Arise Dame Angelina! Hollywood star Jolie meets Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace to be officially awarded her honorary damehood
Angelina
Jolie was made an honorary dame during a private audience with the
Queen today in recognition of her campaigning against sexual violence.
The
Hollywood actress, 39, was presented with the Insignia of an Honorary
Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St
George at a reception at Buckingham Palace.
The
monarch herself received Oscar-winning Jolie, who starred as Lara Croft
in Tomb Raider, Mr and Mrs Smith, and Changeling, and who was named by
Forbes as Hollywood's highest paid actress.
The
actress was accompanied to the Palace by her husband, Brad Pitt, and
their children, sources told MailOnline, and they were all introduced to
the Queen, although they did not have official pictures taken.
Angelina Jolie was made an honorary Dame by the Queen in recognition of her work against sexual violence
Jolie, also known as Mrs Brad Pitt, was recognised for her work in this year's Queen's birthday honours
The actress was given her DCMG during a private midday audience with the monarch in the 1844 room at Buckingham Palace
A
Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'The audience itself between Miss
Jolie and the Queen was private. Her Majesty presented her with the
insignia in its box. Mr Pitt and the rest of the family were introduced
to the Queen afterwards, however.'
As
an American citizen, it is highly unusual that Jolie has received an
honour from Britain. Foreigners are only occasionally awarded them –
there was an honorary knighthood for Bob Geldof, who is Irish, after
Live Aid.
It
is also unusual for a damehood to be bestowed upon someone so young.
The honour is generally bestowed later in life, after a recipient has
earned a lower honour such as an OBE or a CBE.
Because
she is a foreign citizen Jolie may not be addressed as Dame, but
received the award on an honorary basis for her work at trying to stamp
out rape in war zones.
Jolie
was recognised in the Diplomatic Service and Overseas Birthday 2014
Honours list and received the honorary damehood (DCMG) for services to
UK foreign policy and the campaign to end war-zone sexual violence.
The
award was first announced in June during the week when Jolie was
co-chairing the End Sexual Violence in Conflict (ESVC) global summit in
London with then foreign secretary, William Hague.
Honour: The Queen received the Oscar-winning actress in a private audience at Buckingham Palace today
The other day job: Jolie, whose films include Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, is Hollywood's highest paid actress
Her
humanitarian work runs parallel to her Hollywood career and bringing
up her six children with actor Brad Pitt, three of whom are adopted.
Jolie
has been described by US Secretary of State John Kerry as a 'fierce and
fearless advocate' and he said her dedication to campaigning could
overtake her successful film career as her lasting legacy.
Palace
aides chose not to make public details of the audience beforehand but
released a series of stills of the Queen meeting the Queen of Hollywood
later.
The audience took place in the 1844 room, named in honour of the 1844 State Visit of the Russian Emperor Nicholas I.
In
a statement Buckingham Palace said: 'Ms Angelina Jolie was received by
The Queen today when Her Majesty presented her with the Insignia of an
Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael
and St George.
'His
Excellency the Hon Paul de Jersey was received in audience by The Queen
and kissed hands upon his appointment as Governor of Queensland.'
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