A rare photograph recently surfaced on the Instagram account Elena’s Diary, capturing Greek opera legend Maria Callas and shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis at the 1964 funeral of Prince Pierre de Polignac, father of Prince Rainier, in Monaco.
The image highlights the close ties the iconic couple shared with the Monegasque royal family, particularly Prince Rainier and Princess Grace.
The presence of Callas and Onassis at the funeral underscored their deep connection to the principality. Onassis, often dubbed the “Greek Croesus,” had established his business headquarters in Monte Carlo and maintained a close partnership with Prince Rainier. It is rumored that Onassis suggested Rainier marry a figure from the entertainment world, initially proposing Marilyn Monroe. However, Rainier chose Grace Kelly, the Hollywood star who became Princess Grace.
Onassis was a prominent figure in Monaco’s social scene, often photographed alongside Princess Grace and his then-wife, Tina Onassis. The two women, both renowned for their beauty and elegance, appeared to share a cordial relationship.
However, after Tina and Onassis divorced, her connection with Grace faded. In contrast, Princess Grace warmly welcomed Callas, Onassis’s new companion. As a celebrated soprano and a symbol of high art, Callas resonated with Grace, a former actress who, despite her royal duties, longed for her artistic past. Grace had hoped to continue her acting career selectively after marrying Rainier, but the prince forbade it, leaving her with a sense of unfulfilled ambition.
For Callas, Monaco offered a sanctuary. “Monaco is the only place where I can rest,” she once said. While she cherished her role as Onassis’s partner and hoped for marriage, their relationship did not culminate in a wedding. Callas famously told her former husband, Giovanni Battista Meneghini, “We cannot fight it; it is beyond our strength,” when she left him for Onassis. She later confided, “It’s the first time I feel like a woman.” Unlike many women in Onassis’s circle, Callas had a unique ability to shed her diva persona, embracing a traditional Greek role for him, reminiscent of the care his mother provided in Smyrna. Aboard Onassis’s yacht, Christina, she ensured his comfort, from preparing his favourite meals to serving as the perfect hostess.
Despite their deep bond, Onassis ultimately betrayed Callas by marrying Jacqueline Kennedy. Yet, the end of their romance and Onassis’s business ties with the Grimaldi family did not sever Callas’s connection to Monaco. She remained a frequent guest at the Grimaldis’ countryside retreat, finding solace in the principality until her passing. The royal couple’s admiration for the soprano endured, a testament to her enduring legacy.
(Source: To Vima/Elena’s Diary)