Prince Albert Buys Grace Kelly’s Former Home

Prince Albert of Monaco has purchased the Philadelphia home where his mother, the iconic movie star Grace Kelly, grew up and accepted a marriage proposal from his father, Prince Rainer III. Prince Albert confirmed to People magazine that the home was now in the hands of the royal family. He said in a statement that the Kelly home is “very special to our family.” He additionally stated that he was glad to have preserved it “from a near certain death or development.” A real estate agent, John O’Connell of Elfant Wissahickon Realtors stated that the home sold for $754,000.

Prince Albert of Monaco has bought the Philadelphia home of his mother, the deceased movie icon Grace Kelly.

The 2.5 story, six bedroom Colonial in the East Falls community made headlines in 2014 when the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals raided the home and removed 15 cats, along with the remains of several others. The former owner, aged 81, pleaded no contest to charges of animal cruelty for keeping cats and dogs in unsanitary conditions. That owner had lived in the home since 1973.

Prince Albert said he would be visiting the Kelly home in Philadelphia this week as he pondered plans as to what to do with the structure, which has a sign out front designating it as a historic landmark. He said he is considering turning part of the home into museum space, with more room for offices through which the crown could conduct its foundation work.

The home was built in 1935 by Grace’s father, John B. Kelly. He gained fame as a three-time Olympic gold medalist in rowing during the 20s, and then as a prominent businessman active in Philadelphia politics. The Kelly estate sits on 0.69 acres of land and the home features a paneled formal dining room, a finished basement, and a barroom.

Grace Kelly left Philadelphia for the lights of Hollywood when she was 20, but the city never stopped loving her. Citywide vigils were held when the princess died in 1982 at the age of 52 from injuries sustained in a car crash. Now, thanks to Prince Albert, a piece of Grace Kelly’s Philadelphia legacy will live on.