On 20 February 2018, the front row of London Fashion Week transformed into the most exclusive royal court in the world. Cameras flashed, editors froze mid-text, and every head turned, Queen Elizabeth II had arrived at Richard Quinn’s Fall/Winter 2018 Ready-to-Wear show.
On 20 February 2018, the front row of London Fashion Week transformed into the most exclusive royal court in the world. Cameras flashed, editors froze mid-text, and every head turned, Queen Elizabeth II had arrived at Richard Quinn’s Fall/Winter 2018 Ready-to-Wear show.
February 20, 2018
On 20 February 2018, the front row of London Fashion Week transformed into the most exclusive royal court in the world. Cameras flashed, editors froze mid-text, and every head turned, Queen Elizabeth II had arrived at Richard Quinn’s Fall/Winter 2018 Ready-to-Wear show.
Dressed in a powder-blue Angela Kelly suit, the Queen didn’t merely attend fashion week, she became its headline, its heartbeat, and its legacy.
The show opened with a simple printed A4 sheet of “thank yous” from Quinn to his family, friends, and mentors, a modest prelude to the spectacle that followed. As models appeared in Quinn’s fearless scarf-printed ensembles and latex-hooded looks, the Queen leaned toward Anna Wintour and Caroline Rush, offering quiet comments and smiles. She appeared particularly delighted by the models wearing floral prints paired with motorcycle helmets, an unexpected marriage of rebellion and refinement.
Behind the glamour, the palace confirmed her purpose. The Royal Family’s official statement announced that Her Majesty attended to present the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design, created to recognize emerging British designers who blend originality with social or sustainable purpose. It was a statement of vision, one that positioned fashion as both artistry and diplomacy.
As the finale closed, a small podium was set up. Caroline Rush welcomed the Queen to the stage, and in her composed, resonant tone, the monarch celebrated the nation’s textile heritage, from Hebridean tweed to Nottingham lace and the spirit of Carnaby Street. She then presented the statuette to Quinn, marking a career-defining moment for the young designer.
Backstage, Sarah Mower of the British Fashion Council confessed that the Queen’s attendance had been kept secret. “It’s so special for Richard,” she said. “He’s a working - class boy, his parents are scaffolders.”
That afternoon, fashion witnessed its most unexpected crowning. The Queen didn’t just watch the show, she blessed it.
