Palace Aides Disapproved of Queen Elizabeth's Close Friendship with Dresser Angela Kelly
Buckingham Palace aides reportedly frowned upon the close friendship between the late Queen Elizabeth II and her royal dresser, Angela Kelly, viewing her as "technically a servant" who crossed professional boundaries. According to claims from a former senior aide to Vanity Fair, the feeling within the Palace was that Kelly's bond with the monarch "crossed a line," sparking resentment among courtiers.
Angela Kelly's Rise and the 'AK 47' Nickname
In her first wide-ranging interview since the Queen's death on September 8, 2022, at age 96, Ms Kelly, now 68, opened up about her treasured memories from nearly 30 years of service. Despite their closeness, some courtiers felt the Liverpudlian dresser—daughter of a docker and seamstress—was an outsider and grew resentful of her status as the most trusted member of Elizabeth's "inner circle."
Some even nicknamed her "AK 47" after the assault rifle, as "people felt threatened by" Ms Kelly because they believed she was influential enough to "take people out" of Buckingham Palace. A source claimed, "Private secretaries fell foul of Angela - she could make or break your palace career because she had the queen’s ear."
Tiaragate: Clash with Prince Harry and the Queen's Support
This tension culminated in a notable clash with Prince Harry, dubbed "Tiaragate." Ahead of his 2018 wedding, his then-fiancée Meghan Markle had her "heart set" on wearing an emerald tiara, but unanswered provenance questions made it unsuitable. Instead, Queen Elizabeth offered the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau, which Meghan accepted.
However, tensions rose when Ms Kelly declined to give Meghan the tiara for a trial appointment with her hairdresser. A palace source said Harry "was giving Angela hell," adding, "Angela was very much caught in the middle. She often took a bullet for the Queen, but this time Harry really went for Angela."
Prince Harry allegedly told Ms Kelly, "Let me tell you I don’t agree with you talking to my grandmother about this." When a teary Ms Kelly went to Elizabeth, the monarch is believed to have said, "He can’t have it. I’ll deal with him. We’re having enough trouble with this wedding."
Conflicting Accounts and Royal Biographer's Insights
In his memoir Spare, the Duke of Sussex contradicted this, claiming his grandmother actually advised Meghan to try the tiara with her hairstylist. Harry wrote that when he tried to contact Ms Kelly later, she did not respond, and when he tracked her down, she said taking the tiara out of the Palace "can't be done" due to security needs.
Harry admitted his exasperation, saying Ms Kelly eventually "appeared out of thin air" at Kensington Palace to make him sign a release form. He wrote, "She fixed me with a look that made me shiver. I could read in her face a clear warning. This isn't over." The Duke also claimed "Angela was a troublemaker" and considered going directly to the Queen but was unsure "whom Granny would side" with.
Royal biographer Robert Hardman has now revealed in his book Elizabeth II that the Queen sided with Ms Kelly, telling Palace insiders the tiara was "not a toy." Hardman reported that Elizabeth recalled Catherine Middleton's hairdresser using a plastic tiara from Claire's for the 2011 royal wedding and questioned why Meghan couldn't do the same, instructing Kelly to ignore the phone calls.
Angela Kelly's Career and Personal Bond with the Queen
Ms Kelly quickly climbed the Palace ranks after starting as an Assistant Dresser in 1994, becoming one of Elizabeth's most loyal aides. In a moving tribute, she revealed the Queen was a "really cool granny" who couldn't stop moving "side to side" whenever ABBA's Dancing Queen played. Ms Kelly said, "I’d get carried away and be dancing all round her like I was at a disco, and the Queen would tell me to 'move over' because I can’t sing and we laughed. They were moments to cherish, to see the queen so relaxed."
While deeply committed to duty, the Queen also loved her role as a "grandmother," Ms Kelly added. She gave insight into Elizabeth's choice of Easter decorations: "Fluffy chicks and chocolate eggs," and noted Her Majesty wasn't above "washing the dishes" during holidays at Balmoral Castle, always laughing if Prince Philip "burned the burgers" while barbecuing.
Fashion Influence and Later Years
Ms Kelly was known as a bubbly, hard-working aide who kept the Queen's style relevant, adding touches like Swarovski crystals to 3D glasses in 2010. During lockdown, she was part of the "HMS Bubble" household. In an interview, she disclosed, "We are two typical women. We discuss clothes, make-up, jewellery," and shared a sense of humour with "great banter."
Now living in Sheffield, Ms Kelly ended her interview on a bittersweet note, saying Elizabeth was "my best friend and I miss her every day." In March 2023, she was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order for her service, and in April 2023, it was revealed King Charles had gifted her a new home to honour his mother's promise.
Heartfelt Tributes and Lasting Legacy
In September 2024, Ms Kelly paid a moving tribute, revealing she told the Queen "I love you" and "kissed her goodbye" before her death. Two years on, she said each anniversary "will forever break my heart." In a poignant Instagram statement, she wrote, "It has been a long two years since I kissed you goodbye. I told you that I loved you and I still don't know why... Patience is a virtue you passed down to me. I have waited and now I can see. You sent a guardian angel to help me through. You sent your strength down to me. My time has come and now I am free."
