Marilyn Monroe at the 1956 Royal Film Performance

The Daily Telegraph 10/30/56

In 1956, two of the most famous women in the world met. Both women were the same age - 30, but their lives could not have been more different. The occasion? The Royal Film Performance. The women? Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second and Marilyn Monroe. The result? An iconic moment in time.

How did this meeting come about?

Marilyn's arrival in London

In July 1956 Marilyn and her new husband, Arthur Miller, arrived in London, where Marilyn was set to start work on her latest film, The Sleeping Prince (later renamed The Prince and the Showgirl) with Laurence Olivier. She made it known that she hoped to meet the Queen while there and was thrilled when she was issued an invitation to the Royal Film Performance, which was held every year in aid of the Cinematograph Trade Benevolent Fund. It would take place at the Empire Theatre on Monday, October 29th. 

Here is footage of Marilyn arriving, as well as footage of the Queen going down 

the line meeting the stars (with audio from a 1960 interview in the background).

A crowd of around 2000 waited outside the theatre to catch a glimpse of the stars. Marilyn was one of the last to arrive at "The Queen's Show," as she had nicknamed the event. She stood outside and waved to the crowd for two minutes, while they chanted her name, before making her way inside.

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Her dress, designed by Madame de Rachelle with Marilyn's input, caused quite a stir once she removed her cape. It was described by the Daily Telegraph as "gold tissue with topaz shoulder straps" and by the Daily Record as a strait-jacket, due to its tightness. 

The safety-pin incident actually happened at a press conference.

The Queen, however, didn't bat an eye at Marilyn's revealing dress. Rather, she remarked on the fact that they were "neighbors." With Princess Margaret, who was also in attendance, they talked about biking (Marilyn was gifted a bicycle on her arrival by the Daily Sketch). 

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When asked about what she thought of the Queen afterwards, Marilyn replied that she was "very warm-hearted. She radiates sweetness." She also demonstrated her curtsy to the press. 

Marilyn apparently made a big impression on the Queen too, as she was later reported to have watched all of Marilyn's films. The source also quoted the Queen as saying, "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 her lipstick off" (People, 1961). 

Whether this is true or not, I believe the Queen probably saw at least some of Marilyn's films. 

I'll leave you with this article from the Evening Standard with its' extensive write-up about Marilyn.

Mr. Miller Was Marilyn's LIFEBELT

This post is part of the Marilyn Monroe - 100th Birthday Anniversary Blogathon hosted by Hoofers and Honeys. Be sure to visit her site and read the rest of the entries celebrating the centennial of this iconic woman!

Sources: 
Morgan, Michelle. When Marilyn Met the Queen: Marilyn Monroe's Life in England. Pegasus Books, 2022. 
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