Queen Elizabeth II has always dressed with style and flair, but Tuesday marked her first visit to the showy catwalks of London Fashion Week. The monarch squeezed in the front row, chatting with American Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who wore her trademark sunglasses, and presented an award recognizing British design excellence.
The royal family has often hosted Fashion Week receptions for top designers and journalists, but the new award – and the queen's personal visit – have added a new dimension to its support for the industry.
"From the tweed of the Hebrides to Nottingham lace, and of course Carnaby Street, our fashion industry has been renowned for outstanding craftsmanship for many years, and continues to produce world-class textiles and cutting edge, practical designs," she said.
She also toured showrooms before presenting the award on the final day of fashion week, which brought hundreds of designers, buyers and journalists to London for a series of catwalk displays highlighted by Christopher Bailey's farewell show at Burberry.
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