After their church wedding on 19 April 1956, Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier immediately left on their honeymoon, a seven-week Mediterranean cruise on Rainier's yacht Deo Juvante II. The newlyweds went ashore in Spain, among others visiting the island of Mallorca (where they attended a bullfight) and the cities of Madrid and Valencia. A few days after returning to Monaco, Grace wrote a letter to her friend and MGM publicist Morgan Hudgins, in which she commented on her honeymoon in Spain and meeting some of her Hollywood friends there (Cary Grant and his wife Betsy Drake as well as Ava Gardner and Ava's then-husband Frank Sinatra). Her departure from Hollywood still very fresh, Grace was of course quite anxious to hear all the news and urged Hudgins to keep her in the loop, especially regarding the critical reception of her two last films The Swan (1956) and High Society (1956).
Grace's letter to Morgan Hudgins, in which she also worries about the press reactions to the wedding, is seen below. Incidentally, I don't know who "Nadia" is but I assume she was an assistant to Grace.
Transcript:
Saturday
Dear Morgan
We arrived back on Thursday after a very wonderful honeymoon – Spain was so nice and we thoroughly enjoyed it – Saw Betsy + Cary Grant and Ava in Madrid – Ran into Frank briefly in a restaurant and I don't think he likes Spain very much – But the others all seem well and happy –
Your records arrived yesterday and we are thrilled to have them as it is impossible to get them here – many many thanks –
What a pity to hear of all the bad luck on those two big pictures – and I am very sorry to learn of Louis Calhern’s death*–
And Monty Cliff [sic] who hasn’t worked in such a long time the moment he starts something happens*–
Sydney is here and is coming for tea with me this afternoon – so I will get some more news from him –
Morgan I can't thank you enough for all you did for me through a very trying period – You were just wonderful –
Please send me any reviews of The Swan + High Society as I would love to see them – am delighted that the previews went so well –
I still don’t know how the press was reacting during the week of the wedding – Do you think it was alright – and was anyone in particular offended?
I learned on our return that Nadia intends to write a book – Which came as a great shock to me since she never mentioned a thing to me – I am not surprised really as she was such a disappointment to me when I really needed her – She was too busy minding other people’s business + having a good time to do anything I asked her – I guess she just felt as she was leaving me anyway so why bother? – But I was very hurt + disturbed by her attitude in N.Y. + on the boat –
Give my best to everyone + please keep me posted on all the news –
Affectionately
Grace –
*Note
On 12 May 1956, Louis Calhern (Grace's High Society co-star) suddenly died of a heart attack at age 61. On the same day, Montgomery Clift had a near-fatal accident after his car crashed into a telephone pole. At the time Clift was filming Raintree County (1957), his first film after From Here to Eternity (1953).
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| Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier boarding the Deo Juvante II for their honeymoon |
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| Grace photographed by her new husband aboard the yacht |
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| Grace talking to the press with Morgan Hudgins on the left |
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