Arise Dame Angelina! 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.

Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie was made an honorary Dame by the Queen in recognition of her work against sexual violence

Jolie, 39, also known as Mrs Brad Pitt, was recognised for her work in this year’s Queen’s birthday honours

The actress was given her DCMG during a private midday audience with the monarch in the 1844 room at Buckingham Palace

The Honorary Dame Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George was presented to Jolie in London today

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.

Because she is a foreign citizen Jolie may not be addressed as Dame, though she can use the initials DCMG after her name, but received the award on an honorary basis for her work at trying to stamp out rape in war zones.

She was recognised in the Diplomatic Service and Overseas Birthday 2014 Honours list and received the honorary damehood (DCMG) for services to UK foreign policy and the campaign to end war-zone sexual violence.

The award was first announced in June during the week when Jolie was co-chairing the End Sexual Violence in Conflict (ESVC) global summit in London with then foreign secretary, William Hague.

Honour: The Queen herself received the Oscar-winning actress in a private audience at Buckingham Palace today

Travelling in style: The actress and her husband Brad Pitt touched down in a private jet in London yesterday, ahead of today’s ceremoy

The other day job: Jolie, whose films include Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, above, and Mr and Mrs Smith, is Hollywood’s highest paid actress

Jolie pictured arriving at the sexual violence summit she organised with then Foreign Secretary William Hague, centre, and Brad Pitt

The actress was accompanied to the Palace by her husband, Brad Pitt, and their six children, five of whom are pictured above

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.