Advertisement
Home Royals

Now this is a royal faux-pas: Anna Wintour broke royal protocol when she met the Queen

Heads will roll!
Queen Elizabeth II steals the show at London Fashion Week
Queen Elizabeth II steals the show at London Fashion Week
0 seconds of 1 minute, 2 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
01:02
01:02
 

When one mixes with royalty, one is expected to act with certain airs and graceโ€ฆ Theyโ€™re expected to have their etiquette down pat.

Advertisement

If you happen to be the Editor-In-Chief of fashion empire Vogue, Dame Anna Wintour, itโ€™s implied you know how to present yourself when rubbing shoulders with the worldโ€™s biggest names.

And really, is there a name bigger than Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth IIโ€ฆ We think not.

Turns out Dame Anna Wintour hasnโ€™t quite mastered the art of greeting Britanniaโ€™s longest-reigning Monarch.

Sorry Anna, Harryโ€™s grandmother will always reign supreme when it comes to shade.

Advertisement

The 91-year-old monarch stepped outside of her usual realm of royal duties to view a show from emerging designer Richard Quinn at London Fashion Week.

Queen Elizabeth was seated with a sunglasses-adorned Anna Wintour.

Earlier this week, the entire world was floored when at the tender age of 91, Queen Elizabeth made her London Fashion Week debut.

Amongst all the excitement, Anna forgot her manners.

Advertisement

The 68-year-old editor did stand when the royal monarch entered the catwalk, Anna failed to remove her iconic sunglasses.

Calling shade on her actions, etiquette expert and Prince Charlesโ€™ former royal butler Grant Harrold shared his views on the matter.

NowToLove exclusively interviewed Grant about his time in Prince Charlesโ€™ royal household. You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

Grant served royalty for over a decade.

Advertisement

Watch Her Majestyโ€™s former employee teach us how to greet a royal in the video below!

The Royal Butler, Grant Harrold, teaches us how to curtsy properly
Handy for when meeting royals!
0 seconds of 1 minute, 9 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
01:09
01:09
 

โ€œMs Wintour should know that to wear sunglasses when talking to another person, with no medical reason, is unacceptable,โ€ he told the Press Association.

โ€œShe should have removed them before being in the presence of the Queen, let alone in discussion.โ€

Advertisement

He continued, โ€œEye contact is important while holding a discussion, and not removing sunglasses is the height of bad manners and a serious breach of royal protocol. If the Queen gave her permission to keep them on then that would be acceptable, however this would be unlikely.โ€

Despite his stern words, the Queen seemed fine by Annaโ€™s presence. Throughout the event, the pair were seen laughing and chatting away.

Anna may have left her sunnies on, but she did stand up for the monarchโ€ฆ

It looks like they had a blast together!

Advertisement

Onlookers across the Twittersphere couldnโ€™t help be both judge and jury over the clear royal offence.

โ€œDame Anna Wintour, being a fashion editor surely you should know wearing sunglasses indoors is so naff especially being seated next to the Queen.โ€

One person mused, โ€œWhy does Anna Wintour feel she has to wear her shades in the front row of a fashion show and sat next to the Queen?โ€

And then there was the long running joke of, โ€œEven the Queen canโ€™t make Anna Wintour part with her sunglasses.โ€

Advertisement

We simply think it was a matter of two Queens, one fashion and the other royal, taking their rightful place on the catwalk throne.

And we bow down to both of them!

Related stories


Unwind and relax with your favourite magazine!

Huge savings plus FREE home delivery

Advertisement
Advertisement