Marie Claire UK Marie Claire UK
  • Fashion Fashion
      • Fashion
        • View all Fashion
        • Fashion Trends
        • Shopping
        • Watches and Jewellery
        • Fashion News
  • Beauty Beauty
      • Beauty
        • View all Beauty
        • Fragrance
        • Hair
        • Make Up
        • Skincare
        • Nails
        • Marie Claire Beauty Awards
  • Health Health
      • Health
        • View all Health
        • Fitness
        • Nutrition
        • Female Health
        • Wellbeing
  • Life Life
      • Life
        • View all Life
        • Opinions
        • Travel
        • Sustainability
        • Weddings
        • Money & Work
        • Competitions
  • Culture Culture
      • Culture
        • View all Culture
        • TV and Film
        • Celebrity News
        • Books
        • Royal News
  • Vouchers Vouchers
      • Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Mint Velvet
        • Karen Millen
        • H&M
        • nobody's child
        • ASOS
        • ARKET
        • MANGO
      • Designer Clothing
        • View all Vouchers
        • Reiss
        • THE OUTNET
        • SSENSE
        • Mytheresa
        • Liberty London
        • Selfridges
        • Farfetch
      • Accessories
        • View all Vouchers
        • AllSaints
        • Aspinal of London
        • Charles & Keith
        • River Island
        • FitFlop
        • Kate Spade
        • Vagabond
      • Jewellery
        • View all Vouchers
        • Pandora
        • Abbott Lyon
        • Goldsmiths
        • Beaverbrooks
        • Astrid & Miyu
        • Swarovski
        • Angara Jewellery
      • Beauty
        • View all Vouchers
        • Sephora
        • Cult Beauty
        • Space NK
        • Dyson
        • Clarins
        • Look Fantastic
        • Clinique
      • Activewear
        • View all Vouchers
        • Lululemon
        • Gymshark
        • Sweaty Betty
        • Nike
        • adidas
        • New Balance
        • Helly Hansen
  • NEWSLETTER Signup to our newsletter
  • logoCreated with Sketch.
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Women in Sport 2026
    • Marie Claire Masters
    • Spring Summer 2026
    • Nail Trends 2026
    • Best Investment Bags
    • Best Perfumes
    • Digital Issues
    • Women Who Win
    1. Style

    Celebrity style lessons: What to wear to meet the Queen

    Just what *should* one wear to meet the Queen? Let these celebrities advise...

    By Caroline Leaper
    Published 19 April 2016 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    meet the queen
    meet the queen
    (Image credit: REX/Shutterstock)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Just what *should* one wear to meet the Queen? Let these celebrities advise...

    Just what should one wear to meet the Queen? It’s a sartorial dilemma that many an A-lister has faced over the years, as they've collected their various medals and ribbons for services to the arts. Some go super-conservative, some treat it like a red carpet soiree, and some use it as the chance of a lifetime to try to make a, ahem, lasting impression on her majesty. We’re looking at you, Lady Gaga... 

    Angelina Jolie 

    Let’s start with one of the best, shall we? Angelina Jolie received an Honorary Damehood from the Queen back in October 2014 and looked pitch-perfect in her putty coloured Ralph and Russo couture suit. 

    (Image credit: REX/Shutterstock)

    Marilyn Monroe 

    You may like
    • Andy Burnham and Marie-France van Heel entering 10 Downing Street “Are We Just Jealous?” Victoria Moss Unpacks the Sexist, Ageist Commentary Around Marie-France van Heel’s Victoria Beckham Dress
    • Skirt Suits Skirt Suits Are Back, According to the A-Listers in New York Right Now—Here’s How to Wear One for Summer and Beyond
    • Kelly Piquet formula 1 monaco grand prix Forget Instagram, It's the Impeccably Dressed Women of Formula 1 That I'm Looking to for Style Inspiration

    When the queen of the silver screen met the actual queen, she vamped it up, as standard. Here they are together at the royal film premiere of Battle Of The River Plate in 1956. Just as important, we think, is that we love what Her Majesty wore to meet Marilyn. 

    (Image credit: Harry Myers/REX/Shutterstock)

    Jennifer Lopez 

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    At the Royal Variety Performance in 2001, JLo met QE2. She slicked her hair into a chignon do, wrapped up in a forest green halter dress and – wait – is that the Tiffany necklace that we all wore for best in the noughties? Nice work, Jennifer. 

    (Image credit: Ken McKay/REX/Shutterstock)

    Kate Winslet 

    When Kate received her OBE At Buckingham Palace in November 2012, she made sure she looked the part. Her fit and flare skirt suit was made specially by Alexander McQueen – a solid choice from a British designer brand that was sure to impress Her Majesty. 

