Angela Kelly, Queen Elizabeth's Trusted Designer, Has Written a Book
Very few people know what life is really like inside Buckingham Palace, but a new book titled The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe, will offer readers a window into that world.
Queen Elizabeth has granted personal permission to Angela Kelly, who has served as her dresser and confidant for 25 years, to write a book not only about royal fashion, but also about their experience working together. Per Harper Collins, which will publish the book next month, this marks the first time a serving member of the royal household has been given such permission.
"The books documents the unique working relationship between Her Majesty The Queen and the woman who has been her Personal Assistant and Senior Dresser for more than two decades: Angela Kelly," says Samantha Cohen, former assistant private secretary to the Queen.
"It gives a rare insight into the demands of the job of supporting the Monarch, and we gain privileged insight into a successful working relationship, characterized by humor, creativity, hard work, and a mutual commitment to service and duty. Angela is a talented and inspiring woman, who has captured the highlights of her long career with The Queen for us all to share."
Previously Kelly has discussed her relationship with the Queen, but only in the vaguest of terms. "I don't know why the Queen seems fond of me - because I don't give her an easy time! I do think she values my opinion, but she is the one who is in control. She always makes the final decision," she told the Telegraph in 2007.
"We are two typical women. We discuss clothes, make-up, jewellery. We say, 'Would this piece of jewellery look nice with that outfit?', and things like that."
But her new book will feature never-before-seen photographs, as well as "charming anecdotes" about the Queen, making it a must-have for anyone interested in the British monarch, or the fashions she wears.
"We are extremely proud to be Angela Kelly’s publishers for this beautiful book; this project has been a labour of love for a whole team of people at HarperCollins. Angela is a remarkable woman, and what I find particularly fascinating about her working partnership with The Queen – something that has been revealed to me over this process – is just how many elements Angela must take into account when she designs for Her Majesty," says HarperNonFiction Editorial Director Katya Shipster.
"The work undertaken by Angela and her team is to ensure that anyone in the same room as The Queen will be awestruck, and the way they deliver this reaction is incredibly detailed and clever. The book, and its many gorgeous photographs, sheds light on all of this, as well as the history of Angela’s role, but more importantly and interestingly on the extraordinary working relationship between Her Majesty and one of her most trusted employees, giving us a personal glimpse of the other side of that famous image on every British coin."
The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe comes out October 29, and is available for pre-order now. The audiobook, which will be read by Kelly, will be released on the same day.
You Might Also Like
