5 Hotel Suites Inspired by Princess Grace and Truly Fit for Royalty
| 05/14/21
Princess Grace
American actress Grace Patricia Kelly became Her Serene Highness The Princess of Monaco 65 years ago. The ceremony took place at the Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Monaco and was christened “the wedding of the century” by the media at the time.
Before Meghan, Kate, and Diana’s widely-watched weddings, the fairy-tale ceremony of Philadelphia-born Kelly and Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, was watched by over 30 million viewers worldwide.
At the young age of 26, the already established style icon, A-list movie actress, philanthropist, and designer’s muse, was decorated in diamonds and pearls and wore a long-sleeved lace masterpiece created by Academy Award-winning costume designer Helen Rose.
The dress, a wedding gift to Kelly from MGM Studios, whom she was in contract with, was accessorized with a Juliet cap instead of an elaborate tiara to hold her 90-yard veil in place. This specially designed tulle veil was created to keep her face as visible as possible to the 700 guests in attendance, and the millions of viewers tuning in on the small screen.
The American actress turned Monegasque royal has long been the inspiration for countless celebrities and royals alike. Since her royal reign and tragic passing, many have turned to her enduring influence and timeless elegance. Nicole Ritchie, Miranda Kerr, Nicky Hilton, and Princess Eugenie all channeled their inner-Grace for their Kelly-inspired wedding gowns. Although never officially confirmed, it’s likely the Princess also inspired Kate Middleton’s wedding dress, designed by Alexander McQueen’s Sarah Burton, and Princess Diana’s Catherine Walker gown worn to the 1987 Cannes Film Festival. Kelly wore a similar pleated dress in her 1955 Alfred Hitchcock film, To Catch a Thief.
When she died in 1982 after suffering from a stroke while driving her car on a hairpin turn in Monaco, her sudden death ignited an outpour of grief worldwide, particularly in her native America, matrimonial home of Monaco, and her ancestral Ireland, where she was regarded as an adopted daughter.
While many fashion designers consider her image synonymous with timeless refinement, Princess Grace Kelly has also been a muse for interior designers and architects. Guy Oliver from the design and architecture firm Oliver Laws explains, “Her name is synonymous with style, elegance, and glamour.”
So it’s no surprise that luxury resorts around the world would be inspired by her impeccable style as well. Here are five that honor Princess Grace Kelly capturing her spirit in interesting manners:
Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles, California
Dedicated to the legendary Hollywood starlet, the Grace Kelly Suite is Hotel Bel-Air’s shining star, decorated in a creamy color palette. An elegant living room with a vaulted ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows looks out onto a private patio with a jacuzzi, a 100-year-old tree, and a seating area.
This 915 square feet hotel suite is located on a 12-acre paradise of exquisite enchantment and nestled in LA’s famous Canyon Hills. Grace Kelly stayed at the hotel frequently during her movie-star days and slept there on the night she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1955 for her role in The Country Girl. After becoming Princess Grace of Monaco, she returned many times, and the suite continues to honor her beauty and style. Her son, Prince Albert of Monaco, has also visited Hotel Bel-Air with his wife, Princess Charlene.
Mediterranean-inspired Californian cuisine ensures dining is pure pleasure at Wolfgang Puck at Hotel Bel-Air. and The Bar & Lounge has an unmistakable air of creative flair. From $4,600 a night, the luxurious suite offers ultimate relaxation in the famous oval-shaped pool and sumptuous spa.
Parknasilla Resort & Spa, Kerry, Ireland
After their first official state visit to Dublin in 1961, Princess Grace and Prince Rainier were joined by their two children Prince Albert and Princess Caroline. For the latter part of their Irish trip, they vacationed in Princess Grace’s grandfather’s native Mayo region. Along the journey, the royals stopped for afternoon tea at the Shamrock Lodge Hotel and stayed in Ashford Castle. The following day, Princess Grace met 70 relatives, including nine second cousins, in St Mary’s Church in Westport. Ireland’s summer showers kept the family mostly indoors on their coastal trip, save for an afternoon drive around Connemara, where more of her relatives live. Before leaving Ireland, they traveled south and stayed at Parknasilla.
