New York, October 26, 2005 – This has been quite a tumultuous year for Prince Albert II of Monaco, with the revelation that he has an illegitimate son with a flight attendant, and the death of his father, Prince Rainier III. Nevertheless, Albert maintained the tradition of honoring his late mother by helming the Princess Grace Awards gala in New York. Mikhail Baryshnikov received the first-ever Prince Rainier III memorial award. This year’s awards gala drew quite a mixed crowd from the arts. Alan Cumming, Celeste Holm, Julianna Margulies and Edie Falco all graced Cipriani’s for the dinner. Larry King hosted and Natalie Merchant performed. Liza Minnelli, clad in a floor-length fur coat, has clearly avoided animal rights activists so far.