Arise Dame Angelina: Jolie honoured by Queen Elizabeth in London

The Queen has presented Angelina Jolie with an honorary damehood during a private audience at Buckingham Palace. The Oscar-winning actress 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. After the presentation, her husband Brad Pitt and their six children were presented to the Queen.

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.

Buckingham Palace statement

As an American citizen, it is unusual that Jolie, 39, 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. The award was first announced in June during the week when Jolie was co-chairing the End Sexual Violence in Conflict global summit in London with then foreign secretary, William Hague.

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