Monaco–United States relations the First World War. From 1956 until her death in 1982, the American-born Grace Kelly was married to Prince Rainier III. They made their first official visit to the United States in 1956. Until 2006 Monaco's only career Consul-General (Maguy Maccario Doyle in 2006) operated out of New York, but directed all the Honorary Consuls in placements worldwide. In December 2006, the United States and Monaco upgraded from consular to full diplomatic relations. Shortly thereafter, Craig Stapleton (ambassador to France) was accredited to Monaco, and ambassador Gilles Noghes became the first Monegasque ambassador to the United States. In 2009 Stapleton
Flag of Monaco white field. Flag of Monaco The national flag of Monaco () has two equal horizontal bands of red (top) and white, both of which have been the heraldic colors of the House of Grimaldi since at least 1339. The present bicolor design was adopted on April 4, 1881, under Prince Charles III. Monaco's original flag, which was similar to its current state flag but bore an older version of its coat of arms, was in use from the principality's early days (except during its annexation to France from 1793 to 1814) until the present, simpler design was adopted in 1881.