One of the most memorable meetings in history was the encounter between Marilyn Monroe and Queen Elizabeth II. In the autumn of 1956, London’s Leicester Square brought together two of the most iconic women of the 20th century.
Monroe, the epitome of Hollywood glamour, and the Queen, the embodiment of royal grace, met at the Royal Command Performance at the Empire Theatre.
Curious about what made this historic encounter so special? Keep scrolling down to discover the fascinating details behind this unique moment.
Monroe eagerly anticipated meeting the Queen
By the mid-1950s, Queen Elizabeth II and Marilyn Monroe were both established in their respective fields.
Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne in 1952 following the death of her father, King George VI. Meanwhile, Marilyn Monroe starred in some of her most iconic films between 1953 and 1955. These included “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953), “How to Marry a Millionaire” (1953), and “The Seven Year Itch” (1955), solidifying her status as a Hollywood legend.
Author Michelle Morgan explores this face-to-face meeting in her new book, “When Marilyn Met the Queen.”
According to Morgan, Monroe’s fascination with the royal family grew throughout her four-month stay in Englefield Green, just four miles from Windsor Castle. “Her dream was to have tea at Buckingham Palace, and publicist Alan Arnold found the request on his daily to-do list,” Morgan writes.
Though Monroe didn’t get invited over for tea, her wish to meet the Queen came true. In October 1956, Queen Elizabeth II and Marilyn Monroe met at the Royal Command Performance of “The Battle of the River Plate” at the Empire Theatre in London.
This encounter brought together two of the most iconic figures of the 20th century, both of whom were just 30 years old at the time.
How the historic meeting unfold
On the day of the Royal Command Performance, which Monroe nicknamed “the Queen’s Show,” she spent hours getting ready.
Her preparations included hairstyling by Gordon Bond and applying makeup. Finally, she slipped into a gown that would make headlines across the country.
Although officials instructed female attendees to dress conservatively, Marilyn chose a stunning gold lamé gown that was far from modest.
The dress was very low-cut, revealing the tops of her breasts, tight to the body with spaghetti straps, and featured a fold of material at the chest that flowed down to the floor. She completed the look with a matching cape and bag.
As Marilyn stepped out of her car in front of the theater that evening, cameras began snapping, and fans lining the street clamored to catch a glimpse of the American star.
Inside the theater, Marilyn waited with fellow celebrities as the Queen arrived in Leicester Square with her sister, Princess Margaret. Lord and Countess Mountbatten were also present.
The Queen, wearing a beautiful black gown and a diamond-and-emerald tiara, was greeted by Charles Penley, the Empire’s general manager, and then by Reginald Bromhead, president of the Cinematograph Trade Benevolent Fund.
She then made her way upstairs, where she met the famous attendees and many journalists.
“The line was long, and Marilyn was more than halfway down. At times, she stared ahead, nervously waiting her turn, but as the Queen moved closer, Marilyn could be seen peeping out and excitedly chatting with actor Victor Mature,” Morgan writes in her book.
When the Queen reached Monroe, she gave her a brief look up and down. Marilyn took the Queen’s hand and dipped into a perfect curtsy. The two chatted for several minutes about being neighbors and the Queen’s beloved Windsor.
“We love it,” Marilyn said. “My husband and I go for bicycle rides in the Great Park.”
The Queen then moved on, and Marilyn repeated the process with Princess Margaret, who wore a rose-and-gold brocade gown. They chatted about cycling, life in England, and the making of “The Sleeping Prince.”
What impressions they left on each other
Later that evening, Monroe was filled with excitement as she left the theater. As she approached her waiting car, reporters asked what she thought of the Queen.
“The Queen is very warm-hearted. She radiates sweetness. She asked how I liked living in Windsor, and I said, ‘What!’ And she said that as I lived in Englefield Green, near Windsor, we were neighbors. So, I told her that Arthur and I went on bicycle rides in the park,” Monroe recounted.
Although Monroe was a huge star known worldwide, she was reportedly nervous about meeting Queen Elizabeth. British media noted that she panicked because she hadn’t attended rehearsals for meeting the Queen and didn’t know what to do.
Anthony Quayle mentioned in his 1990 autobiography, “A Time to Speak,” that despite being told what to do, Monroe remained flustered and unsure of how to proceed.
As for what the Queen thought of the film star, an article in a UK magazine in 1961 detailed Her Majesty’s thoughts according to an unnamed “friend.”
“The article said that after the Royal Command Performance in 1956, the Queen became fascinated with Marilyn and watched every one of her movies,”
Morgan writes. “She apparently told the 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 Marilyn can be seen licking her lips as she waited for the royal guests to reach her.”