Angelina Jolie has been made a dame by William Hague.
The starstruck Foreign Secretary, who has spent most of the week at the Hollywood actress’s side, bestowed the surprise accolade on her as part of the Queen’s birthday honours.
The pair have been working closely together at a summit on rape in London – despite the escalating political and military crises in Iraq, Syria and Ukraine.
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Miss Jolie, the 39-year-old star of Tomb Raider, said: ‘It means a great deal to me.’
But eyebrows were raised at the headline-grabbing damehood, which seals two years of growing friendship between the A-list actress and Mr Hague.
As an American citizen, it is highly unusual that Miss Jolie has received an honour from Britain.
Foreigners are occasionally awarded them – there was an honorary knighthood for Bob Geldof, who is Irish, after Live Aid.
Labour MP Paul Flynn said that giving a top award to a celebrity with friends in high places rather than an unsung British hero undermined the credibility of the honours system.
‘The honours system is becoming increasingly discredited and this is another step in that direction,’ he said.
‘Angelina Jolie is doing creditable work but it is ridiculous to honour people who are already over-endowed with privileges and wealth.’
Critics also said damehoods are usually bestowed later in life, after a recipient has earned a lower honour such as an OBE or a CBE.
The
honour to Miss Jolie, a UN Special Envoy, recognises her
‘extraordinary’ work to stamp out rape as a weapon in war zones,
culminating in a landmark international summit in London to tackle the
menace.
Mr Hague said she thoroughly deserved the award because she had ‘made a real difference and achieved lasting results’, referring to the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative the pair launched in 2012.
Miss 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.’
She becomes an honorary Dame Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George.
It is awarded to those who ‘render extraordinary or important non-military service in a foreign country’.
It can also be conferred for important or loyal service in relation to foreign and Commonwealth affairs.
Mr Hague and Miss Jolie have made a number of visits to war zones around the world together.
The Foreign Secretary has seemed
bewitched by the actress all week, with he and David Cameron looking
like awestruck schoolboys when they welcomed her to Britain on Tuesday.
Mr Hague gushed that she was ‘a pleasure to work with’, and said her ‘power to speak to the whole world’ and his ‘levers of decision-making and action’ were a formidable combination.
Whitehall officials confirmed Miss Jolie’s damehood was an honour ‘from the Foreign Office ... for services to UK foreign policy and the campaign to end war zone sexual violence’.
The Foreign Office refused to confirm it was Mr Hague who had nominated Miss Jolie.
Yesterday Mr Hague was all
smiles as he appeared at the closing session of the summit with Miss
Jolie, who wore a grey kimono-style dress.
Her partner Brad Pitt and Mr Hague’s wife Ffion, who usually shuns publicity, were also present.
Later he said he and US Secretary of State John Kerry, who also attended the summit, had ‘obviously’ discussed the deepening conflict in Iraq.
Downing Street defended Mr Hague’s decision to devote a week to accompanying Miss Jolie.
Mr Cameron believed it was the ‘right thing to do’ to carry on with the ‘very important initiative’, said a spokesman, who insisted Mr Hague had not taken his eye off the ball on Iraq.
The starstruck Foreign Secretary, who has spent most of the week at the Hollywood actress’s side, bestowed the surprise accolade on her as part of the Queen’s birthday honours.
The pair have been working closely together at a summit on rape in London – despite the escalating political and military crises in Iraq, Syria and Ukraine.
Scroll down for video
Star power: William Hague, in Chelsea boots, with wife Ffion and Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt yesterday
Starstruck: The Foreign Secretary, centre, has
given the Hollywood star, right, a surprise gong as part of the Queen's
birthday honours
Speech: The actress, a UN Special Envoy, talks
to those attending the summit. The honour recognises her 'extraordinary'
work to stamp out rape as a weapon in war zones
But eyebrows were raised at the headline-grabbing damehood, which seals two years of growing friendship between the A-list actress and Mr Hague.
As an American citizen, it is highly unusual that Miss Jolie has received an honour from Britain.
Foreigners are occasionally awarded them – there was an honorary knighthood for Bob Geldof, who is Irish, after Live Aid.
Labour MP Paul Flynn said that giving a top award to a celebrity with friends in high places rather than an unsung British hero undermined the credibility of the honours system.
‘The honours system is becoming increasingly discredited and this is another step in that direction,’ he said.
‘Angelina Jolie is doing creditable work but it is ridiculous to honour people who are already over-endowed with privileges and wealth.’
Critics also said damehoods are usually bestowed later in life, after a recipient has earned a lower honour such as an OBE or a CBE.
Arrival: Miss Jolie and partner Brad Pitt arrive at the summit. The actress said the honour meant 'a great deal'
Power couple: Miss Jolie and Brad Pitt. Eyebrows
were raised at the headline-grabbing damehood last night - which seals
two years of growing friendship between the A-list actress and Mr Hague
Mr Hague said she thoroughly deserved the award because she had ‘made a real difference and achieved lasting results’, referring to the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative the pair launched in 2012.
Miss 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.’
She becomes an honorary Dame Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George.
It is awarded to those who ‘render extraordinary or important non-military service in a foreign country’.
It can also be conferred for important or loyal service in relation to foreign and Commonwealth affairs.
Mr Hague and Miss Jolie have made a number of visits to war zones around the world together.
New friends: Hague's wife Ffion - who usually
shuns publicity - and Miss Jolie at the Global Summit To End Sexual
Violence in London. It is highly unusual for an American citizen to
receive an honour from Britain
Coverage: How the Mail covered the summit - which took place despite escalating crises in Iraq and Syria
Mr Hague gushed that she was ‘a pleasure to work with’, and said her ‘power to speak to the whole world’ and his ‘levers of decision-making and action’ were a formidable combination.
Whitehall officials confirmed Miss Jolie’s damehood was an honour ‘from the Foreign Office ... for services to UK foreign policy and the campaign to end war zone sexual violence’.
The Foreign Office refused to confirm it was Mr Hague who had nominated Miss Jolie.
Campaign: US Secretary of State John Kerry,
William Hague and actress Angelina Jolie speak to crowds during the
fourth day of the London conference. Hague said he had discussed the
Iraq conflict with Mr Kerry
Working together: Mr Hague was all smiles as he
appeared at the closing session of the summit with Miss Jolie, who wore a
grey kimono-style dress
Her partner Brad Pitt and Mr Hague’s wife Ffion, who usually shuns publicity, were also present.
Later he said he and US Secretary of State John Kerry, who also attended the summit, had ‘obviously’ discussed the deepening conflict in Iraq.
Downing Street defended Mr Hague’s decision to devote a week to accompanying Miss Jolie.
Mr Cameron believed it was the ‘right thing to do’ to carry on with the ‘very important initiative’, said a spokesman, who insisted Mr Hague had not taken his eye off the ball on Iraq.
