Prince Albert of Monaco in Philadelphia in 2018.Photo:Lisa Lake/Getty Images
Lisa Lake/Getty Images
There will be a special royal “homecoming” in America this week.
Monaco’sPrince Albertwill be in Philadelphia this week, staying at the home hepurchased in the East Falls section of the city(where his mother — Oscar-winning actress Grace Kelly, who became Princess Grace of Monaco aftermarrying Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956— grew up) and participating in a riverside ceremony honoring three Olympic heroes…who just happen to be family.
Princess Grace of Monaco’s childhood home in Philadelphia.Gaetan Luci / Courtesy of the Palais Princier
Gaetan Luci / Courtesy of the Palais Princier
The Vesperis one of a picturesque collection of landmark boathouses, quaint past-century shelters lining the Schuylkill River located about a mile from the city’s center. Prince Albert’s family legend is so integral to telling its story that years ago they renamed the approach road Kelly Drive. Among Boathouse Row’s most celebrated rowers are the only father and son team represented in the US Olympic Hall of Fame.
“Brickyard Jack” Kelly was arguably the greatest singles rower of all time, and his three Olympic gold victories in the 1920s literally turned the sport upside-down.
John B. Kelly III.Gaetan Luci / Courtesy of the Palais Princier
One of 10 children, Jack was a true working-class hero. The native Philadelphian was a multi-sport athlete who had proven himself America’s premier rower before World War I. After his three-year Army stint, he came out determined to make up for lost time. He started his own construction business (“Kelly For Bricks” ) and got back in the boat, winning over 125 consecutive single scull races.
Setting sights on the Royal Regatta, he applied to compete — specifically, its most prestigious singles event, the Diamond Sculls.
According to legend, after his double wins, he mailed his cap to Britain’s King George V with a note reading: “Greetings from a bricklayer.”
Senior Double Sculls award 1914.Gaetan Luci / Courtesy of the Palais Princier
Four years later, at theChariots of Firegames in Paris, he and Costello repeated, taking the doubles gold again.
Brickyard Jack’s son Kell later took over the family oars. After serving in World War II, he won the Henley Diamond Scull in 1947 and again in 1949.
Beginning in 1948, Kell competed in four Olympics, winning the doubles bronze in Melbourne in 1956. He offered the medal to his sister Grace as a wedding gift. Staying on the water, he managed the eight Vesper rowers who won gold in Tokyo in 1964. Shortly before his March 1985 death, he was elected President of the U.S. Olympic Committee.
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene at the 2006 Winter Olympics.Pascal Le Segretain/Getty
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“I’ve already signed up to present the medals for the double sculls,” Prince Albert tells PEOPLE exclusively. The event will be held at the already completed Vaires-sur-Marne, 30 minutes outside Paris.
Prince Albert visits Philadelphia.Gaetan Luci / Courtesy of the Palais Princier
With Monaco just a little over an hour’s flight to Paris, Prince Albert says it’s a unique opportunity for the French and the Monegasque people to be engaged in the Olympics which happens only once in a lifetime.
With personal histories and multiple national sports loyalties lying within the same household, the question of who to root for is obvious.
“So you’re wanting to know, I suppose,” Prince Albert says. “Who do we root for — Monaco? For the U.S.? As a husband and father for South Africa?”
He adds, “Well, foremost officially, we’re always there to cheer on Monaco. And then…”
“And then,” he says with a laugh, “if they’re not in the competition, it’s pretty much open. But you know, between France, Italy, the U.S., South Africa, Ireland…we have things pretty well covered.”
Princess Charlene and Prince Albert of Monaco in May 2023.Samir Hussein/WireImage
Samir Hussein/WireImage
source: people.com
