Prince Albert, Prince of Monaco, paid tribute to Josephine Baker, an American singer, who was a close friend and confidante of Grace Kelly at a moving ceremony before her symbolically being laid to rest in Paris’ Pantheon.
Albert, aged 63, called Baker a great lady with a strong connection to Monaco.
This comes while Princess Charlene (43), continues treatment for “emotional exhaustion”
In a touching ceremony, Prince Albert, Prince of Monaco, paid tribute yesterday to Josephine Baker, the American singer and close friend of Grace Kelly.
Support: Baker spent the final years of her life in Monaco, where she was given use of a villa by close friend Grace Kelly after she found herself in debt and was evicted from the French château she shared with her 12 children. Grace and Baker, Monaco, August 1969
Charlene is not sure what her condition was, but she was admitted into a hospital within days after returning to Monaco. She had been absent for 10 months in South Africa and she needed surgery to treat a sinus infection.
Albert delivered a speech in front of the Monument aux Morts, a tribute to the dead, in which he recalled the close relationship between Baker and his mother, the Hollywood starlet Grace Kelly.
Baker was born in St. Louis in Missouri. She became an international star in the 1930s.
She spent the final years of her life in Monaco, where she was given use of a villa by Princess Grace after she found herself in debt and was evicted from the French château she shared with her 12 children.
Single engagements: Albert is outing himself while Princess Charlene (43), continues treatment for emotional and physical exhaustion. Charlene is not yet clear about her condition, but was admitted to an inpatient facility just days after she returned to Monaco from a 10-month hiatus in South Africa. The family reunion that took place earlier in the month.
Grace, Princess Rainier III’s wife, helped the singer to regain her career when she was in her 60s. She invited her to Monaco for a charity gala, and also funded a Paris concert that marked her 50th anniversary.
Josephine, 68 years old, died from a brain hemorhage in 1975.
Baker’s world-renowned art career isn’t the only thing that has been praised. She was also lauded for her civil rights activism, active participation in World War II and for her humanist beliefs, such as the adoption of 12 children from around the globe.
She was buried in a Monaco cemetery but will today be symbolically laid to rest alongside other French luminaries in her adopted country.
Remembered: Albert delivered a speech in front of the Monument aux Morts, a tribute to the dead, in which he recalled the close relationship between Baker and his mother, Grace Kelly
Solemn
Symbolic: Albert removed an additional small piece of soil from his grave. This will be mixed with soils from France and the USA and then buried in a coffin at the Pantheon, Paris.
In his speech, Albert French poet Louis Aragon, he said Baker was French ‘not by birth, but by preference.’
Also, he removed some earth from the tomb. This will be mixed with soils from France and the USA and then buried in a coffin at the Pantheon.
Baker will be symbolically laid to rest at the monument as the first Black female.
Albert told a local newspaper: Prince Albert of Monaco told Nice-Matin: ‘It is an extremely important recognition to enter the Panthéon, but it will be a cenotaph. The body must remain in the principality so that this link can be established between Josephine Baker and my mother.
In August, the French President Emmanuel Macron decided to honour the ‘exceptional’ figure who embodies French spirit.
Baker, the first American-born citizen and the first performer to be given the recognition, will join scientist Marie Curie, philosopher Voltaire, writer Victor Hugo and other French luminaries.