Angela Kelly — The Queen’s gatekeeper
Angela Kelly, 55, Roman Catholic and a divorcee with two grown-up sons, has a very impressive job title at Buckingham Palace : Personal Assistant, Adviser and Curator to Her Majesty the Queen (Jewellery, Insignias and Wardrobe). Palace insiders see her as the Queen’s “gatekeeper” and even as her close confidante.
A picture emerges of a very posh lady, with a cut-glass accent and a noble aristocratic lineage.
It couldn’t be further from the truth. Angela Kelly comes from a terraced council house (social housing) in Liverpool. She has a pronounced Scouse accent — think Beatles — and started out at the Palace as the humblest of maids. Eliza Doolittle most definitely springs to mind.
Angela Kelly dressing the Queen
Now, for the first time, and with Her Majesty’s permission, Miss Kelly has given a public interview to Andrew Alderson.
“Years ago, the Queen kindly invited me to listen to her conversations with her designers, Sir Hardy Amies and others, and give my opinion,” she explains. “Well, asking a Scouser to give an opinion is dangerous, so I told her straight. The Queen loves clothes and is a real expert on fabrics. It has not been a question of me teaching the Queen — it has been the other way around.”
Now, in the privacy of the Queen’s castles and Palaces, they discuss “anything and everything”. Their conversations are said to range from their beloved grandchildren to “flowing ballgowns, and from designer jewellery to new ranges of make-up”.
The Queen recently told her, “You and I do work well together. I think we are a good team.” Staff report that they often hear the sound of their joint laughter echoing down the corridors.
“I love the Queen and everything about her,” she says. “I adore her, but then, so does everyone else. She is not ‘my’ Queen, she is everyone’s and so I have to share her. Once she has chosen something to wear, I just want her to look good in it. I love seeing the faces of the public when they meet the Queen, and when she gives them that special smile. It makes me feel so proud of her.
“I do worry about her and care about her. But we also have a lot of fun together. The Queen has a wicked sense of humour and is a great mimic. She can do all accents — including mine.”
Nowadays Angela Kelly is much more than just a dresser. She advises the Queen on all aspects of her wardrobe and is even developing her own clothing line with a top designer.
“I just want everything to be right for the Queen — to make life easier for her because she is so busy. My job is to ensure that when the Queen meets people she looks right.
“I would never overstep the mark and I remain in awe of the Queen. But she has allowed me to become closer to her over the years. We [the dressers] are not treated like flunkies. It’s not like that. The Queen treats us with real respect.
“I don’t know why the Queen seems fond of me — because I don’t give her an easy time! I do think she values my opinion, but she is the one who is in control. She always makes the final decision.
“We are two typical women. We discuss clothes, make-up, jewellery. We say, ‘Would this piece of jewellery look nice with that outfit?’, and things like that.”
The friendship with the Queen became closer in 2002 when the Monarch lost both her mother and sister during her Golden Jubilee. Angela Kelly doesn’t believe there is a connection, “I am not there to replace her mother and her sister. If she wants to talk about matters of the heart, she speaks to her family. It’s just a working relationship — but a close one.”
For a precedent we could perhaps go back to “Crawfie”, the Queen’s Scottish governess when a child. Crawfie blotted her copybook by spilling secrets of Royal life to a women’s magazine. She was ostracized by the Queen Mother.
Somehow, I can’t see that happening with Angela Kelly.
[...] How did it happen? Read the whole story over on Royal Anecdotes. [...]
By Aristocracy Anecdotes - Secrets of Aristocrats and Toffs » Is Angela the new Eliza Doolittle? on December 11th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
Now that the Queen has allowed Angela Kelly to give an interview I wonder who at the palace will be the first to stick a knife in her back as other members of staff have to sign a confidentiality document. As for Crawfie I think the QM used her book as an excuse because of another axe she had to grind against Crawfie.
By Trudie on December 11th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
Trudie, don’t keep us in suspense. What was the other ax the QM had to grind against Crawfie?
By Arthur on December 12th, 2007 at 12:53 am
Because the Royal Family “never explain, never complain” — or didn’t in those days — they are wide open to conspiracy theories. I’ve never thought the gossip about Crawfie was true. She was just very naive in listening to her husband (?), who was also a publisher, and telling all about Royal life in a series of magazine articles.
By John on December 12th, 2007 at 11:27 am
Apparently Crawfie wanted to leave earlier when HM got engaged to marry and the QM wouldn’t let her telling her it was most inconvienient because of Margaret and wouldn’t speak to Crawfie and Queen Mary stepped in. I guess the QM didn’t like those who left her service.
