As the U.K. prepares for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II that will be held on September 19, the beauty world is joining its fashion peers in paying tribute to the monarch.
“Her Majesty The Queen’s lifetime of duty, devotion and service will always be a great inspiration to me. I extend my most heartfelt condolences to His Majesty The King and The Royal Family, my fellow Britons and to everyone who held HM Queen Elizabeth ll dear in their hearts,” wrote makeup artist Dame Pat McGrath in an Instagram post last week. Last year, McGrath became the first makeup artist to be named a Dame, the female equivalent to knighthood, by Queen Elizabeth II in her New Year’s 2021 Honours List. McGrath was previously awarded the title of MBE, or Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in 2014.
Makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury wrote on her Instagram account, “Her Majesty The Queen has been a constant source of personal inspiration to me for my entire life. Her reign has seen the most incredible transformations in the way that we live our lives – and throughout it all our Queen embraced change, captured our hearts, and led our country with continuity and pride. Her Majesty never wavered in her duty to her country and her life of service will remain a lesson to us all.” She signed the message with her title of MBE, which she was awarded by the Queen in 2018 as part of the monarch’s Birthday Honours List. In a second post, Tilbury paid tribute to King Charles III for the “wonderful, poignant and moving speech he shared with the nation and The Commonwealth.”
Tilbury’s beauty brand has released several Queen-inspired products over the years, including lipstick shades titled “The Queen” and “Legendary Queen.” The “Legendary Queen” shade is currently sold out on the brand’s site.
In addition to beauty founders with titles, Royal Warrant-holding brands have also expressed their condolences. A total of 16 brands in the health and beauty category are among the Queen’s 620 Royal Warrant holders, allowing them to advertise that they supplied goods to her by displaying her Royal Arms. While the warrants were voided at the time of her death, official policy states that they can use the Royal Arms and “By Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen” designation for up to two more years.
Luxury bath and fragrance brand Molton Brown, which has been the Queen’s Royal Warrant holder for toiletries since 2013, announced on Instagram that it had closed its stores for a day in honor of her. The top of its website’s main page currently displays a tribute to her.
Perfumier Floris, which is speculated to be the fragrance brand that the Queen wore on her wedding day (and confirmed as the producer of Meghan Markle’s wedding fragrance), also posted a tribute to the Queen on its Instagram account and homepage. Also a Royal Warrant holder for the late Queen Elizabeth II, the brand was first awarded a Royal Warrant in 1820.
The Queen’s other Royal Warrant holders in beauty posting tributes to her included Clarins, Elizabeth Arden, Boots, D.R. Harris, Kent and Bronnley.
Nail polish brand Essie, whose pale pink “Ballet Slippers” shade has become regarded as the Queen’s go-to nail polish color, also honored the Queen in an Instagram post. The brand posted an image on Instagram in the famous shade, stating, “Her Majesty the Queen has been colorfully part of our Essie history, and so with grace and gratitude we send our heartfelt condolences to the Royal Family and all around the world who loved her.🩰👑” Commenters stated they would be going out to buy some Ballet Slippers nail polish in honor of the Queen.
Although the brand is not a Royal Warrant holder, Essie’s official site states the Queen of England’s hairdresser requested the Ballet Slippers shade in 1989, stating it was “the only color Her Majesty would wear.”
