Queen Elizabeth II has honoured campaigning actress Angelina Jolie in a Buckingham Palace ceremony. The actress flew to London from Malta, where she is filming her next production.

The queen made Jolie an honorary dame for her work against sexual violence in war zones and her services to British foreign policy.

She received the award Friday during a private meeting with the queen.

The decision to grant it was announced in June when Jolie co-chaired a conference in London aimed at curbing war-related sexual violence. She worked closely with former British Foreign Minister William Hague on that conference.

The 39-year-old Jolie has drawn praise from many world figures for her work on behalf of refugees and victims of sexual violence.

Jolie recently married longtime partner Brad Pitt and starred in the film "Maleficent."

The couple are currently filming By the Sea, a film directed by Jolie, in Gozo.