Queen's dresser's brutal fall from confidante to eviction and 'disrespect'
She was the late Queen's most trusted member of staff, who struck up an unlikely yet close and cosy bond with the former monarch.
But in a swift change of fortune, Angela Kelly has left her grace-and-favour Windsor home and has reportedly been banned from spilling any more royal secrets by her friend's oldest son King Charles.
The 65-year-old, who had "extraordinary permission" to release two books about life behind the Buckingham Palace walls, enjoyed such a special bond with Elizabeth II that the late Queen even once reportedly remarked "we could be sisters".
And as she seemingly leaves royal life firmly behind her after the death of her former boss, we look at how Ms Kelly rose and then fell from her coveted position...
Humble beginnings
Angela is the daughter of a crane driver and nurse, who grew up in a council house in Walton, Liverpool.
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Angela Kelly, who worked for the late Queen for 30 years (PA)
Angela had a chance first meeting with the former monarch (Getty Images)When money was tight, Ms Kelly rummaged through fabrics in the city's flea markets to make clothes. As a young woman, she adored The Beatles and was always immaculately turned out.
The mum-of-three previously spent time in Germany working in the catering department of the British Army.
It was there that she had a brief marriage with a German man before she met husband number three, Irish Guardsman Jim Kelly, in 1989.
It was in Berlin in 1992 that she had her first chance meeting with the late Queen when she was working as a housekeeper for the British Ambassador to Germany.
The former monarch visited the ambassador's home while on a visit to Germany and just a year later, on returning to the UK, Ms Kelly was offered a position as the Queen's dresser.
In an interview with The Telegraph in 2007, she said of her hiring: "I suppose the Queen must have liked me and decided I was trustworthy and discreet."
Memorable looks
After several years of working as a dresser, Ms Kelly then bagged the coveted position of being the monarch's dressmaker.
According to the Daily Mail, this came after the late Queen had asked her opinion on some new designs.
The late Queen in a vibrant yellow coat dress designed by Angela at William and Kate's wedding in 2011 (PA)Angela was behind some of her most resplendent and iconic outfits. They include the sunshine yellow jacket dress she wore to Prince William and Kate's 2011 wedding.
Introducing her former boss to the stage to present an award at London Fashion Week in 2018, she 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."
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Cosy bond
But as well as having a successful working relationship, the two women were said to be very close - with Ms Kelly being one of her few confidantes.
It was reported that the pair loved nothing more than having a natter over a cup of Darjeeling tea at Angela's former grace-and-favour Windsor home.
And it was said that when the late Queen told staff she was "stepping out for a bit" it was actually royal code for her popping to see her friend
"We are two typical women," Ms Kelly told The Telegraph in a rare interview in 2007.
Angela on a visit to London Fashion Week in 2018 alongside Vogue editor Anna Wintour (Getty Images)"We discuss clothes, make-up, jewellery. We say, 'Would this piece of jewellery look nice with that outfit?', and things like that."
However, their close relationship reportedly caused jealousy among other members of staff, with Ms Kelly once joking: "I don't have any more room for knives in my back."
Charles, who was previously Prince of Wales, was said to be not a fan of Ms Kelly, while Prince Harry criticised her in his memoir, Spare.
He claims in the book he had a clash with her after he and Meghan Markle found it difficult to contact her to arrange a time to use a tiara during a hair trial in their lead up to their wedding. He also describes her as a "troublemaker".
Extraordinary permission
In 2012, Ms Kelly became the first member of royal staff to be given "extraordinary" permission from the former monarch to release a book.
The first was called Dressing The Queen, while the second, called The Other Side of the Coin, featured never before seen behind-the-scenes photos and insider information about life at Buckingham Palace.
She divulged that she would wear in her former bosses' shoes, that the late Queen asked for a line in her famous James Bond Olympics sketch and that the monarch even took part in a private photoshoot, where she posed up a storm.
Angela at the late Queen's state funeral last year (Getty Images)
Angela was previously given permission to write several books about Elizabeth II and her wardrobe (Getty Images)An updated version of the book was released last year and even detailed what the late Queen did after the funeral of her beloved husband Prince Philip in April 2021.
"I helped her off with her coat and hat and no words were spoken. The Queen then walked to her sitting room, closed the door behind her, and she was alone with her own thoughts," she wrote.
Losing home
After the death of the late Queen last September, Ms Kelly, who had worked for the monarch for 30 years, was left facing an uncertain future - especially as Queen Camilla had her own staff looking after her wardrobe.
It was believed she was going to be allowed to stay at her grace-and-favour home in Windsor, however, last month, she appeared to confirm this was not the case.
She took to Instagram to say she would be leaving a property on the Windsor estate and also seemed to confirm that her work phone had been disconnected.
Angela seen outside of her old Windsor home (SplashNews.com)In recent days, Ms Kelly was spotted emotionally packing up her home in order to move north to be closer to her family.
However, as pictures emerged of Ms Kelly packing her belongings from her home in Windsor into a removals lorry, she took to her Instagram stories to share videos with several cryptic quotes.
In one story, she shared the lyrics of a song called Broken Angel, which features the line: "You are the one. I miss you so much. Now you're gone."
While in another story, a quote said: "No matter how kind and generous you are, you'll never satisfy an ungrateful person. Learning how to remain calm when you're disrespected is a superpower."
'Gagged by Charles'
However, reports suggest that her new home in Yorkshire has actually been arranged for her by the King and will revert to the Crown upon her death.
But it has been claimed that the King has banned Ms Kelly from sharing royal secrets in exchange for her new place.
It is understood that she had permission from the late Queen to pen a third book, but the new agreement will likely scupper those plans, The Mail on Sunday reported.
The King reportedly felt that an updated version The Other Side Of The Coin went "too far" in terms of revealing intimate details about the Royal Family.
A source previously told the Daily Mail: "His concerns were solely about protecting both the dignity of the Queen and the Crown.
"Nothing has changed with his mother's death. If anything, he is more determined to defend her reputation and her legacy."
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