Vanessa Redgrave, 79, stars in Gucci's very British Cruise campaign

Gucci"s creative director Alessandro Michele is anAnglophile, demonstrated in his Cruise 2017 collection whichwas a???love letter to England.???Models walked through the Cloisters at Westminster Abbey (the first time a fashion show has ever been permitted to take place there)in Union Jack jumpers,headscarves and tartan kilts, which riffed offthe Queen"s Balmoral look.

It is perhaps not surprising then that instead of casting a Hadid or a "somebody on Instagram" for the campaign, hepicked the queen of British theatre, Vanessa Redgrave,to wear his re-imagined regaluniform.

The 79-year-old actress shot her first campaign with photographerGlen Luchfordat Chatsworth House,the grand sixteenth centuryhome of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire in Derbyshire.

Ms Redgrave had a spectacular Gucci-over, wearing aunion jack jumper, cricket whites-inspired robe and floral dress and skirt as she poses in the stately grounds.

Vanessa Redgrave landed her first role in 1957, and has appeared in more than 70 films, won anOscar,Tony, Bafta Golden Globe, and SAG award, and was described as the "greatest actress of our time" by Tennessee Williams.

She is the perfect person to wear Gucci"s very British collection not only because she is a national treasure, but because she also has her ownhistory with the fashion house.

In the 1966 film Blow-Up her character Jane carries a small Gucci handbagwith a bamboo top handle - a style which was later revived by Frida Giannini, the former creative director at Gucci.

Stars wearing Gucci

The Italian designer fell for Londonwhen he worked atGucci"s previous head offices in Mayfair for a number of years during Tom Ford"s tenure.

???London is always on my mind and in my memories," Michele explainedto The Telegraphthe impact this had on his eccentric designaesthetic.

"I???m obsessed with British culture, past and present.To be able to show the collection inside the Cloisters in Westminster Abbey is magical."

Chatsworth House isn"t just a location for the campaign, as Gucci has announced it is also partnering with the estate for three years, in which the housewill support activities and events,including an upcoming style exhibition.

Alessandro Michele met the current Duchess of Devonshire by chance, and after bonding over their mutual love of art, history and culture they decided to collaborate.

While teenagers might still be still be sweeping upsome of the biggest campaigns in the industry -16-year-old Lily Rose Depp and 15-year-old Willow Smith have appeared in recent Chanel ads and14-year-old Kaia Gerber has just been named as the face of Miu Miu - there is a growing number of brands casting older women and catering to a wider demographic.

Joan Didion, 80, has modeled for Celine and Joni Mitchell, 72, fronted an ad for Saint Laurent.100-year-oldBo Gilbert,who lives in a supportive housingfacility, also made her modelling debut this year for Harvey Nicholsin the pages of British Vogue.

Gucci Cruise 2017 show