By Trudie on December 12th, 2007 at 12:48 pm
That was an awkward time, remember. The King and Queen had just emerged from the most harrowing period of their lives, the Abdication and the WWII years, and were facing the daunting challenges of a postwar economy, with shortages and rationing present in Britain for years after VE Day. Their older daughter had just become engaged, against their expressed wishes, to a man neither of them liked or trusted, and their younger daughter, always mercurial, was now in the stage of her life where she was exceedingly difficult to manage. The PR disaster with Group Captain Townsend was looming and I have always thought that Queen Elizabeth was feeling somewhat overwhelmed. Marian Crawford provided the oversight and supervision for Princess Margaret that afforded Queen Elizabeth some measure of relief from the tensions of that time. Of course, Marian Crawford had the right to leave and since the position she had was far from well-compensated, her wishes were understandable. Nevertheless, in the eyes of the Queen and King, the timing was impossible. I agree with John regarding Marian Crawford.
By Gigi on December 12th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Thanks for filling in those gaps, Gigi — at least we know you’ve still got power.
How are things now in Texas? Oklahoma and the Great Plain area seem to be very bad. Melissa is probably among those without electricity.
I do hope you’re all okay.
By John on December 12th, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Thanks for your concern, John! We have cold weather and rain here and we are told it will get much colder tonight and throughout the weekend. If rain comes during that time, we may have an ice storm as well. We have had very serious ice storms here the last two winters in a row and I would be grateful if we do not have another! I am very concerned about Melissa because there are a huge number of people in Oklahoma without electricity. There have been 24 weather-related deaths, also. Oklahoma has large portions of the state that are quite rural and remote, some areas with few public services, so I fear that many people are really suffering and I hope one of those is not our dear Melissa. Someone in authority needs to have a very serious talk with Mother Nature and bring her to heel. Her behavior is quite appalling.
By Gigi on December 12th, 2007 at 4:38 pm
Royal Anecdotes will petition the Queen to send a Royal Command to Mother Nature, Gigi. That ought to do the trick.
By John on December 12th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Excellent, John!! That would be splendid if the Queen will do that for us! I just saw aerial photos of the devastated areas of Oklahoma on MSNBC. It is far worse than I was lead to believe.
Hundreds of thousands are without power and the public utilities officials say it will be 10 days or more before power is restored. Worse, more snowfall is expected on Friday across Oklahoma. During one of the power outages here years ago, we built fires in our fireplace and stayed near it to keep warm until the power was restored, which occurred within 12 hours. We were fortunate that we had a working fireplace, that we had a good supply of wood, and that the outage was repaired swiftly. Still, it was unpleasant. In Oklahoma, people have been without power for days, cannot get to safety because their roads are impassable, and many may not have working fireplaces or wood available. President Bush has declared a Federal Emergency in Oklahoma so help is on the way, but the situation is still daunting because the National Guard will have to travel the same impassable frozen roads to bring aid. The distances are significant and the terrain is a challenge in good weather. We must hope and pray for the best.
By Gigi on December 12th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
The pictures on the weather section of the USA Today website look pretty awful, Gigi. And the weather seems to be preparing a second coming, as well as moving up to Illinois and Michigan.
We usually calculate that what you get, we have 2-3 weeks later. We may then expect it over Christmas/New Year.
Her Maj needs to move quickly.
By John on December 12th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
She does, indeed! Does the Royal Family gather for Christmas Court at Sandringham or at Windsor this year, John, do you know? I do hope the Queen will issue her Royal Command before leaving for the holiday. The last thing all of you need for Christmas is a barrage of ice storms, high winds and snow drifts clogging up everything. Christmas weather should be pretty, not dangerous.
By Gigi on December 12th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Gigi, I read that Edward and Sophie were going to skip Christmas at Sandringham to remain at home, closer to Sophie’s doctors and hospital. With bad weather looming, that is probably a good idea.
By Arthur on December 12th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
John, after the near catastrophe that occurred last time, when Lady Louise was born and the lives of both she and her Mother were imperiled, that is a VERY good idea. I am glad that they are being so very cautious. I can’t wait to hear about the safe arrival of a new Royal baby!
Let us hope the weather is not an impediment to Prince Edward getting his wife to the hospital safely and in good order. If Mother Nature cannot cooperate, her winter weather needs to be confined to ski resorts and movies! (I am watching “White Christmas” as I post this.) 
By Gigi on December 12th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
Gigi, there was talk of moving Christmas to Windsor, but that seems to be on hold as far as I know. So we must assume it will be in the “cramped” quarters of Sandringham this year.
It would be crazy for Edward and Sophie to go to Sandringham with the baby due on Christmas Day and her past medical history. I’m sure the lines will be open though.
By John on December 12th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Arthur, I am sorry, my post before this was intended to be addressed to you and I typed “John” instead! Thank you for the comforting information regarding Prince Edward and his wife.
