The Queen shared a unique bond with one member of staff who hailed from humble beginnings in Liverpool.
The city has joined the rest of the commonwealth in entering a 10-day period of mourning after Buckingham Palace confirmed yesterday (September 8) the monarch had passed away at her Balmoral residence. As the country mourns, the ECHO looks back on Queen Elizbabeth II's relationship with one of her most trusted staff members - her dresser, Angela Kelly.
Her Majesty and Ms Kelly were colleagues and friends for nearly 30 years, despite their upbringings being worlds apart. Ms Kelly was born in Walton to a crane driver and nurse and, as a teenager, would spend her time at Liverpool's flea markets looking for materials to make clothes.
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According to the Mirror, Ms Kelly adored The Beatles and was always immaculately turned out. She first met the Queen while working in Germany.
At the time, Ms Kelly was a housekeeper for the British Ambassador to Germany, where Her Majesty visited. When Ms Kelly returned to the UK a year later, she was offered a position as the Queen's dresser.
It seems the two women knew each other inside out with the Queen even once reportedly remarking "we could be sisters". So how did the Queen and Ms Kelly strike up such a close friendship?
Memorable looks
After several years of working as the Queen's dresser, Ms Kelly then bagged the coveted position of being the monarch's dressmaker. According to the Daily Mail, this came after the Queen had asked her opinion on some new designs.
Ms Kelly is behind some of Her Majesty's most resplendent and iconic outfits. They include the jacket dress she wore to Prince William and Kate's 2011 wedding.
She also regarded the Queen as a "fashion icon" and they worked carefully together to curate her wardrobe. Introducing Her Majesty to the stage to present an award at London Fashion Week last year, Ms Kelly said: "Your Majesty, I know you do not wish to be known as a fashion icon, but from all of us in this room, we have the utmost respect for you and also for your hard work and diligence."
Cosy bond
But as well as having a successful working relationship, Ms Kelly and the Queen were said to be very close - with Angela being one of her few confidantes. It has been reported that the pair loved nothing more than having a natter over a cup of Darjeeling tea at Ms Kelly's grace-and-favour Windsor home.
And it was said that when the Queen told staff she was "stepping out for a bit" it was actually royal code for her popping to see her friend. They discussed "everything and anything" from treasured grandchildren and great-grandchildren to new ranges of make-up.
Ms Kelly told The Telegraph in a rare interview in 2007: "We are two typical women. We discuss clothes, make-up, and jewellery. We say, 'Would this piece of jewellery look nice with that outfit?', and things like that."
Angela has only given a handful of interviews but when she has spoken out publicly, she has gushed about her unwavering affection for her boss. She has described how much she "adores" and is "so proud of her".
She also divulged the Queen's surprising hidden talent - doing all sorts of accents, including Ms Kelly's Scouse twang. Their close relationship has however reportedly caused jealousy among other members of staff, with Angela once joking: "I don't have any more room for knives in my back."
She added: "I don't know why the Queen seems fond of me - because I don't give her an easy time."
Grand title
Having served the Queen for almost 30 years, Ms Kelly was awarded a job with a very grand title - Personal Assistant, Adviser and Curator to Her Majesty The Queen (Jewellery, Insignias and Wardrobe). Not only that, Angela became a member of the Royal Victorian Order before being promoted to a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order.
The Queen is said to have once told her: "You and I do work well together. I think we are a good team".
Extraordinary permission
In 2019, Ms Kelly became the first member of the royal staff to be given "extraordinary" permission from the monarch to release a book. Called The Other Side of the Coin, it featured never before seen behind-the-scenes photos and insider information about life at Buckingham Palace.
According to the publisher Harper Collins, the new updated version of the book, released earlier this year, showed new photographs as well as a brand new chapter. Covered in this chapter, Ms Kelly talks about the royal household's isolation during the Covid-19 lockdown at Windsor Castle, which saw her taking on new roles such as cutting and setting the Queen's hair.
The chapter also covers Prince Philip's funeral, the Queen's first public engagement post-lockdown and Platinum Jubilee perparations.
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