Prince Albert and Princess Charlène of Monaco arrived shortly after 6:30 p.m. for the official opening ceremony at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. They toured the exhibit before addressing the crowd.J.P. Moczulski for The Globe and Mail
Prince Albert and Princess Charlène of Monaco attended the Toronto opening Wednesday evening of an exhibit about the prince's mother, Grace Kelly.
The royal couple, who wed this summer, arrived shortly after 6:30 p.m. for the official opening at the TIFF Bell Lightbox. They toured the exhibit before addressing the crowd.
"She would have been deeply touched, I think, by the tribute that is paid to her," Prince Albert said, adding audiences will be able "to discover my mother beyond Princess Grace's legendary image."
The exhibit, Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess, documents the life of the Oscar-winning Hollywood star who gave up her acting career to become Her Serene Highness, the Princess of Monaco, in 1956.
There was a cocktail reception for guests awaiting the royal couple's arrival. In the background, black and white images and video of Princess Grace were projected. One wall was adorned with covers of magazines on which she appeared and on another wall, a chronology of her life.
After Prince Albert and Princess Charlène, who wore a black dress and clutched flowers, walked the red carpet, they posed for photos.
The exhibit includes clothes and memorabilia from Grace Kelly's time in Hollywood and as a princess.
Footage from a royal visit to Montreal for Expo 67 is among the photos and videos being shown. At the time of the visit, Prince Albert was nine years old.
As well, some original dresses and an exact replica of her wedding gown are on display. More personal items, including photos from childhood scrapbooks, high school yearbooks and telegrams are included too.
The exhibit will be open to the public starting Friday until Jan. 22, when it goes on a world tour. Toronto International Film Festival's director and CEO, Piers Handling, praised the film star's short career, in which she made 11 films including a handful with Alfred Hitchcock.
"She had a very special aura," he said.
Toronto is the only North American venue for the exhibition, which is based on two previous shows, The Grace Kelly Years, from Monaco, and Grace Kelly: Style Icon, from London.
Prince Albert, 53, is the second of the three children born to the Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III of Monaco.