The Queen Shakes Up London Fashion Week with Surprise Visit (Pictures)
No matter where you are in the world, chances are that your life has been heavily influenced by British culture and design. As a teenager, living in the U.S., I remember being completely in love with the Beatles. I didn’t wash my hands for a week after shaking Paul McCartney’s hand after a concert, but, that’s another story.
Britain Has Given the World Some Amazing Cultural Icons
Over the years, The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Clash, Oasis, Blur and Queen entertained us. Monty Python and James Bond kept us glued to our screens. Vivienne Westwood, Stella McCartney, Thomas Burberry and many other British fashion designers set style trends the world over. The list is endless!
With Britain’s deep cultural and historical roots, it’s not surprising that the country takes its designers, music stars and film icons seriously. They are a matter of pride and, let’s face it, they give a big boost to the economy, through tourism and trade.
The Queen Made a Surprise Visit to London Fashion Week
Well, this week, the fashion industry got a nice boost when the Queen visited London Fashion Week to give the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design.
According to the official Instagram account of the Royal Family, “The Award, initiated in recognition of the role the fashion industry plays in society and diplomacy, will be awarded annually to an emerging British fashion designer who shows exceptional talent and originality, whilst demonstrating value to the community and/or strong sustainable policies.”
The Queen’s decision to drop in to London Fashion Week was something of a surprise for a couple of reasons. First, this was the first time in her 65-year reign that she had visited Fashion Week. Second, her attendance was only announced a couple of hours before the start of the event.
We can only imagine the press scrambling to get their act together!
At age 91, Queen Elizabeth II is the longest serving British monarch by at least a couple of years. On February 6, 2017, Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Sapphire Jubilee after 65 years on the throne.
Who is your favorite British band, film star or cultural icon? Have you ever visited the U.K.? What did you think? Let’s have a chat!
