Queen's trump card gift to closest pal allowing her to write three books

28 May 2023 , 06:58

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Angela Kelly, 65, has reportedly signed an NDA with King Charles in exchange for a grace-and-favour home (Image: Getty Images)

The late Queen's former dresser and close friend claims she is seeking to publish another Royal book - telling friends the monarch wrote her a letter granting her permission, The Mail on Sunday claims.

Angela Kelly, 65, has reportedly signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with King Charles in exchange for a grace-and-favour home, which is believed to be near the Peak District.

Kelly is banned from using the terms 'Palace' and 'King' under the NDA, which is believed to have scuppered plans for her third book.

The King is believed to feel her last book was too personal, when she wrote about the Queen's moment of private contemplation after Prince Philip's funeral.

The King is believed to feel her last book was too personal (Getty Images)

But sources close to Ms Kelly reveal today that the docker's daughter from Liverpool, who came to be one of the most powerful courtiers at Buckingham Palace, had an all-important written go-ahead from the late Queen.

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They speculate that the private document could even take precedence over the NDA.

A source told the Mail on Sunday: "It's certainly a formidable weapon in her arsenal to have a letter like that from Queen Elizabeth II in her possession. It's quite something because it seems she is protecting her favoured assistant from beyond the grave. It is pretty important because it includes the Queen's wishes, and no one would want to ignore those."

Charles agreed to buy Kelly, who previously had a grace-and-favour home on the Windsor Estate, a house to live in that will revert to the Crown upon her death.

Kelly is banned from using the terms 'Palace' and 'King' under the NDA (Getty Images)

The Queen attended the launch of Ms Kelly's 2019 book, The Other Side Of The Coin: The Queen, The Dresser And The Wardrobe (Getty Images)

While she surprised some in the Royal Family by writing two books during the Queen's life, the late monarch was supportive of her writing.

The Queen attended the launch of Ms Kelly's 2019 book, The Other Side Of The Coin: The Queen, The Dresser And The Wardrobe.

But the second edition, after Prince Philip died, angered Charles, who felt it was too intimate.

Friends have said Ms Kelly, who was nicknamed AK-47 at Buckingham Palace because of what some saw as her abrasive approach, was considering giving lucrative talks on cruise liners – a career move that could be affected by the NDA.

Hannah Kane