Queen Latifah Honored for Her Work in Film at 2016 Princess Grace Awards Gala

Queen Latifah was among the honorees at the 2016 Princess Grace Awards Gala in New York on Monday night (Oct. 24). The veteran rapper-actress looked radiant in her all-white Christian Siriano gown with diamanté collar detail.

Latifah received the prestigious Prince Rainier III Award for her work in the performing arts, including film and music, as well as her commitment to give back to her community. Before accepting her award, attendees were treated to a montage of Latifah’s classic moments in film, which she made reference to during her acceptance speech.

“It’s kind of fun and funny to watch that [montage], to watch myself in those films,” she said, according to Variety. “I was really starting to enjoy it. I was like ‘I gotta watch that one again. That part was funny,'” she laughed along with the audience.

“I looked up to Grace Kelly when I was a kid; I thought she was so beautiful and so talented, but never in a million years did I think I would be having dinner with her son," said Latifah.

Other honorees included Hamilton Tony Award–winner Leslie Odom Jr., and choreographer Camille A. Brown who received the 2016 Princess Grace Statue Awards.

Overall, it was a great night of elegance and queendom. Congrats to Queen Latifah and the other honorees.