Stella McCartney has officially been knighted. The British designer was awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur in a ceremony at the Élysée Palace’s winter garden on Thursday. The Légion d’Honneur, established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, is France’s highest honor and can also be bestowed upon non-French citizens for their contributions to the country.
The intimate ceremony hosted around 50 guests. For McCartney, “friends and family” meant a gathering of notable figures, including her father Paul McCartney, Bianca Jagger, Oprah Winfrey, Gayle King, Naomi Watts, Baz Luhrmann, Anna Wintour, Delphine Arnault, Antoine Arnault, Natalia Vodianova, and Charlotte Casiraghi. McCartney’s husband, Alasdhair Willis, two of their four children, and her siblings were also present.
For the occasion, McCartney wore the second look from her fall 2026 show: a navy skirt suit with a peplum and faux-fur trim made from recycled polyester. The faux fur was a nod to her early days interning at Christian Lacroix.
“I cannot promise it will match your outfit,” French President Emmanuel Macron told McCartney before pinning the red-ribboned cross to her left pocket. In a 15-minute speech, he praised her contributions to fashion, sustainability, innovation, animal welfare, and France.
Macron highlighted McCartney’s graduate collection at Central Saint Martins, which was handmade in her family garage using tailoring sourced from vintage markets. The show featured models Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and Yasmin Le Bon, with music by Paul McCartney. “It made headlines and sold out almost instantly. Not so bad for a graduate collection,” Macron remarked.
McCartney’s connection to France and French fashion has been a constant throughout her career. After interning with Christian Lacroix in Paris and serving as creative director at Chloé in 1997, succeeding Karl Lagerfeld, she launched her eponymous label in 2001 and has kept it a staple on the Paris fashion calendar ever since. Her brand grew through a 17-year partnership with Kering before entering a strategic collaboration with LVMH in 2019. In 2025, she repurchased LVMH’s minority stake to regain full independence, while continuing as a global sustainability ambassador, advising LVMH’s leadership on environmental strategy. “That thread between you and France never broke,” Macron said. “You love France and our country loves you back.”
“I came for this,” Winfrey said after the ceremony. “I might catch a couple of shows, but I came to see her receive this award. It was more emotional than I expected. I’d heard about this award years ago when my friend Quincy Jones received it, and he was so proud. He would always show me the pin. I didn’t know if we were supposed to bow. But Stella receiving it for being, in my opinion, a warrior for ecology and… an independent woman running her own company, made it worth flying all the way from Maui.”
Winfrey received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in the United States in 2013 but has yet to be awarded the Légion d’Honneur. “I haven’t done enough for France yet. I have to figure out what I need to do for France. I need to do more shopping in France,” she joked.
In 2013, McCartney received an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) medal from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, and in 2023, she was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the New Year Honours.Stella McCartney was presented with a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) medal by King Charles III. How did this honor compare to today’s ceremony? “It’s the first time my dad, my sister, and my brother could see me receive that kind of award, and obviously to have a private room and a lengthy speech,” McCartney said. “The queen doesn’t talk.”
When the President of France awards the Légion d’Honneur, the recipients do not speak. “Stella had to stand there and be celebrated, and that moved me,” Luhrmann said. “She couldn’t deflect the praise with humor and had to accept it. To stand there and be reminded of her story and so many of the tremendous things she has achieved—we take it for granted now, the whole idea of sustainable fashion and that you can make amazing clothes while being less damaging to the environment. But that aside, it’s just her journey. She comes from a great pedigree, but she has always stood alone. It’s lovely that her dad is a rock star, but I think of her as Stella.”
“The whole thing is so special,” Watts said. “What an honor. I knew it was of high-level importance, but when you get here, it’s quite emotional.”
First Lady Brigitte Macron wore a custom Stella McCartney black suit with a draped black top, large belt, and high heels. “Stella wants me to be more rock ‘n’ roll,” she said. “I am always OK with that.”
Naomi Watts and Stella McCartney.
Photo: Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com
Alasdhair Willis, Antoine Arnault and Baz Luhrmann.
Photo: Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com
Xavier Niel, Bianca Jagger, Natalia Vodianova, Paul McCartney, Stella McCartney, Delphine Arnault, Antoine Arnault and Anna Wintour.
Photo: Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com
Camilla al-Fayed, Vivi Nevo and Charlotte Casiraghi.
Photo: Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Stella McCartney receiving Frances Legion of Honour designed to answer questions from general interest to more detailed inquiries
General Beginner Questions
1 What is the Legion of Honour
It is Frances highest order of merit both civil and military Established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 it recognizes exceptional service and contributions to France
2 Why did Stella McCartney receive it
She was honored for her decadeslong commitment to sustainable and ethical fashion her leadership in the industry and her significant cultural and economic contributions to France where she has a major business presence
3 Who gave her the award
French President Emmanuel Macron presented the award to her during a ceremony at the Élysée Palace in Paris
4 When did this happen
The ceremony took place in March 2024
5 Is this a common award for fashion designers
While prestigious French designers like Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior have received it it is not common It highlights that her recognition is for more than just designits for her activism and innovation in sustainability
Detailed Advanced Questions
6 What specific contributions to France did they mention
Her brand is partially owned by the French luxury group LVMH she operates stores in Paris and she has consistently promoted French craftsmanship and the Parisian fashion scene while advocating for global environmental standards
7 What rank of the Legion of Honour did she receive
She was awarded the rank of Chevalier which is the first and most common rank in the order
8 How does this honor relate to her vegan and sustainable ethos
The award validates her philosophy showing that a national government recognizes leadership in sustainable business as a meritorious service to society It elevates the conversation about ethics in fashion to the highest level of official recognition
9 Have other British designers received this honor
Yes but its rare Vivienne Westwood was also made a Chevalier in 2006 for her influence on fashion It underscores Frances respect for influential figures who impact its cultural landscape
10 What did Stella McCartney say in her acceptance
She emphasized the honor as a recognition of her teams work and used the platform to reinforce her message that the fashion industry must continue