Even the Queen was amused as London’s latest fashions strutted the catwalk

Fashion royalty on the front row is normal, but in 2018 everyone was upstaged by HRH Queen Elizabeth II taking her place at London Fashion Week

The Queen sits next to Anna Wintour to watch rising designer Richard Quinn's runway show before presenting him with the inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design during London Fashion Week in February 2018. Picture: Getty Images

It was the final show of London Fashion Week in February 2018. The designer was an emerging star, Richard Quinn. I’d never heard of him, but was told there was plenty of buzz around him in London circles.

The set was decorated with mismatched peeling wallpaper, a variety of faded, chintzy florals like those seen in so many stately homes. The runway was covered in the same. Over the loudspeakers, an imposing voice began directing guests, “Would you please be seated for the Richard Quinn show.” Proper posh.

We’re used to these things at fashion shows, scenes being set, music and decoration adding to an overarching ambience. Nothing new there. And it was London, after all, which sometimes likes to take an ironic look at its own grand history.

Two tiers of seating faced off across the catwalk. From my second-row seat, I could see the back of Anna Wintour’s bob in front, five seats along. It struck me as unusual that she would be here, as this wasn’t a big-ticket show and only occasionally did she come to the shows of first-timers, especially in London. There were empty seats on either side of her.

As the crowd began taking their seats, various people were seated with Wintour: Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council; Sarah Mower, the BFC’s ­ambassador for emerging designers; a woman who would later be revealed to be ­Angela Kelly. It all seemed very formal.

One seat remained vacant next to Wintour, and as everyone settled in for the show, a young chancer tried his luck in the empty seat. Never have security guards swept in so swiftly. He was duly escorted away.

That voice on the loudspeakers again: “Would you please be standing for Her Majesty the Queen.”

Assuming it was all part of the show schtick, we took to our feet, expecting an impersonator to ­appear forthwith. As a small head of grey hair came into sight, there was an audible gasp from those in the seats across the catwalk. People lifted their phones to snap, before suddenly stopping and questioning ­protocol.

It was, indeed, Her Majesty.

The buzz in the room was electric. She took her seat next to Wintour – fashion royalty meets actual royalty.

And then the show began.

It was a fast-paced affair, with models in similarly mismatched layered florals, pleated skirts and puffer coats, motorcycle helmets and foiled-floral capes. Some sported silk headscarves (a la Her Majesty in Scotland) framing faces covered with Lycra bodystockings. Gimp-chintz.

Quite what Her Majesty made of it all, we’ll never know, although the photos showed her on the front row in various states, from quietly ­admiring to positively gleeful. On the show’s completion, all became apparent.

Rush took to a podium, flanked by Angela Kelly, the Queen’s personal adviser, to welcome Her Majesty to London Fashion Week for the first time. Indeed, word had it this was her first fashion show.

And the occasion was the announcement of the ­inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British ­Design, for an emerging talent who not only shows great skill, but also gives back to the community and/or shows strong sustainability policies.

Quinn would be the first recipient.

Before handing over the award to the young designer, Her Majesty said: “It is a great pleasure to be at London Fashion Week today. From the tweed of the Hebrides to the Nottingham lace and, of course, Carnaby Street, our fashion industry has been renowned for outstanding craftsmanship for many years and continues to produce world-class textiles and cutting-edge practical designs.

“As a tribute to the industry and as my legacy to all those who have contributed to British fashion, I would like to present this award to a new young talent. I would like to thank the British Fashion Council for ­selecting the first winner, Richard Quinn.”

As the award was handed over, the crowd had well and truly overcome their hesitance behind their phone cameras to snap away at this unexpected brush with Britain’s reigning monarch.

As Her Majesty left the room, the looks of disbelief on everyone’s faces spoke volumes to what an unexpected moment we had just experienced: the day the Queen came to fashion week.

Glynis Traill-Nash