The 91-year-old British monarch sat in the front row with fashion royalty Anna Wintour.
The Queen's visit to London Fashion Week had been kept secret.
Photograph: Yui Mok/Reuters.
London Fashion Week concluded with a big bang surprise yesterday when Queen Elizabeth II made her first ever visit to the LFW catwalk.
She sat in the front row (obviously) next to fashion royalty, Vogue's editor-in-chief Anna Wintour.
The Queen wore a pale blue wool tweed dress and jacket embellished with aquamarine Swarovski crystals by designer Angela Kelly, who was also in the front row. She set them off with a pair of black gloves and sensible black low-heeled court shoes.
The 91-year-old monarch attended London Fashion Week to present the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design.
According to the palace, the special award has been initiated in recognition of the role the fashion industry plays in society and diplomacy, and will be awarded annually to an emerging British fashion designer who shows exceptional talent and originality, while demonstrating value to the community and/or strong sustainable policies.
London-born designer Richard Quinn was the first recipient of the award.
Scroll down to see how the rare event unfolded...
She also met New Gen designers, an initiative of the British Fashion Council to support emerging talent.
Photograph: @RoyalFamily/Twitter.
Photograph: Yui Mok/Reuters.
The palace tweeted, 'Richard is an emerging talent who studied at Central St Martin's in London and has been recognised for his exceptional prints.
He created a print studio that offers accessible services to students and his peer group of emerging designers, the palace added.
Photographs: Paul Hackett/Reuters.
Photograph: Yui Mok/Reuters.
'As a tribute to the industry, and as my legacy to all those who have contributed to British fashion, I would like to present this award for new, young talent. I would like to thank the British Fashion Council for selecting the first winner -- Richard Quinn.'
Photograph: Yui Mok/Reuters.
Photograph: Paul Hackett/Reuters.
