NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Prince Albert buys Philadelphia home of mom, Grace Kelly

PHILADELPHIA

The Philadelphia home where Oscar-winning actress Grace Kelly grew up and accepted a marriage proposal from Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1955 is now in the hands of the royal family.

Her son, Prince Albert of Monaco, has confirmed to People Magazine that he was the recent purchaser of the six-bedroom, 2.5-story Colonial home in the city’s East Falls section.

He said in an interview on the magazine’s website posted Friday the house is “very special to our family.” He said he was happy to have saved it “from a near certain death or development.”

The property last made headlines in 2014 when its 81-year-old former owner pleaded no contest to animal-cruelty charges for keeping cats and dogs in unsanitary conditions. Officials with the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals seized 15 cats from the home and found the remains of several others. The owner had lived in the brick house since 1973.

Real-estate agent John O’Connell said the home sold for $754,000.

The prince told the magazine he planned to visit Philadelphia on Tuesday as he considers plans for the home.

“We’re still trying to figure out what we’re going to do with it,” he said. “We’re looking at having it contain some museum exhibit space and maybe use part of it for offices for some of our foundation work.”

The home was built in 1935 by Kelly’s father, John B. Kelly. He was a three-time Olympic gold medal-winning rower in the 1920s and later a prominent businessman active in Philadelphia politics. A sign posted outside designates the structure as a Pennsylvania historical landmark.

Prince Albert said he has early memories of visits to the home, such as staring out an upstairs window or rolling around on the living-room carpet.

“The house is filled with little moments like that. Moments of being a family,” he said.

Associated Press