Prince Albert II of Monaco on Tuesday inspected the childhood home of his mother, Oscar-winning actress Grace Kelly, days after confirming to People magazine that he bought the home in Philadelphia's East Falls neighborhood.
"We're still trying to figure out what we're going to do with it," he told People on Friday. "We're looking at having it contain some museum exhibit space and maybe use part of it for offices for some of our foundation work."
A palace spokeswoman told Philly.com that Albert's visit Tuesday was considered private. He did not speak with reporters.
The home at 3901 Henry Ave. was built in 1935 by Kelly's father, John B. Kelly. Signage outside the home designates it as a historic landmark. John B. Kelly was a three-time Olympic gold medalist and a well-known businessman active in Philadelphia politics.
Albert visited the home a few times as a child and shared memories with People of time spent rolling around on the living room carpet and watching traffic pass the home.
"The house is filled with little moments like that. Moments of being a family," he told the magazine. "I'm very happy to have saved this old family home from a near certain death or development."
According to The Associated Press, the six-bedroom, 2.5-story Colonial home last came under scrutiny in 2014, when its former owner was charged with animal cruelty. More than a dozen cats were seized from the home and the remains of several others were found.
The home left Kelly family hands in 1974, when it was sold and flipped in a few days to its most recent owner, according to People.
The house sold on Sept. 23 for $754,000, according to Philly.com.
Kelly made her name in Hollywood with films such as "Dial M for Murder," "Rear Window," "High Society" and "To Catch a Thief." Reports indicate that Prince Rainier III proposed to her in her childhood home. The couple married in 1956.
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