'Prince Pierre of Monaco, Duke of Valentinois, Comte de Polignac' (
24 October 1895 –
10 November 1964) is best known for having been the father of
Rainier III of Monaco, and thus the paternal grandfather of
Albert II of Monaco.
Born Count Pierre Marie Xavier Raphael Antoine Melchior de Polignac, he was a son of Count Maxence de Polignac (
1857-
1936) and his Mexican-born Spanish wife, Susana de la Torre y Mier (
1858-
1913).
He married civilly
18 March 1920 in
Monaco Princess Charlotte of Monaco (née Charlotte Louise Juliette Louvet), the illegitimate but later adopted daughter of
Louis II of Monaco and
Marie Juliette Louvet. Because a female Grimaldi of the princely house of Monaco could inherit the throne only if her husband was also a Grimaldi, Pierre de Polignac became Prince Pierre de Grimaldi, Count of Polignac on
18 March,
1920, the day before his religious marriage. He also acquired, via marriage, the title of Duke of Valentinois.
Prince Pierre and Princess Charlotte were judicially separated on
20 March,
1930 at Paris, and divorced by ordinance of Prince Louis II on
18 February,
1933.
He and his wife had two children:
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Princess Antoinette of Monaco (b. 1920)
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Rainier III of Monaco (
1923 –
2005)