It astounds me that the Royals still go to Sandringham at Christmas, John. That place was cramped, cold, damp and unhealthy when King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra built it and I doubt if it has improved to any great extent. For one thing, to install central heating and insulated windows would cost a fortune. I remember reading that the halls at Sandringham were glacial they were so cold and the Royal Family huddled around the fireplaces in the rooms they favored for Christmas festivities. In fact, when Princess May of Teck (as Queen Mary then was) became engaged to Prince Eddie (Prince Albert Victor, King Edward VII’s elder son and heir), she was invited to Sandringham for Christmas with her Mother, Princess Mary Adelaide of Teck, and within 24 hours of arriving both Princess May and her Mother came down with heavy colds and fever because of the inadequate amenities of of Sandringham. It was there that Prince Eddie fell ill and died during that visit, presumably of typhoid fever. The plumbing was appalling at Sandringham, and that was thought to be a contributing factor.
By Gigi on December 12th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Gigi, that’s quite all right. I have no doubt John found it flattering to be mistaken for me.
By Arthur on December 12th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Gigi and Arthur especially Arthur I have the to bear bad news!! there is a storm brewing due to hit NY tomorrow and another on Sat going into Sunday probably dropping about 8 inches. Arthur tell me what the forecast is for MA I ‘ll bet you get our leftovers. But for the moment lets say a prayer for Melissa and her family and the others in OK. They certainly need it!!!!.
By Trudie on December 13th, 2007 at 12:42 am
EIGHT INCHES OF SNOW?!?!
Oklahoma can’t sustain eight more inches of snow, so I sure hope none of it lands in the Great Plains states. Missouri is in bad straits also. I am indeed praying for Melissa, her family and all in Oklahoma. Things are very bad there, according to MSNBC, to which I am currently glued. I have a bone to pick with Mother Nature and I assure you it has nothing to do with her sweet, creamy butter! 
By Gigi on December 13th, 2007 at 12:54 am
Hmmm… Up here in Minnesota, eight inches is a good snowfall, but not a big deal. The North Shore of Lake Superior got 20 inches in one day earlier this month.
I also lived through an ice-storm-blizzard about 10 years ago. Very bad news. I’ve been keeping Melissa and all affected by this weather in my prayers.
John, I certainly hope you don’t get this around Christmas. It would play havoc with many people’s holiday plans, including the Royal family’s.
By Evelyn on December 13th, 2007 at 4:00 am
What happened to that mild, wet winter we were promised by the godlings in the Met Office? It sounds like America has shifted into the Arctic Circle.
Eight inches of snow is a stupendous downfall by British standards. The whole country grinds to a standstill after a light dusting. Here in the west the last snowfall I remember was around 12 years ago. Let’s hope it clears before Christmas.
By John on December 13th, 2007 at 9:52 am
Arthur, I would be proud to bear such a noble name as Arthur. It goes well with King, don’t you think?
Arthur King it is, then.
By John on December 13th, 2007 at 9:54 am
Gigi the latest forecast now for NY in Westchester is 8 to 10 inches!!! this is the first major snow storm and we are to get another on Sat night into Sun. I believe Al Gore should give back his peace prize. My brother read the Farmers Almanac and it said this year snow would begin early and last into spring.
By Trudie on December 13th, 2007 at 11:22 am
Good grief, Trudie, that much snow in such a short amount of time will wreak havoc in NY! I agree with you about Al Gore and in fact I feel he never should have been given the Nobel Prize, for peace or anything else. In truth, I would be grateful if he would take his overactive ego and his daily demand to be center stage and crawl back under his rock. GRRRR!
By Gigi on December 13th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
John would it be possible for you to email Melissa and let her know we are all worried about her and her family and all the others ? even if she has no power once it is restored if she reads her email it may raise her spirits knowing that the RA Family cares.
By Trudie on December 13th, 2007 at 3:32 pm
Trudie, the weather forecast for Mass is almost identical to your area - 8 to 10 inches of snow tonight and a “Noreaster” arriving Saturday night into Sunday. The weather people are not predicitng snowfall amounts, at this time, for the weekend storm, which is not a good omen. I am not worried, however, as I have stocked up on firewood, hot chocolate and cookies. If the Pilgrims could survive the harsh New England Winter, so can I!
By Arthur on December 13th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
Excellent attitude, Arthur, and we are also concerned about your well-being. For Heavens sake, please take every possible precaution.
Excellent idea, Trudie and it would be very nice if John could email Melissa on behalf of our merry group to express our concern for her welfare and our good wishes.
By Gigi on December 13th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
Trudie and Gigi, the snow began falling about an hour ago and there is already over an inch of snow on the ground. Weather forecasters have revised the snowfall accumulation upward to 10 to 12 inches. It looks like I will have to put on the mukluks to get around.
