THIS is what is said to have unfolded during a secret royal feud involving the Queen’s closest aide – and why staff “resented” her.
Angela Kelly, 65, was Her Majesty‘s dresser and said to be one of her “true friends”, but it’s claimed not everybody was that fond of her.
A new book claims staff ‘resented’ Her Majesty’s friendship with her dresser
Angela Kelly was one of the Queen’s closest confidants – but it’s claimed not everybody was that fond of her
The Queen’s closeness to Angela was said to “not always go down well” and other staff “found her a nuisance”.
It is said the ladies-in-waiting would get irritated by Angela, as the daughter of dockworker had a different upbringing to them – and they harboured a grudge over her friendship with the Queen.
The claims have been made in an upcoming biography by Prince Philip‘s friend Gyles Brandreth titled Elizabeth: An Intimate Portrait.
In a snippet serialised in the Mail+ it explained how Angela helped the Queen dress in colourful clothes following the death of her husband.
It reads: “That first summer after Philip’s death, she chose to dress — as she herself put it — ‘as cheerfully as possible.’
“With the help of Angela Kelly, she opted for yellow and pink and powder blue, in summery dresses with pretty floral designs.”
However, Brandreth goes on to write: “Her closeness to Kelly, the daughter of a Liverpool dockworker, did not always go down well; the ladies-in-waiting found her a nuisance at times.
“The dresser was from a quite different background to theirs, and irritated some at court with her no-nonsense Northern manner, her easy access to the Queen and her effortless familiarity with her.
“They particularly resented the way Kelly felt able to step out of line to adjust the Queen’s clothes or drop a word in her ear at what they considered to be inappropriate moments.
“But they could do nothing about it because the Queen regarded Kelly as one of her true friends.”
Angela first moved in during the Covid lockdown as part of the HMS Bubble team and helped Her Majesty with day-to-day care.
Then, in May this year, it was reported Angela had moved in full time.
She had worked with the Queen since 2002, and became her personal assistant and senior dresser after rising through the ranks.
Angela revealed she made a lasting impression on Her Majesty the first time she met her – for refusing to tell her a secret.
She was also said to be involved in Meghan Markle‘s wedding tiara row.
Angela was said to have dragged her feet in helping Meghan choose a tiara for their 2018 wedding day.
The Queen was also said to have given Harry a stern telling-off after he supposedly shouted “What Meghan wants, Meghan gets!” at Angela.
Earlier this year Her Majesty was also said to have given Angela her blessing to reveal all her Covid lockdown secrets.
Along with the claims about the staff’s feelings towards the dresser, Brandreth’s book also reveals the Queen’s incredible stoicism during her final months.
Her Majesty is said to have told a lady-in-waiting that she was determined to keep busy as it helped her cope with Prince Philip’s death.
And she is said to have not wanted to give way to self-pity, saying: “My husband would certainly not have approved.”
It has also been claimed that she fought a painful cancer in her final year.
The book suggests that the late-monarch suffered from an incurable form of the disease, despite her death certificate recording her cause of death as “old age”.
Angela was also said to have been involved in Meghan Markle’s tiara row, after Prince Harry told her: ‘What Meghan wants, Meghan gets’
Angela, far right, worked for the Queen for 28 years
