Living a life in the public glare. Grace Kelly's romances with Clark Gable, Bill Holden & Oleg Cassini all played out in the public with tabloids following her every step of the way. That on top of dealing with her controlling parents made her life far from being a fairy tale. Grace did sympathize with Caroline when she tried to forge a life of her own independent of her family (she did so herself in fleeing to New York). But as a princess, Grace wanted and hoped that they (Caroline & Stephanie) would toe the family line, but it was tough.