By Arthur on December 13th, 2007 at 7:05 pm
Well Arthur we’ll both be walking in that winter wonderland. I have stocked my house as well as my daughters. though my daughter is fortunate to have a fireplace.
By Trudie on December 13th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
Just reading your posts makes me shiver, Trudie and Arthur! Of course the weather you are having is seasonal for Christmas, but that doesn’t help anyone stay warm, safe and fed. Be safe, everyone, please.
By Gigi on December 13th, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Gigi, it is beautiful here. The snow is light and powdery and is gently resting on the shrubs and tree branches. It looks like a Winter wonderland, just the opposite of what our friend Melissa is experiencing. I hope she is doing ok. Mother Nature can be very gentle, as in my case, or ferocious, as we have seen in the Southern Plains. I suppose it just proves that Mother likes me best! ;)-
By Arthur on December 13th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
It does sound very “White Christmas” and Currier & Ives, Arthur.
I can almost hear sleigh bells!
By Gigi on December 13th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
Arthur I just heard on my local news that the noreaster may not turn into the major amounts they were predicting whats the news out of MA?.
By Trudie on December 14th, 2007 at 12:52 am
Trudie, Matt Drudge is saying on Drudge Report that snow is falling in Boston, MA at a rate of between one to three inches per hour! Arthur, is that true and if so, are you safe, warm and in the house, I hope?
By Gigi on December 14th, 2007 at 2:48 am
Trudie and Gigi, the Saturday/Sunday storm is now predicted to be a “wintery mix” of snow, sleet and freezing rain. Snow accumulations have been revised downward to 6 to 8 inches; however, it will be messier than last night’s storm which was all snow. One bright spot is that fewer people will be on the roads traveling as it is the weekend.
Gigi, Matt Drudge’s report is/was correct. Snowfall was so heavy that it took 3 hours to drive 7 miles. Boston schools were NOT released early; consequently, the children did not get home until 9 PM last night!!! Parents are in an uproar and rightly so.
As for me, I am home using up some remaining vacation days and as my late Grandmother would say: “snug as a bug in a rug.”
By Arthur on December 14th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
Trudie and all, I’ve sent an email to Melissa as you suggested. I’m guessing that not only is her power down but her ISP as well, which is probably in Oklahoma City. It’s time someone developed a satellite-only internet.
Arthur, it sounds like the storms are looping east. I’ve not heard any forecast for them over here, but in 2-3 weeks they’ll make landfall somewhere in Europe. We may need to draft in a few Canadians to show us how to walk on tennis rackets.
I hope you’re all okay in NY and Boston. Sounds frightful.
By John on December 14th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Arthur, I am relieved and pleased that you are well and safe! As for the Boston, MA school officials, I hope a few people get severely chastised/fired for that absurdly bad decision! To keep young children out until 9PM on school buses and in such perilous weather is outrageous! Efficient employment of snowshoes is a life skill, one that I have never acquired.
If the weather continues to betray us, we may ALL have to learn a new skill.
John, thank you for sending the email to Melissa. MSNBC aerial photos of Oklahoma show that conditions are very bad and many people, especially those with small children, are abandoning their freezing homes and making perilous journies to warm shelters. As a result, accidents on the frozen roads are escalating. Oklahoma is an oil and cattle state. Ranchers are stuggling to get fodder to their herds who are trapped in frozen fields and until conditions improve dramatically, there will be no oil refining accomplished in Oklahoma, to say the least. Right now my worries and prayers are concentrated on the safety of the people in Oklahoma.
By Gigi on December 14th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
And here’s me walking out in mild, slightly autumnal conditions. The calm before the storm maybe.
I really feel for all those in the Mid-West and elsewhere suffering right now.
By John on December 14th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
And all this has what to do with Angela Kelly?
By williams kenneth on December 14th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
We have gotten quite off-topic! I fear I am to blame for that. I apologize, John, for the appalling digression!
By Gigi on December 14th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Nothing Williams, EXCEPT for the fact that we all care for one another!!! Thanks John for emailing Melissa I just heard on the news that OK is about to be hit with another bout of Ice. Think you could send some autumnal conditions across the pond?.
By Trudie on December 14th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
Well said, Trudie, we do all care for each other. I heard the same on MSNBC regarding another icestorm headed for Oklahoma. Is there anyone in Florida who could send Oklahoma some warm sunshine, immediately if not sooner? I don’t know how much more Okalhoma can take. Also, Matt Drudge says Boston got hit with ten inches of snow. At that rate, if Arthur ventures outside he will look like a snowman!
By Gigi on December 15th, 2007 at 1:17 am
Kenneth Williams, when the topic of a post is a little dull, our contributors discuss the big matters of the day. The ice storms in the Mid-West are quite a concern right now.
By John on December 15th, 2007 at 2:12 pm