Casino de Monte-Carlo - Exposition « Le Mariage du Siècle à Monte-Carlo, 15 et 18 avril 1956 » @Monte-Carlo SBM

Exhibitions

The Wedding of the Century at Casino de Monte-Carlo

RIVIERA BUZZ30 June, 20262 Mins read217

The atrium of the iconic Casino de Monte-Carlo is hosting a unique photographic exhibition celebrating the Wedding of the Century.

To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the marriage of Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace in 1956, Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer has partnered with the Prince’s Palace to present a special photographic exhibition, The Wedding of the Century in Monte-Carlo: April 15 & 18, 1956, in the atrium of the Casino de Monte-Carlo.

On 19 April 1956, one day after their civil ceremony, Prince Rainier III and Princess Grace exchanged vows in a religious service at Monaco Cathedral. Broadcast live across Europe via Eurovision and watched by an estimated 30 million viewers worldwide, the ceremony became known as “The Wedding of the Century” and remains the second most-watched royal event in history, surpassed only by the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

Seven decades later, the Archives of the Prince’s Palace and the Audiovisual Institute of Monaco are honouring this landmark occasion with a programme of commemorative events, including an exhibition in the State Apartments of the Palace, a film screening and lecture in the Palace’s main courtyard on 20 July, and celebrations across the Principality. Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer joins the tribute with its own photographic exhibition at one of Monaco’s most celebrated landmarks, the Casino de Monte-Carlo.

Running until 13 September 2026, the Atrium of the Casino de Monte-Carlo is hosting a captivating exhibition of photographs from the Prince’s Palace Archives. Created in collaboration with scenography firm Walter, the display highlights the celebrations surrounding the wedding of Prince Rainier III and Grace Kelly, many of which unfolded in Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer’s most prestigious venues, including the magnificent Salle Garnier.

Ten life-size archival photographs transport visitors back to April 1956, revisiting the dinner show held at the International Sporting Club on 15 April and the glittering gala staged three days later in the Salle Garnier. That unforgettable evening also marked the premiere of Homage to the Princess, performed on the stage of Charles Garnier’s opulent masterpiece, the Opéra de Monte-Carlo.

The production featured the London’s Festival Ballet, led by legendary prima ballerina Margot Fonteyn, with costumes by André Levasseur, a five-act choreography by Michael Charnley, and a score by celebrated American bandleader Stan Kenton.

The exhibition also reflects the enduring relationship between the Princely Family and Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer. In 1976, the Caves de l’Hôtel de Paris hosted the royal couple’s 20th wedding anniversary celebrations, while in 2019 the newly renovated Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo honoured their legacy by naming its two finest Diamond Suites “Prince Rainier” and “Princess Grace” – a fitting tribute to a partnership that has endured since the Group’s founding in 1863.