Jump directly to the content

THE Queen made a surprise appearance at London Fashion Week today.

She was in good company on the FROW of the Richard Quinn show - she was flanked by fashion royalty and Vogue boss Anna Wintour.

 The Queen and Vogue boss Anna Wintour chat after Her Maj made a surprise visit to London Fashion Week
9
The Queen and Vogue boss Anna Wintour chat after Her Maj made a surprise visit to London Fashion Week

The British-born magazine mogul kept her trademark shades ON as she perched next to the Queen, a clear breach of royal protocol.

The 91-year-old had never visited a LFW event in her 65 year reign, but today made an exception to present the new Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design to Central St. Martin's graduate Richard.

HRH was seen looking on intently - sat on a cushion - as a stream of models filtered past her on the catwalk - each one dressed more outlandishly than the last.

As well as oversized puffa jackets, huge billowing kaftans and what looked like combos of leggings and motorcycle helmets, one design saw the model step out in a floral all-in-one that might camouflage perfectly in to one of the chintzy bedrooms at Buckingham Palace.

 The Queen and Anna Wintour watch from the FROW at Richard Quinn
9
The Queen and Anna Wintour watch from the FROW at Richard Quinn

The British-born magazine mogul kept her trademark shades ON as she perched next to the Queen, a clear breach of royal protocol.

The 91-year-old had never visited a LFW event in her 65 year reign, but today made an exception to present the new Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design to Central St. Martin's graduate Richard.

HRH was seen looking on intently - sat on a cushion - as a stream of models filtered past her on the catwalk - each one dressed more outlandishly than the last.

As well as oversized puffa jackets, huge billowing kaftans and what looked like combos of leggings and motorcycle helmets, one design saw the model step out in a floral all-in-one that might camouflage perfectly in to one of the chintzy bedrooms at Buckingham Palace.

 The Queen - who brought her dress maker along with her - was seen taking in all the designs from the best seat in the house
9
The Queen - who brought her dress maker along with her - was seen taking in all the designs from the best seat in the houseCredit: PA:Empics Entertainment
 The Queen had never attended a LFW event until today
9
The Queen had never attended a LFW event until today
 Some of the outfits might have reminded her of how her guest bedrooms are decorated
9
Some of the outfits might have reminded her of how her guest bedrooms are decoratedCredit: Reuters

Unsurprisingly, quite a lot of his looks were a bit risque - and probably unlike anything The Queen had seen before.

In September, he was described by Vogue as having a "distinct BDSM aesthetic", and "part of a new generation of weird and wonderful designers...he is exactly the future London needs".

Today's fashion date isn't the first time The Queen and 68-year-old Anna have met.

Last year she was made a Dame by the monarch, an accolade she was handed due to her work promoting British-born designers both at home and overseas.

 The Queen seemed quite taken aback by some of the more daring designs
9
The Queen seemed quite taken aback by some of the more daring designsCredit: Getty - Contributor
 Designer Richard Quinn has been praised for his BDSM-inspired looks
9
 Designer Richard Quinn has been praised for his BDSM-inspired looks

The Queen's fashion week appearance was a closely guarded secret arranged by the British Fashion Council.

Her trendy day out also involved a look around a millinery exhibition by designer Harvy Santos.

 She later presented British designer Richard Quinn with a design award
9
She later presented British designer Richard Quinn with a design awardCredit: Getty - Contributor
 The Queen checks out some of Harvy Santos' designs
9
The Queen checks out some of Harvy Santos' designs

She brought along her personal dress-maker Angela Kelly to join her, and also wore one of her designs, a duck egg blue suit which was encrusted with thousands of tiny Swarovski crystals.

If we see The Queen stepping out in a motorcycle helmet or a kaftan anytime soon, we'll know where she got the idea...

Its widely known that Royals arent allowed to wear coloured nail varnish, but Disney princesses have it even worse.

Find out why Kate Middleton didn't wear black to the Baftas - and risked enraging #MeToo campaigners.

And here's the lowdown on Meghan Markle's hen do - and who's expected to attend.

Topics