Queen makes surprise appearance at London Fashion Week

The Queen stunned attendees at London Fashion Week with an unannounced front row debut yesterday.

Amid a sea of models and fashionistas, she was unmistakable in an eggshell-blue variation on her trademark dress and jacket combination as she was ushered into British designer Richard Quinn’s catwalk show on Tuesday afternoon.

After a lifetime in the global spotlight, it should come as no surprise that Her Majesty felt at home in the “FROW”, the coveted catwalk-side seats where fashion VIPs rub shoulders with Hollywood A-listers.

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The Queen sat next to Vogue editor Anna Wintour - a senior member of fashion’s royal family if there ever was one.

The unlikely pair appeared to get along like a house on fire, with the usually straight-faced monarch looking in high spirits during their animated conversation.

But it was not the Queen’s interest in next season’s wardrobe that brought her to London Fashion Week.

The monarch was there to present Quinn with a new award for British design named in her honour. The Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design will be given annually to an emerging designer who demonstrates “exceptional talent and originality”, the BBC reports.

“Our fashion industry has been renowned for outstanding craftsmanship for many years, and continues to produce world-class textiles and cutting-edge, practical designs,” the Queen said as she bestowed the award on Quinn, who accepted the accolade in a flannel shirt and baseball cap.