    What to read next
    • Zendaya Vintage T-shirt This Trending T-Shirt Style Comes Approved by Zendaya and Alexa Chung—And It's So Easy to Throw On With Anything
    • Heatwave Denim Listing Instead of Light Washes, Celebrities and Fashion Experts Are Wearing a Different Denim Shade This Summer
    • lisaingmarinelli wears yellow dress niche brands Tired of Wearing the Same Brands? Meet 7 Lesser-Known Labels the Marie Claire Fashion Experts Think You Should Know

    (Image credit: Mark Large/ANL/REX/Shutterstock)

    Lady Gaga 

    Oh Gaga. Only you would have thought to don scarlet PVC and a slightly bondage eye mask to meet the royals, at the 2009 Royal Variety Performance. 

    (Image credit: REX/Shutterstock)

    Ellie Goulding 

    Ellie’s ensemble was, shall we say, slightly more sensible than Gaga’s as she meets the Queen at a reception to celebrate young people in the performing arts in May 2011. Her white shift dress and sparkly court shoes certainly seem to have put a smile on Her Majesty’s face. 

    (Image credit: REX/Shutterstock)

    Benedict Cumberbatch 

    Benedict Cumberbatch was given a CBE in November 2015 and put his best tails on for the occasion. His wife Sophie Hunter kept things simple in a Burberry lace dress. 

    (Image credit: REX/Shutterstock)

    Miley Cyrus 

    Before she became America’s wild child, Miley was totally up for events like the Royal Variety Performance in Blackpool. Here she is, all dressed up to meet Her Majesty. 

    (Image credit: REX/Shutterstock)

    Halle Berry 

    When the Queen attended the Die Another Day film premiere in 2002, Halle Berry was totally ready for the possibility of meeting Her Majesty, even remembering to wear her best opera gloves. 

    (Image credit: REX/Shutterstock)

    Helen Mirren 

    It must be pretty daunting to meet the Queen when you’ve impersonated her in film. But Helen Mirren (and her name tag) are totally holding their own at this reception for the dramatic arts in February 2014. 

    (Image credit: REX/Shutterstock)

    Elizabeth Taylor 

    The Elizabeths met back in 1976, during a state visit to America. Clearly, there was competition over who could rock the biggest jewels. 

    Image: Reginald Davis/Rex Features. 

    (Image credit: Reginald Davis/REX/Shutterstock)

    David and Victoria Beckham 

    These two. Back in November 2003, the then-England captain David was accompanied by his then-WAG wife Victoria when he received his OBE. 

    (Image credit: ANL/REX/Shutterstock)

    The look, we think you’ll agree, is a Beckham fashion moment of vintage standards.

    Caroline Leaper
    Social Links Navigation
    Read more
    Andy Burnham and Marie-France van Heel entering 10 Downing Street
    Fashion “Are We Just Jealous?” Victoria Moss Unpacks the Sexist, Ageist Commentary Around Marie-France van Heel’s Victoria Beckham Dress
    Skirt Suits
    Shopping Skirt Suits Are Back, According to the A-Listers in New York Right Now—Here’s How to Wear One for Summer and Beyond
     
     
    Kelly Piquet formula 1 monaco grand prix
    Fashion Forget Instagram, It's the Impeccably Dressed Women of Formula 1 That I'm Looking to for Style Inspiration
    Zendaya Vintage T-shirt
    Shopping This Trending T-Shirt Style Comes Approved by Zendaya and Alexa Chung—And It's So Easy to Throw On With Anything
     
     
    Latest in Style
    Eva Omaghomi
    Fashion After 17 years in the Royal Household, Eva Omaghomi Talks Bringing African Design Talent to Harrods
    Jodie Comer
    Shopping Jodie Comer Just Announced the Start of Knee-High Boots Season
     
     
    Coach Tabby bag
    Fashion Why Coach’s Forever Bags Are the Ultimate Wardrobe Investment
    Kaia Gerber
    Shopping Kaia Gerber Just Wore the ’90s Dress Style That’s as Flattering as It Is Low-Effort
     
     
    Latest in News
    Eva Omaghomi
    Fashion After 17 years in the Royal Household, Eva Omaghomi Talks Bringing African Design Talent to Harrods
    New Beauty Products: The Beauty Digest
    Beauty The Beauty Digest: Dyson Does Teeth, Fenty Rips Up the Rulebook (Again) and a Surprisingly Fragrant Week for Dogs
     
     
    Jodie Comer
    Shopping Jodie Comer Just Announced the Start of Knee-High Boots Season
    Kaia Gerber
    Shopping Kaia Gerber Just Wore the ’90s Dress Style That’s as Flattering as It Is Low-Effort
     
     
    logoCreated with Sketch.
    • Site Archive
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Terms and conditions
    • Advertise with us
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • About us
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire UK is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.