Dame Julie Andrews is escorted to her table to receive this year's Prince Ranier III Award. (Douglas Harrington)

New York City - Last week royalty reveled in midtown as H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco attended the Princess Grace Awards Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street. He was joined by his new bride, Princess Charlene, on their first U.S. visit since their nuptials last July.

Many familiar Hamptons notables were on hand as Academy Award winning actress and long time Bay Street Theatre supporter Dame Julie Andrews was the recipient of this year's Prince Rainer III Award.

The event was hosted by the Princess Grace Foundation-U.S.A. (PGF-USA) and chaired this year by Dr. Jon Turk (PGF-USA Trustee) and Carolyn Gusoff Turk. Created to carry on the legacy of Princess Grace, who anonymously helped emerging artists pursue their artistic goals during her lifetime, 21 awards were presented to artists in theater, dance and film. Once again this year celebrated artist Alex Soldier, known for his mastery of precious miniatures, created an object d'art to symbolize the Princess Grace Awards. The sculpture was made for each recipient to wear as a pin, a special reminder of their award for the world to see.

Hamptonite Joan Jedell with actor Michael Nouri. (Douglas Harrington)

This year's Princess Grace Statue Award was presented to documentary filmmaker Jon M. Chu, director of the highest grossing concert-themed film of all time in the U.S. "Justin Bieber: Never Say Never." Chu accepted his award via satellite connection as he was out of the country on location filming. Oscar nominated actress Anne Hathaway introduced the special tribute to Dame Julie Andrews, who was present to accept her award from H.S.H. Prince Albert II with the elegance and grace that is the hallmark of this legendary actress and humanitarian.

The evening's entertainment included a classical piano performance by past Princess Grace Award winner Shenyang and the Hamptons own Rufus and Martha Wainwright, including a fabulous duet by the siblings.

This year's Gala was highlighted by the unveiling of a unique tribute to Princess Grace by Montblanc. This marked the "Montblanc Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco's" U.S. premiere, a spectacular, new tribute collection to one of the most remarkable women of our time. The collection celebrated her iconic timeless style, artistic talent and her unrelenting commitment to helping others.

Actor Tony Roberts about to place a commerative note on the step & repeat memorial at the 2011 Princess Grace Awards. (Douglas Harrington)

The silent auction in support of PGF-US was, as usual, filled with ultra-luxurious trips, jewelry, Montblanc pens and fashion pieces. True to form, Lisa Lori PR and the Cipriani staff orchestrated the entire evening with impeccable style and panache.

Among the star studded guests in attendance were actor Tony Roberts who noted the importance of organizations like PGF-US in the present climate for new artists, "I think it is harder for new artists to break in, I think there is less theatre than there used to be. The movie system at least used to sign people up for a few years to give them a chance to make some movies that perhaps were not very good, but it gave them a chance to improve their skills and reality television has created a world that further eliminates opportunities for real actors. So yes, organizations like this are vital for emerging artists."

Formed after the death of Princess Grace in 1982, the Princess Grace Foundation has cultivated a diverse group of nearly 600 artists to date who continue to advance the spectrum of performing arts with innovative, cutting-edge, and vibrant theater, dance, choreography, film, playwriting and design. Since the foundation's inception, more than 700 Awards have been given to recipients, totaling more than $8.5 million.