Queen Elizabeth’s Former Aide Reveals What the Royals Are Really Like Behind Closed Doors
A palace insider close to Queen Elizabeth shares rare details that shed new light on the royal family’s life away from the spotlight
Queen Elizabeth’s longtime aide is setting the record straight on what the royals are really like when the cameras are not around, and it is not quite what people expect. Angela Kelly, who worked closely with the late monarch for nearly 30 years, opened up in a recent chat with Vanity Fair about life inside the palace. And from her perspective, the royal household felt far more down-to-earth and close-knit than its polished public image suggests.
Kelly revealed, “It was just a normal loving family, to be quite honest. If Prince Philip, or whoever was cooking, burnt the burgers, she’d just laugh. As long as they had extra to put back on, and as long as all the family was fed and watered, that was all right.” The 68-year-old designer was one of the late Queen’s closest confidantes, managing her wardrobe while becoming part of her inner circle. She worked with the Queen for nearly three decades, from 1994 until her death in September 2022.
Kelly even said that Elizabeth was a rather carefree grandmother to her eight grandchildren and even to her great-grandchildren. “The Queen was just full of energy and a really cool granny, to be honest.” She recalled that when it came to family, the late Queen had a real soft spot, especially as a grandmother. Elizabeth would be extra affectionate with her grandkids, particularly around Easter, soaking up those moments with them. “The family would visit, and she loved being a granny. Her Majesty took her great-grandchildren out riding or walking. She did barbecues and fun things, and she always washed the dishes, even when she was entertaining the prime minister," Kelly recalled.
Turns out the Queen also had a bit of a fun side, and she was especially fond of one of ABBA’s biggest hits and would happily dance around to it. According to Kelly, it was one of those little moments that showed a completely different side of her. She said, “Every morning, the Queen would listen to the Terry Wogan Show on Radio 2. When the song ‘Dancing Queen’ came on, she loved it, and both of us would dance.”
Furthermore, Elizabeth was also not shy about having a little sing-along in private. “Her Majesty loved singing and had a good voice. I didn’t. I’d get carried away and be dancing all around 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,” Kelly added.
Back in 1992, during a visit to Germany with Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth happened to meet Kelly. She was then working as a housekeeper for Christopher Mallaby. Not long after, the Queen nudged her to apply for a role at Buckingham Palace. What began as a junior dressing job quickly snowballed into something much bigger, with Kelly eventually becoming her go-to person for everything from outfits to personal advice and even designing some of her looks.
