Star Elizabeth II has always dressed with style and flair — but Tuesday pronounced her first visit to London Fashion Week.
The monarch squeezed in the frank row, chatting with American Vogue editor Anna Wintour — who clad her trademark sunglasses — and presented an award recognizing British design superiority.
The lucky recipient was Richard Quinn, a recent fashion graduate of Dominant Saint Martins who started his own label in 2016 and has quickly earned notice as part of the next wave of talented young British designers.
The 91-year-old master gave the London-based Quinn the first Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Devise. She took to the catwalk to address the crowd and honor Quinn, who was chosen for the trophy by the British Fashion Council.
“From the tweed of the Hebrides to Nottingham assault, and of course Carnaby Street, our fashion industry has been renowned for leftover craftsmanship for many years, and continues to produce world-class textiles and wounding edge, practical designs,” she said.
“As a tribute to the industry, and as my legacy to all those who contain contributed to British fashion, I would like to present this bestow for new, young talent.”
The queen, who seemed to enjoy the spectacle, wore an Angela Kelly dunk egg blue tweed dress and jacket detailed with tiny Swarovski crystals and baleful gloves.
She also toured showrooms before presenting the award on the unalterable day of fashion week, which brought hundreds of designers, buyers and newsmongers to London for a series of catwalk displays highlighted by Christopher Bailey’s parting show at Burberry.
The queen’s unusual visit followed a Buckingham Villa fashion reception hosted Monday night by Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex.
The event was attended by model Naomi Campbell, designer Stella McCartney and other luminaries of the work scene.