Annales Monégasques

More than three hundred evocative photographs of Prince Rainier III, put into context and displayed alongside personal documents and objects, are being exhibited by the Palace Archives and the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco in the Grands Appartements between 31 May and 20 August 2023. The sovereign can be seen performing his duties, ploughing through paperwork’ in his office, being celebrated every year on 19 November in very special ceremonies, where distinguished guests are welcomed in the traditional spirit of patronage. Following which, there’s a closer look into the man himself in his homes, at different stages of his life: at ‘Villa Iberia’, the palace where he was born, raised and where the bachelor prince lived until his marriage, in the house at Roc Agel, the home he built for family life, and at the historic residence of the Grimaldis, the retreat of a lifetime, the Château de Marchais. Finally, there was a look back at some of the palace’s great moments, from the end of the Second World War to pivotal moments in history when the population rallied together, including the height of the Franco-Monegasque crisis and the proclamation of a new constitution.

Noblemen were using equestrian depictions on their personal seals as early as the 11th century. The first known Grimaldi seal, made for Rainier I in 1305, shows the sovereign as a mounted warrior, a practice that had long been common among the high-born but would soon be abandoned. This article takes a closer look at this particular seal, the first of its kind to depict the Grimaldis on horseback, and, remarkably, also the first in a long line of equestrian seals used by the lords and princes of Monaco from the 14th to the 18th centuries. It is also the oldest known representation of the family coat of arms. The final part of the study relates how, on his accession to the throne, Prince Rainier III brought the equestrian seal up to date with a contemporary design used on coinage, stamps, and decorations, as part of what appeared to be a genuine PR strategy intended to assert control over the princely image and dynastic heritage.

On his accession to the throne, Prince Rainier III chose his first Minister of State personally, appointing eminent economist Jacques Rueff (1896-1978), who also happened to be a friend of his father, Prince Pierre. It was while serving in the French Liberation Army at the end of the Second World War that the future Sovereign first encountered Rueff, then an officer with the Military Mission for German and Austrian Affairs in Berlin. Coming mere months after Rainier’s accession, the appointment heralded the new Prince’s strong political vision for Monaco. Between 1949 and 1950, he and Jacques Rueff together laid many of the foundations for the decades that would follow, against the complex backdrop of difficult negotiations with France and a domestic crisis. Their efforts restored order to the Principality’s economy and finances, ushered in urban development and tourism, and greatly raised the country’s international profile.

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Although the first Monegasque stamps were issued under the reign of Charles III in 1885, Prince Rainier III is known to have been a true philatelist. Having inherited the collection developed by his ancestors Albert I and Louis II, he continued to grow and enhance it throughout his reign. After appointing a curator of the collection in 1950, he set up a philatelic advisory committee in 1985, followed by a museum of stamps and coins in 1995. As for Monegasque stamp production, whether intaglio, rotogravure or offset printing, the sovereign took a keen interest and monitored it closely.

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The crisis severely affected postal services, both domestically in Monaco and between the two countries, and in turn impacted the way the Monegasque population sent and received their everyday mail. The examples given illustrate just how complicated it became to send correspondence within Monaco, from France to Monaco, and from Monaco to France. The crisis was ultimately resolved with a new postal treaty, marking an end to a unique period in the history of the Monegasque mail.

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Recognising the importance of yachting for the Principality’s reputation, Prince Rainier III founded the Yacht Club de Monaco in 1953, to promote his country. The sovereign was a sailor, a diver, and enjoyed family excursions and exploratory cruises, such as his trip to Equatorial Africa in 1954. Between the beginning and end of his reign, the Prince owned a dozen sailing and motor yachts, along with Riva motorboats and other small craft.

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