Last Friday, Britain's Queen Elizabeth had made Angelina Jolie an honorary Dame at a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace. This was in recognition of her campaigning to end sexual violence in war zones and for her services to UK foreign policy.
The queen had presented Jolie with the Insignia of an Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George. Jolie then shook hands with the queen during the honored audience.
Jolie co-founded the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative with former Foreign Secretary William Hague in 2012. Both Jolie and Hague travelled to eastern DR Congo where rape was rampant and used as a threat among the rebel groups and soldiers. In 2013, Jolie spoke at the G8 foreign ministers meeting where they subsequently pledged $36 million in funding for her cause. The award was announced back in June when Jolie was co-chairing the End Sexual Violence in Conflict summit in London with Hague.
According to the Oscar-winning actress, "To receive an honor related to foreign policy means a great deal to me, as it is what I wish to dedicate my working life to."
39-year-old actress Angelina Jolie is known for her many humanitarian works.
Jolie visited refugee camps around the world and joined the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) following her encounter on the effects of humanitarian crisis while filming her movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in 2001. She was named a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador on 2001 for her good work and missions. She also made a donation for $1 million in response to an international UNHCR emergency appeal. This was the largest donation UNHCR ever received from an individual.
Jolie had also pushed for promoting humanitarian causes on a political level. Since 2003, the actress has been involved in child and women protection efforts, pushing for legislation to aid child refugees and other vulnerable children in both developing nations and in the United States. She also led an international campaign against sexual violence in military conflict zones.
Jolie was among the 1,149 people to have received an honor for their significant contribution to the British society in the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honors list.
Since Jolie is not a British citizen, she cannot be addressed as Dame but she received the award on an honorary basis.
