The Queen of England, 91, has sat front row at London Fashion Week for the first time ever.
The British monarch - in many ways a style icon herself (particularly when it comes to twinsets) - sat next to Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour during young British designer Richard Quinn's show.
Quinn is known for his use of bold patterns, and for his runway practice of covering model's faces with, often floral, scarves or other coverings.
New meaning to the power Front Row: HRH The Actual Queen is here at Richard Quinn’s show pic.twitter.com/5k63Ovq4wO
— Jess Cartner-Morley (@JessC_M) February 20, 2018
The Queen was spied smiling throughout the show, but chose not to clap her glove-clad hands at the end of the show - she did appear to point out a look that she particularly liked however, as you can see at the start of this Twitter video:
— Richard Palmer (@RoyalReporter) February 20, 2018
Her Majesty views Richard Quinn's runway show alongside Dame Anna Wintour.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) February 20, 2018
Richard is the first recipient of The Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design. @LondonFashionWk #LFC pic.twitter.com/5L6D7wz7eV
The British Monarch was at the show to present Richard Quinn, 28, with the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design - the new award aims to highlight the role that fashion plays in both society and diplomacy.
One thing is for sure - the award, and Queen Elizabeth's front-row attendance, helped to distract from the big shows to shine a light on fresh British talent.
Last year, The New York Times dubbed Richard Quinn as "one to watch". Last year, he was awarded a variety of accolades, including prizes from H&M and Liberty London. He's also given back: opening a textile print space in Peckham, London that is at an attainable price point for other young designers and students.
"Throughout your reign you have embraced fashion, using its power of diplomacy to communicate understanding between cultures and nations," the British Fashion Council's chief executive Caroline Rush told the Monarch and the even'ts audience yesterday.
"Having visited the exhibition of your wardrobe at Buckingham Palace, we learnt that you had to challenge some of the norms, some of the dress codes that had been designed for men, making us in awe of how you have reflected the changes in our society."
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[ Best-dressed in black at the Baftas - in pictures ]
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