Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller arrive at the Empire Theatre in London.Photo: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis via GettyBeforeMarilyn Monroemade headlines for her iconic “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” dress, (which is having a moment again thanks toKim Kardashian’sMet Gala appearance!), she had people talking about another eye-popping gown.In October 1956,Monroe’s dream of meeting Queen Elizabethwas realized after she was invited to attend the Royal Command Performance at the Empire Theatre in London. The moment the two women met is explored in the new bookWhen Marilyn Met the Queen.Ahead of the event, organizers asked all female artists who would be in attendance to “dress in a suitable manner to meet royalty — for example, they should not wear gowns that were so low-cut that they showed too much cleavage,” according to the book’s author Michelle Morgan.“Officials may have instructed the female attendees to dress conservatively, but the dress Marilyn chose to wear when meetingQueen ElizabethII was like nothing they had in mind. Made of gold lamé, the gown was so low-cut that the tops of Marilyn’s breasts were on full display. Tight to the body, with spaghetti straps and a fold of material meeting at the chest and heading down towards the floor, the dress came complete with a matching cap and bag,” Morgan writes in the book, out now.Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller.Keystone-France/gettyInside the theater, Marilyn “smiled broadly, then threw back her cape to reveal her spectacular dress,” Morgan continues. “Flashlights popped, and then she and [husband] Arthur Miller ascended the steps and reached the space where the celebrities were lining up to meet the Queen.“Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller.Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via GettyMonroe removed her cape and positioned herself in the receiving line as she anxiously awaited the monarch.The Queen, who wore a beautiful black, full-skirted gown and a diamond-and-emerald tiara, gave Monroe a “brief look up and down,” according to Morgan. “The actress took Her Majesty’s hand and then descended into a well-practiced curtsy.“The author writes, “The two then chatted for several minutes, and covered subjects including being neighbors and the Queen’s beloved Windsor. ‘We love it,’ Marilyn said. “As we have a permit my husband and I go for bicycle rides in the Great Park.“Queen Elizabeth and Marilyn Monroe.Daily Herald/Mirrorpix via GettyCan’t get enough ofPEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates onKate Middleton,Meghan Markleand more!Even though Monroe didn’t adhere to fashion protocols,Queen Elizabethdidn’t appear to be phased. In fact, she seemed to notice the actress’s make-up more than her gown.The Queen reportedly told a friend, “I thought Miss Monroe was a very sweet person. But I felt sorry for her, because she was so nervous that she had licked all of her lipstick off.“Footage of the event seems to back this up since Monroe can be seen licking her lips as she waited for the royal gusts to reach her, according toWhen Marilyn Met the Queen.
Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller arrive at the Empire Theatre in London.Photo: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis via Getty
BeforeMarilyn Monroemade headlines for her iconic “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” dress, (which is having a moment again thanks toKim Kardashian’sMet Gala appearance!), she had people talking about another eye-popping gown.In October 1956,Monroe’s dream of meeting Queen Elizabethwas realized after she was invited to attend the Royal Command Performance at the Empire Theatre in London. The moment the two women met is explored in the new bookWhen Marilyn Met the Queen.Ahead of the event, organizers asked all female artists who would be in attendance to “dress in a suitable manner to meet royalty — for example, they should not wear gowns that were so low-cut that they showed too much cleavage,” according to the book’s author Michelle Morgan.“Officials may have instructed the female attendees to dress conservatively, but the dress Marilyn chose to wear when meetingQueen ElizabethII was like nothing they had in mind. Made of gold lamé, the gown was so low-cut that the tops of Marilyn’s breasts were on full display. Tight to the body, with spaghetti straps and a fold of material meeting at the chest and heading down towards the floor, the dress came complete with a matching cap and bag,” Morgan writes in the book, out now.Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller.Keystone-France/gettyInside the theater, Marilyn “smiled broadly, then threw back her cape to reveal her spectacular dress,” Morgan continues. “Flashlights popped, and then she and [husband] Arthur Miller ascended the steps and reached the space where the celebrities were lining up to meet the Queen.“Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller.Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via GettyMonroe removed her cape and positioned herself in the receiving line as she anxiously awaited the monarch.The Queen, who wore a beautiful black, full-skirted gown and a diamond-and-emerald tiara, gave Monroe a “brief look up and down,” according to Morgan. “The actress took Her Majesty’s hand and then descended into a well-practiced curtsy.“The author writes, “The two then chatted for several minutes, and covered subjects including being neighbors and the Queen’s beloved Windsor. ‘We love it,’ Marilyn said. “As we have a permit my husband and I go for bicycle rides in the Great Park.“Queen Elizabeth and Marilyn Monroe.Daily Herald/Mirrorpix via GettyCan’t get enough ofPEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates onKate Middleton,Meghan Markleand more!Even though Monroe didn’t adhere to fashion protocols,Queen Elizabethdidn’t appear to be phased. In fact, she seemed to notice the actress’s make-up more than her gown.The Queen reportedly told a friend, “I thought Miss Monroe was a very sweet person. But I felt sorry for her, because she was so nervous that she had licked all of her lipstick off.“Footage of the event seems to back this up since Monroe can be seen licking her lips as she waited for the royal gusts to reach her, according toWhen Marilyn Met the Queen.
BeforeMarilyn Monroemade headlines for her iconic “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” dress, (which is having a moment again thanks toKim Kardashian’sMet Gala appearance!), she had people talking about another eye-popping gown.
In October 1956,Monroe’s dream of meeting Queen Elizabethwas realized after she was invited to attend the Royal Command Performance at the Empire Theatre in London. The moment the two women met is explored in the new bookWhen Marilyn Met the Queen.
Ahead of the event, organizers asked all female artists who would be in attendance to “dress in a suitable manner to meet royalty — for example, they should not wear gowns that were so low-cut that they showed too much cleavage,” according to the book’s author Michelle Morgan.
“Officials may have instructed the female attendees to dress conservatively, but the dress Marilyn chose to wear when meetingQueen ElizabethII was like nothing they had in mind. Made of gold lamé, the gown was so low-cut that the tops of Marilyn’s breasts were on full display. Tight to the body, with spaghetti straps and a fold of material meeting at the chest and heading down towards the floor, the dress came complete with a matching cap and bag,” Morgan writes in the book, out now.
Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller.Keystone-France/getty
Inside the theater, Marilyn “smiled broadly, then threw back her cape to reveal her spectacular dress,” Morgan continues. “Flashlights popped, and then she and [husband] Arthur Miller ascended the steps and reached the space where the celebrities were lining up to meet the Queen.”
Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller.Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty
Monroe removed her cape and positioned herself in the receiving line as she anxiously awaited the monarch.
The Queen, who wore a beautiful black, full-skirted gown and a diamond-and-emerald tiara, gave Monroe a “brief look up and down,” according to Morgan. “The actress took Her Majesty’s hand and then descended into a well-practiced curtsy.”
The author writes, “The two then chatted for several minutes, and covered subjects including being neighbors and the Queen’s beloved Windsor. ‘We love it,’ Marilyn said. “As we have a permit my husband and I go for bicycle rides in the Great Park.”
Queen Elizabeth and Marilyn Monroe.Daily Herald/Mirrorpix via Getty
Can’t get enough ofPEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates onKate Middleton,Meghan Markleand more!
Even though Monroe didn’t adhere to fashion protocols,Queen Elizabethdidn’t appear to be phased. In fact, she seemed to notice the actress’s make-up more than her gown.
The Queen reportedly told a friend, “I thought Miss Monroe was a very sweet person. But I felt sorry for her, because she was so nervous that she had licked all of her lipstick off.”
Footage of the event seems to back this up since Monroe can be seen licking her lips as she waited for the royal gusts to reach her, according toWhen Marilyn Met the Queen.
source: people.com
