Huge Crowd at Monaco Rites

A huge crowd packed Monaco’s Roman Catholic cathedral Saturday as the ruling Grimaldi family bade farewell to Princess Caroline’s husband, Stefano Casiraghi, killed in a speedboat race Wednesday.

Leaning heavily on the arm of her father, Prince Rainier, whose actress wife Grace Kelly died in a car crash, the princess stumbled and almost fell on the flower-strewn cathedral steps as she followed her husband’s coffin inside.

Dressed in black, a black lace shawl partly covering her head, the 33-year-old princess appeared haggard with grief. Her father was also unable to hide his emotion.

The funeral scene was reminiscent of the mourning for Kelly after her fatal crash eight years ago.

Caroline’s younger sister, Stephanie, 25, who was injured in the accident that killed her mother, entered the cathedral supported by her brother, Prince Albert.

Official guests included French President Francois Mitterrand’s wife, Danielle, former King Michael of Romania, and Prince Fouad of the deposed Egyptian royal family.

Casiraghi’s body was laid to rest with only the Grimaldi and Casiraghi families present in the small “peace chapel” near the royal palace, reserved for members of the family who are not Grimaldi descendants.

Casiraghi, 30, died defending his world offshore power boat championship when his 50-foot craft struck a wave, overturned and sank with him still strapped inside.

Since Casiraghi was not a prince, there was no official day of mourning, and casinos and shops remained open.