Ralph Lauren to Become First-Ever Knighted American Designer
Queen Elizabeth II will knight the fashion icon by his 80th birthday.
2018 has been a banner year for Ralph Lauren, with a 50th anniversary tribute from the CFDA and commemorative book published by Rizzoli Books, along with a multitude of major drops and collaborations. Next year, however, the fashion icon will receive arguably his highest honor yet: an honorary knighthood, courtesy of Britain’s current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
Along with recognition for his philanthropic efforts, Antony Phillipson, British Consul General to New York and Her Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for North America, noted that the prize will be conferred to Lauren for “[playing] a key role in forging transatlantic cultural and economic connections. … Mr. Lauren has been a vanguard for the global fashion industry and American style for nearly half a century.” After the ceremony, Lauren may addressed use the suffix “KBE” (Knight of the British Empire”).
Lauren is the first American fashion designer to receive the honor, and will join the ranks of other honorary American knights including Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan & George H.W. Bush, Bill & Melinda Gates, Kevin Spacey and Steven Spielberg.
Most recently, we took a look at what went down during Korea’s Palace x Polo Ralph Lauren drop.
