A Liverpool-born woman described as The Queen's right-hand attended her funeral on Monday, September 19.
Walton -born Angela Kelly, The Queen's personal assistant and royal dress maker, was pictured entering Westminster Abbey alongside fellow staff, world leaders and recipients of national honours. Her Majesty and Ms Kelly were colleagues and friends for nearly 30 years, despite their upbringings being worlds apart.
Ms Kelly was born 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. According to the Mirror, Ms Kelly adored The Beatles and was always immaculately turned out.
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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?
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".
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."
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.
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."
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