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