Prince Rainier chronology
# May 31, 1923: Born in Monaco.

# September 28, 1944: Enrolls in French army as a foreign soldier; takes part in combat to free Alsace region.

# May 9, 1949: Accedes to the throne, succeeding his grandfather, Prince Louis II.

# April 18, 1956: Marries American actress Grace Kelly.

# January 23, 1957: Birth of daughter, Princess Caroline.

# March 14, 1958: Birth of son and heir, Prince Albert.

# December 17, 1962: Monaco adopts new constitution, sanctioning its independence and sovereignty while reaffirming its special relationship to France as defined in the Treaty of July 18, 1918.

# February 1, 1965: Birth of second daughter, Princess Stephanie

# September 14, 1982: Princess Grace dies in a car accident.

# 1992: Rainier participates in Rio de Janeiro environment conference, urges protection of the Mediterranean Sea.

# May 28, 1993: Monaco joins the United Nations.

# 1994: 700th anniversary of the Grimaldi dynasty.

# December 16, 1999: Has operation after suffering an aneurysm.

# 2000-2005: Has several breathing-related operations.

# March 7, 2005: Hospitalized with lung infection.

# March 22, 2005: Transferred to intensive care after suffering heart and kidney failure and placed on respirator.

# April 6, 2005: Dies at age 81.
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