When one mixes with royalty, one is expected to act with certain airs and grace… They’re expected to have their etiquette down pat.
If you happen to be the Editor-In-Chief of fashion empire Vogue, Dame Anna Wintour, it’s implied you know how to present yourself when rubbing shoulders with the world’s biggest names.
And really, is there a name bigger than Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II… We think not.
Turns out Dame Anna Wintour hasn’t quite mastered the art of greeting Britannia’s longest-reigning Monarch.
Sorry Anna, Harry’s grandmother will always reign supreme when it comes to shade.
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.
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 Charles’ former royal butler Grant Harrold shared his views on the matter.
NowToLove exclusively interviewed Grant about his time in Prince Charles’ royal household. You can read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.
Grant served royalty for over a decade.
Watch Her Majesty’s former employee teach us how to greet a royal in the video below!
“Ms Wintour should know that to wear sunglasses when talking to another person, with no medical reason, is unacceptable,” he told the Press Association.
“She should have removed them before being in the presence of the Queen, let alone in discussion.”
He continued, “Eye 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.”
Despite his stern words, the Queen seemed fine by Anna’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 monarch…
It looks like they had a blast together!
Onlookers across the Twittersphere couldn’t help be both judge and jury over the clear royal offence.
“Dame Anna Wintour, being a fashion editor surely you should know wearing sunglasses indoors is so naff especially being seated next to the Queen.”
One person mused, “Why does Anna Wintour feel she has to wear her shades in the front row of a fashion show and sat next to the Queen?”
And then there was the long running joke of, “Even the Queen can’t make Anna Wintour part with her sunglasses.”
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!
