Grace Kelly

[scriptgirl]

opera gloves

 

[Jeanne]

It worked (too well) with Albert, or so I hear, who would rather spend all of his time in America. He is very loyal to his American cousins, which is all to his credit. It didn't work so well for Caroline, who (but I don't mean to slander, it's just my impression) seems to only go to the U.S on P.R tours, or very short stays, and doesn't seem to have kept any relation with her Kelly cousins, certainly since the death of Grace Levine, who had spent many a summer vacation in Monaco, then a year in Paris with her, and had been her maid of honor at her first wedding. Caroline is a hard one to read sometimes. Stephanie of course had somewhat of a career in Los Angeles before Daddy came to the rescue and brought her home, and Andrea Casiraghi does spend a lot of time in New York, with his girlfriend Tatiana.
Thanks, scriptgirl, for the other picture you found. Very lovely.

 

[scriptgirl]

Jeanne, you are welcome
How did Grace Levine die-wasn't she awfully young?
What do you mean about Rainier rescuing Stephanie?
Time and Life

 

[psiabeyl]

I've read direct quotes from Caroline about how much she loved visiting the States. She went to summer camp in PA and stayed with her maternal grandparents quite often. Grace would take her to Ocean City, as well. It was very important to Grace that her children felt at home in America. All three, I believe, always enjoy their time there.

 

[scriptgirl]

RDB

 

[kochie332]

scanned by me

 

[Jeanne]

Gorgeous pictures, scriptgirl ! For once, I like her with her hair in a turban. And those sunglasses ! Movie star + Princess: no one did it better .

Grace Levine died of cancer in her early forties, if I am not mistaken. (source :Royal Forums; thread on Grace Levine). I could hardly believe it myself, especially since I vaguely knew her : we were at the U. of Pennsylvania together, she as a student, I as a graduate assistant (in the late seventies). A photographer friend from the Ph. Inquirer took lots of pictures of her and I still have the negatives. ( I posted the pictures on the Royal Forums).

Stephanie, apparently (biographies), was living too much of the high life and it was affecting her health. She also apparently was getting a bit too chummy with unsavory characters. I'd have to check which biography goes into a lot of detail about this. Maybe someone can help me out here, otherwise I'll go check in my library (will take a couple of days, it's in another house).

 

[scriptgirl]

Thank you, Jeanne

cinetext

 

[Jeanne]

I've read direct quotes from Caroline about how much she loved visiting the States. She went to summer camp in PA and stayed with her maternal grandparents quite often. Grace would take her to Ocean City, as well. It was very important to Grace that her children felt at home in America. All three, I believe, always enjoy their time there.

That's quite correct, but as far as I know, that was in her adolescence. I can't really remember an interview, post say 1985, where she mentions the States with such affection. Of course, I may be wrong. That's why I said she's a hard one to read, because obviously her stays in the U.S profoundly marked her personality, and in Europe, she was considered very American in her way of being, behaving. And then, pschitt, that aspect of her personality seemed to go underground. Have you noticed how, out of her three husbands, none is American ? That always surprised me. (I am fond of American men myself...)

 

[scriptgirl]

world roots

 

[psiabeyl]

That's true that she said those quotes when she was younger. I just don't see how her view of America would change as she grew older. I mean, her mother was American. I fail to believe she doesn't love the country just the same. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

 

[scriptgirl]

Just because Grace is American, doesn't mean Caroline would love the US. Most Europeans don't. I remember Vanity Fair had an article 2, maybe 3 years ago about Caroline and Stephanie and how different they were and the writer took a very dim view of Caroline, saying she was insufferably regal and very aware of her position, whereas Stephanie was not that way. The editors at Paris Match seemed to really dislike Caroline. Interesting how Caroline has not had the issues with her children that Grace had with hers.

Grace with her close friend, Josephine Baker

eyedea

 

[Jeanne]

I don't think I said her view of America changed, nor that she did not love the country. Please don't put words in my mouth ! Or maybe I'm just not expressing myself clearly. I just said that contrary to her brother, she does not seem to cultivate her relationship with her American relatives, nor does she seem to visit the States except on business and short stays. I am sure she loves America. Please note the "seem", I don't follow her around nor monitor her calls and emails, but there are enough photos from paparazzis to make educated guesses about her choices. Again, I am sure she loves America, why wouldn't she ?

 

[psiabeyl]

You are free to have your own opinion. I still think that there hasn't been a drastic change in her opinion of America. She had such fond memories there, why wouldn't she not like it? I also think it's silly to overlook the fact that Grace was an American. Her children would have a natural tendency to feel at home in their mother's country, especially since Grace still retained her American citizenship and was so obviously attached to her homeland. Caroline adored her grandparents and American family. Like I said, we should just agree to disagree.

ETA: I guess you didn't express your thoughts clearly to me. That's how you made it sound. I understand your point now.

 

[scriptgirl]

I love conversations like this! Keeps the thread moving. I thought when Grace married, she had to give up her American citizenship. I remember seeing an interview when I was kid with Caroline on 20/20 in the late 80s and she spoke French. I asked my mom why she spoke French when Grace was American and my mom said that maybe Caroline felt more comfortable that way.

aci

 

[psiabeyl]

^Nope, she had a dual-citizenship. Her father would never let her renounce her American citizenship, especially after all those years climbing the Philadelphia social ladder.

 

[scriptgirl]

Oh.

globe

 

[Jeanne]

Overlapping responses, can't keep up ! scriptgirl, I remember that article. I think sometimes Caroline has a tendency to sound a bit stuck up, and I am not even sure she is aware of it, as in "Well, yes, I have to wear a beautiful evening gown for the gala, it's what the public expects of me" (sigh, sigh, these commoners, what effort I have to go through to give them their money's worth) or "I insist on this modern music (atonal), which unfortunately people don't understand and appreciate, but they need to be educated" (sigh, sigh, what an effort to educate these boors). OK, maybe I am a bit unfair to her, but she plays up her rank and sophistication a little too much for my taste.

As far as her feelings for the U.S, I have nothing to add, I can't read her mind, I just observe facts, or what I believe are facts, but I have no reason to believe she does not like America.

Paris-Match used to adore Caroline, until she sued them one time too many. They bitterly complained about that, reminding her that they had always written highly favorable articles about her since adolescence. They didn't even mention her fiftieth birthday. In fact, they complained that for her fortieth or forty-fifth, I forget which, her lawyers sent them a "preemptive" letter threatening them with a suit if they made a fuss about her birthday. They published that letter. They were not happy campers to say the least.

 

[scriptgirl]

Why does Caroline have such a bug up her butt? Interestingly enough, Grace was very supportive of her divorcing Junot

opera gloves

 

[scriptgirl]

And Jeanne, did Caroline have a lot of issues with her kids the way Grace had with hers?