Queen Elizabeth’s Irish stylist sees monarch wow crowds with constant wardrobe change

Queen’s extensive wardrobe during her historic visit was down to Angela Kelly

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Talk about luck of the Irish. A Liverpool woman of Irish descent has been described as Queen Elizabeth's right-hand woman, according to The Telegraph.

Angela Kelly, 55, first started working for the monarch in 1993 when she was recruited as a dresser for the Queen. Kelly had previously been a housekeeper to the British Ambassador to Germany, and expressed her desire to return to her native Britain after meeting the Queen on an official royal visit to Berlin.

Kelly, a divorced mother of three and grandmother of four, now lives alone in a house gifted to her by the monarchy and remains to be the Queen's personal assistant and confidante. In addition to dressing the Queen and offering her advice, Kelly also travels with the Queen on her official trips both at home and abroad.

Although Kelly's relationship with the Queen purportedly blossomed from their shared interests in family and particularly their grandchildren, Kelly disagrees. Offering up her own explanation for their close bond, Kelly argues "I suppose the Queen must have liked me and decided I was trustworthy and discreet."

Her former employer Sir Christopher Mallaby echos Kelly's affirmation, stating: "Angela is incredibly conscientious and loyal. She is also great fun to be with, and is affectionate, charming and endearing."

Kelly admits that she is not the only one on the Palace grounds with a sense of humor: "The Queen has a wicked sense of humor and is a great mimic. She can do all accents ‒ including mine."

Despite their shared sense of humor, Kelly adds that at times she finds it hard to believe that the Queen has taken a liking to her: "I don't know why the Queen seems fond of me - because I don't give her an easy time...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."

The close relationship between Kelly and the House of Windsor is one that was prominently on display with the Queen's historic visit to the Republic of Ireland this week. Kelly put together a symbolic green outfit for the Queen's first appearance on Irish soil, and later dressed the monarch in cream for a somber visit to the Garden of Remembrance.

For Kelly, the demands of dressing a world famous figure is not to be taken lightly, but is something that comes easily to her. Kelly states "I do worry and care about her. But we also have a lot of fun together. My job is to ensure that when the Queen meets people she looks right." 

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