Hollywood star Jolie meets Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace to be officially awarded her honorary damehood

Angelina Jolie was made an honorary dame during a private audience with the Queen today in recognition of her campaigning against sexual violence.

The Hollywood actress, 39, was presented with the Insignia of an Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George at a reception at Buckingham Palace. 

The monarch herself received Oscar-winning Jolie, who starred as Lara Croft in Tomb Raider, Mr and Mrs Smith, and Changeling, and who was named by Forbes as Hollywood's highest paid actress.

The actress was accompanied to the Palace by her husband, Brad Pitt, and their children, sources told MailOnline, and they were all introduced to the Queen, although they did not have official pictures taken.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'The audience itself between Miss Jolie and the Queen was private. Her Majesty presented her with the insignia in its box. Mr Pitt and the rest of the family were introduced to the Queen afterwards, however.'

As an American citizen, it is highly unusual that Jolie has received an honour from Britain. Foreigners are only occasionally awarded them – there was an honorary knighthood for Bob Geldof, who is Irish, after Live Aid.

It is also unusual for a damehood to be bestowed upon someone so young.  The honour is generally bestowed later in life, after a recipient has earned a lower honour such as an OBE or a CBE. 

Her humanitarian work runs parallel to her Hollywood career and bringing up her six children with actor Brad Pitt, three of whom are adopted.

Jolie has been described by US Secretary of State John Kerry as a 'fierce and fearless advocate' and he said her dedication to campaigning could overtake her successful film career as her lasting legacy. 

Palace aides chose not to make public details of the audience beforehand but released a series of stills of the Queen meeting the Queen of Hollywood later.  

The audience took place in the 1844 room, named in honour of the 1844 State Visit of the Russian Emperor Nicholas I.  

In a statement Buckingham Palace said: 'Ms Angelina Jolie was received by The Queen today when Her Majesty presented her with the Insignia of an Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George.

'His Excellency the Hon Paul de Jersey was received in audience by The Queen and kissed hands upon his appointment as Governor of Queensland.'

When her damehood was announced, Jolie said: 'To receive an honour related to foreign policy means a great deal to me, as it is what I wish to dedicate my working life to.

'Working on the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative and with survivors of rape is an honour in itself.  I know that succeeding in our goals will take a lifetime, and I am dedicated to it for all of mine.'

Honorary damehoods and knighthoods are conferred by the Queen, on the advice of the Foreign Secretary, on those who have made an important contribution to relations between their country and Britain.

Previous recipients include include U2 frontman Bono, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and veteran broadcaster Terry Wogan.

Jolie is co-founder with William Hague of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) and she is also special envoy of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. 

Building on her long-term humanitarian work for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), she has been at the forefront of the initiative to highlight and seek justice for the plight of some of the most vulnerable people on the planet - the victims of sexual violence in conflict.

A film Jolie made - In The Land Of Blood And Honey - brought her and Mr Hague together, leading to the ESVC summit at the ExCel exhibition centre in London's Docklands in June.

Jolie has said she was 'very moved' that the 2011 film, which is set in Bosnia during the conflict and explores the issue of women suffering from sexual violence, was responded to by Mr Hague. 

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