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Queen Elizabeth II

The best pictures of The Queen’s surprise appearance at London Fashion Week

It is a sight many people never expected to see – the 91-year-old Queen sitting in the front row of a fashion show next to the editor of Vogue, Dame Anna Wintour.

Dame Anna, wearing her trademark dark sunglasses, sat beside The Queen during the show which is taking place to mark London Fashion Week.

(Photo Credit: @RoyalFamily)

Queen Elizabeth wore a duck egg blue Angela Kelly suit for the event.

Her Majesty was greeted upon arrival at London Fashion Week by Caroline Rush CBE, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council (BFC).

(Photo Credit: @RoyalFamily)

She then toured the showrooms to view the display and to meet with designers,  including the ‘New Gen’ group – a BFC initiative that supports emerging talent.

Her Majesty is visiting London Fashion Week to view the exhibitions and to present the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design.

(Photo Credit: @RoyalFamily)

The award was initiated in recognition of the role the fashion industry plays in society and diplomacy and will, from now on, be awarded annually to an emerging British fashion designer, who displays exceptional talent and originality.

Angela Kelly, Personal Advisor to Her Majesty, has been working on designing the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design, which The Queen has wanted to give in recognition of emerging British fashion talent.

(Photo Credit: @RoyalFamily)

The inaugural award is presented to British fashion designer Richard Quinn. He is an emerging talent who has been recognised for his exceptional prints. Mr Quinn is already supplying to several leading stores around the world.

The Queen Elizabeth II Award aims to provide continuing recognition of the cultural and trade role the British design and fashion industry has played, and continues to play, throughout Her Majesty’s reign.

(Photo Credit: @RoyalFamily)

The award itself was designed by Angela Kelly, inspired by the Queen Elizabeth rose, and has been hand-produced by Lucy Price at Bauhinia Studios in Birmingham’s famous jewellery quarter.

The fashion week in London takes place from 16 to 20 February 2018 and showcased designers’ Autumn Winter 2018 (AW18) collections. The BFC presided over all the organisation of the week-long shows and events.