.

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THE SHOE

American, David Evins designed the lovely pair of shoes worn by Grace Kelly at her lavish wedding to Prince Rainier of Monaco. The heels which were created using a silk needle lace, silk faille, seed pearls, and glass beads were made in America in 1956.

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Evidently, one of the beautiful leather pieces also had in it a copper penny.

GRACE KELLY AND THE PRINCE OF MONACO

Grace Kelly was born on November 12, 1929, and she soon grew to become one of the biggest movie stars of her time. Her marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco was so big; it was then referred to as “the wedding of the century.”

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco's wedding. |Photo: YouTube/ British Pathe.

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco's wedding. |Photo: YouTube/ British Pathe.

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after

was invited to France for the Cannes Film Festival in 1955 after the release of her latest movie, "The Country Girl."

While on the trip, her publicist arranged a French magazine photoshoot for Paris Match at the Palace of Monaco for the actress.

As fate would have it, Kelly, who had previously tried to cancel the appointment, finally went, and it was there she met the man she would soon call husband.

THE ROMANTIC AFFAIR

Although the meeting was far from being romantic, it was an impressionable one. Following this, Kelly went back to the United States, but the two kept communicating through letters, which gave them a chance to know each other more. The friendship was encouraged by both families and soon after the Prince and his family paid the Kellys a visit to America.

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco's wedding. |Photo: YouTube/ British Pathe.

Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco's wedding. |Photo: YouTube/ British Pathe.

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On New Year's eve, while the duo was in New York celebrating, the Prince proposed to the actress with a 10.47-carat emerald diamond Cartier ring. The ring was in a platinum setting, and it was adorned with smaller baguette diamonds on each side.

THE WEDDING OF THE CENTURY

Soon after the engagement, preparations for the big day began. There were two weddings, the first was a civil ceremony required of a Prince and the second was a grander religious event with 600 guests in attendance.

The wedding was televised and over thirty million viewers were opportuned to watch the beautiful event. The civil ceremony took place on April 18, 1956, at the throne room of the Monaco Palace. Grace was dressed in a pale pink taffeta with an overlay of cream-colored Alencon lace designed with a fitted bodice created by Helen Rose, the MGM studio costume designer.

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The religious ceremony of Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly took place the next day just after the civil service which had only 80 guests present at the St. Nicholas Cathedral.

THE WEDDING DRESS

The beautiful dress which took six weeks to make was a gift from MGM studios, Helen Rose. The beautiful bridal gown influenced Kate Middleton's wedding gown in 2011.

Grace Kelly on her wedding day.| Photo: YouTube/ British Pathe.

Grace Kelly on her wedding day.| Photo: YouTube/ British Pathe.

The lovely dress's cost was put at about $7,200, and it was an exquisite fitted gown with a high collar, long lace sleeves, and a train that was three feet long.

It is undeniable, that on that day Kelly had her dream wedding and also, her good luck charm!

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