LOOKING GOOD, MA'AM
YOU South Africa|9 January 2020
As the queen’s dresser, Angela Kelly has a unique insight into the monarch’s personal style, secret wishes and last-minute fashion rescue jobs
LOOKING GOOD, MA'AM

SHE’S one of the most photographed people in the world. Wherever Britain’s Queen Elizabeth goes she knows people will be staring at her from top to toe and dissecting her fashion choices. Talk about pressure!

Luckily she has Angela Kelly advising her about what to wear for the hundreds of engagements she does every year. As the British monarch’s personal dresser, it’s her job to source clothes, shoes and jewellery that are, well, fit for royalty.

Over the past 25 years Angela has created many of the queen’s most iconic looks, even designing some of the outfits herself.

Angela describes their relationship as being a bit like a marriage – in fact, they’re so close that she’s become known as the Queen’s Gatekeeper.

In this extract from her new book, The Other Side of the Coin, Angela shares fascinating details about the thinking behind some of the queen’s fashion choices as well as heartwarming anecdotes about their daily interactions.

‘DURING my 25 years of 1working closely with Her Majesty the Queen, I am lucky enough to have travelled to some of the most amazing places in the world. But one moment in particular makes me emotional every time: the sight of the queen putting on her Imperial State Crown at the annual State Opening of Parliament.

When she puts on the crown, it touches my heart. We are alone behind the privacy screen in the Robing Room in the Houses of Parliament just before the queen enters the chamber to make her speech on behalf of her government. We are silent and serious, concentrating hard, and the queen is deep in thought.

When I have positioned the State Robe on her shoulders, she takes the crown off its cushion, and I watch as she raises it above her head. The magnificence of that moment takes my breath away every time.

This story is from the 9 January 2020 edition of YOU South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the 9 January 2020 edition of YOU South Africa.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM YOU SOUTH AFRICAView All
BALLON IN THE BAG
YOU South Africa

BALLON IN THE BAG

Manchester City midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante says his Ballon d'Or win is a victory for Spanish football

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
IT WAS ALL A LIE
YOU South Africa

IT WAS ALL A LIE

A new doccie exposes the Grey's Anatomy writer who fabricated her life story

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'
YOU South Africa

'I WILL NEVER GIVE UP'

After her husband, anticorruption activist Alexei Navalny, was poisoned and murdered by the Kremlin, she became the public face of Russia's opposition. In this candid interview Yulia Navalnaya opens up about life on the run, her perilous family life and why she's continuing her husband's fight to save their country

time-read
10+ mins  |
14 November 2024
AGREE TO DISAGREE
YOU South Africa

AGREE TO DISAGREE

Trevor Noah on how his childhood squabbles with his mother inspired his delightful new book

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
PAUSE THE CLOCK
YOU South Africa

PAUSE THE CLOCK

Researchers have discovered that the ageing process spikes at 44 and 60. Here's what you can do to slow it down

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
MPOOMY ON TOP
YOU South Africa

MPOOMY ON TOP

We chat to SA's most popular female podcaster about love, loss and her booming success

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME
YOU South Africa

MY BROTHER IS NOT TO BLAME

Tinus Drotské says his sibling, ex Bok Nǎka, is the victim in the brawl with a neighbour that landed up in court

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
MATT THE RECLUSE
YOU South Africa

MATT THE RECLUSE

A year after his friend's tragic death, the actor continues to shun the spotlight

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024
A LEAP OF FAITH
YOU South Africa

A LEAP OF FAITH

After her husband tried to kill her by tampering with her parachute she thought she'd never trust a man again-but now she's found love

time-read
5 mins  |
14 November 2024
THEY'RE MY KIDS!
YOU South Africa

THEY'RE MY KIDS!

This West Coast woman treats her monkeys as iftheyre humans and animal activists are not happy about it

time-read
4 mins  |
14 November 2024