With a separate living area and bedroom, this 925 square feet suite’s design is reminiscent of Grace’s elegant and understated style. Original antique furnishings from the Sanderson table and the sleek ladies’ desk to the French chandeliers and individual antique ornaments are designed and selected to make the suite majestic. The crowning glory of the suite are the two separate balconies that overlook the Atlantic Ocean and the distant Beara Peninsula. Sipping a glass of champagne on the balcony, watching the Irish sunset on Kenmare Bay brings out the royal joie de vivre in travelers. From $470 per night.
The Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin, Ireland
The Shelbourne’s most spectacular suite celebrates one of their most exceptional guests: Princess Grace, who stayed in the hotel on more than one occasion. Situated on the third floor, the hotel’s only two-bedroom suite has been decorated with exquisite and elegant taste: vintage Waterford Crystal chandeliers, memorabilia, and a library of literature on Grace Kelly’s life evoking the beauty and elegance of the star herself. If the two marble bathrooms decked out with Christian Lacroix beauty products, a separate living room, and a dining room with seating for up to 8 guests isn’t already enough, the royal suite overlooks the luscious city center park. Perfectly appointed in every detail, this breathtaking 1,530 square feet suite in the recently refurbished hotel is the pinnacle of The Shelbourne experience. Because of the hotel’s ongoing relationship with the House of Grimaldi, Prince Albert granted images of Princess Grace from the Grimaldi archives to be used in the suite. Over the years, the Grimaldi’s have been regular guests of the hotel, and Prince Albert expressed “how pleased he was that the hotel had honored his mother in this way” to interior designer Guy Oliver who worked on the suite’s remodel in 2017.
Guests can feel like royalty surrounded by original landscape oil paintings by John Leech, a fireplace with opulent marble chimneypieces, and a window seat overlooking St. Stephen’s Green. From $8,300 a night.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix, Geneva, Switzerland
Positioned on Lake Geneva’s shore, with exceptional views of the Geneva’s famous landmark Jet d’Eau and Mont Blanc as a timeless backdrop, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix, Geneva completed a remodel in 2017. Curated by Il Prisma and Barbara Casati, the hotel dedicated its Presidential Suite to one of its most esteemed guests. The Grace Kelly Suite encapsulates The Princess of Monaco’s incomparable, timeless style. Encompassing 1,131 square feet of sophisticated space, the suite houses a master bedroom, a walk-in closet, a separate living area with a fireplace, a dining room to host up to six guests, a kitchenette, and a well-appointed bathroom with luxurious Asprey products. Using a soft color palette of grey, cream, and taupe, the muted décor is lifted by art deco embellishments and gold leaf gilding, alongside wall art including iconic photography from moments in Grace Kelly’s remarkable 52 years. With high ceilings and original decorative cornices, the large bay windows allow the suite to fill with natural light.
Guests can marvel at Lake Geneva’s views, the Brunswick monument, or the snowcapped Alps from the furnished balcony. Starting from $6,400 per night.
Hotel de Paris, Monte-Carlo, Monaco
In 2017, Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo unveiled its Diamond Suite - Princess Grace, inspired by the timeless elegance and the delicate refinement of Princess Grace of Monaco. Located in the most exclusive and exceptional setting of Côte d’Azur, the impressive Princess Grace suite features a contemporary design and spectacular outdoor spaces that offer a rare and cozy experience for a stay like no other. The 10,500 square feet duplex suite on the 7th and 8th floor of the hotel offers 180-degree views of the majestic Mediterranean. In 1956, the prestigious establishment hosted the royal couple’s wedding reception. They returned to the hotel to celebrate their twentieth wedding anniversary in the intimacy of the hotel’s wine cellars.
All of the floral decorations in the suite are inspired by the personal tastes of Princess Grace, and the terrace is enhanced with Grace roses, which have a delicious and warm fragrance of tea rose and a subtle apricot color. The outside spaces also offer stunning views of the Prince’s Palace of Monaco.
The enormous suite includes a heated infinity pool that opens onto an adjoining outdoor lounge and a hot tub in rare granite for a unique stay between the sky and the sea. A personal Les Clefs d’Or concierge team is at your disposition to help organize your stay and make it unique and unforgettable. From $53,500 a night.
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