Queen Elizabeth II and Marilyn Monroe, both iconic figures of their time, left a lasting impression with their 1956 meeting—a moment still discussed today. Monroe, a celebrated actress in London while filming The Prince and the Showgirl with Sir Laurence Olivier, overlooked the strict royal dress code when meeting the queen.
The encounter, highlighted in Michelle Morgan’s 2022 book When Marilyn Met the Queen: Marilyn Monroe’s Life in England, is detailed in an excerpt shared by Closer Weekly.
Monroe, eager to meet the queen, frequently asked her publicist to arrange a meeting. However, her turbulent relationship with Olivier often led to her requests being ignored.
Monroe’s wish was to have tea with the queen, but this dream was never realized. Despite this, she attended a Royal Command Performance with Queen Elizabeth in October 1956, where she inadvertently flouted royal dress protocol. Monroe, along with other female celebrities, was instructed to dress conservatively. However, she chose to wear a low-cut gold gown, which violated the dress code. Despite this, Monroe’s bold choice created a sensation.
Footage from ITN Archive captures Monroe curtsying to the queen, her cleavage prominently visible. Both Monroe and the queen appeared excited and happy during their meeting. Author Michelle Morgan notes that the queen seemed unbothered by Monroe’s attire and their conversation was amiable. They discussed their proximity—Monroe resided in Englefield Green, while the queen lived in Windsor, just across the park. Monroe also met Princess Margaret that evening.
Although Queen Elizabeth maintained her privacy regarding her feelings about celebrities, Morgan reveals that the queen became an admirer of Monroe. A friend of the queen’s noted that she watched all of Monroe’s films, leaving us to wonder if Some Like It Hot was a favorite.
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