{{Short description|British fashion designer and personal assistant to Elizabeth II}} {{distinguish|Angela Kelly (soccer)}} {{Infobox person | name = Angela Kelly | honorific_suffix = CVO | image = | caption = | birth_name = Mary Angela Kelly | birth_date = {{bda|1957|11|4|df=y}} | birth_place = Walton, Liverpool, England | alma_mater = | occupation = Fashion designer, dressmaker, milliner | title = Personal Assistant, Adviser and Curator to Queen Elizabeth II (1993–2022) | known_for = | spouse = {{plainlist| * Frank Wylie (divorced) * ? Wonsack (divorced) * Jim Kelly (divorced) }} | children = 3 }}

'''Mary Angela Kelly''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CVO}} (born 4 November 1957) is a British fashion designer, dressmaker, and milliner, who served as Personal Assistant and Senior Dresser to Queen Elizabeth II from 1993 until the monarch's death in 2022.<ref>[http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/microsites/queenandcommonwealth/MicroSection.asp?themeid=945&type=More&exid=241 Royal Collection - Queen & Commonwealth<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Her official title was Personal Assistant, Adviser and Curator to Her Majesty The Queen (Jewellery, Insignias and Wardrobe).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vogue.com.au/fashion/news/9-things-to-know-about-the-queens-dressmaker-angela-kelly/image-gallery/cc66070bd36516230fb0a5ba9a842b29|title = 9 things to know about the Queen's dressmaker Angela Kelly|date = 29 October 2019}}</ref>

==Early life==

Kelly was born in Walton, Liverpool, as the daughter of a dockworker<ref>{{cite news |title=Queen Elizabeth II's style shaped to suit a sovereign |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220908-queen-elizabeth-ii-s-style-shaped-to-suit-a-sovereign |work=France 24 |agency=AFP |date=8 September 2022}}</ref> and a nurse.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nicholson |first1=Abigail |title=Queen's Liverpool right hand woman attends her funeral |url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/queens-liverpool-right-hand-woman-25057807 |access-date=26 September 2022 |work=Liverpool Echo |date=19 September 2022}}</ref> She was one of six children.<ref name="Standard">{{cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/angela-kelly-book-the-queen-windsor-castle-b1001149.html|title=How Angela Kelly became the most important person in the Queen's life|work=The Standard|first=Luciana|last=Bellini|date=9 September 2022|access-date=4 May 2025}}</ref>

==Career==

[[File:Elizabeth II's outfits.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|A display of six of Queen Elizabeth II's outfits, five of which were designed by Kelly, at Hillsborough Castle in County Down, Northern Ireland.]]

Kelly began working for the Queen after gaining employment as the Queen's Dresser following an interview at Windsor Castle in 1994.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://royalcentral.co.uk/features/insight/the-queens-dressmaker-angela-kelly-52052/|title = The Queen's Dressmaker: Angela Kelly|date = 7 August 2015}}</ref> She was responsible for the Queen's clothes, jewellery and insignia, researching the venues for royal visits as well as the significance of different colours, in order to create appropriate outfits for the monarch.<ref>{{cite news|title=Her Majesty's A team|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/the_queens_diamond_jubilee/9074791/Her-Majestys-A-Team.html|work=Daily Telegraph}}</ref> In 2019, Kelly announced that the Queen would only wear faux-furs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/queen-elizabeth-britain-shunned-fur-dresser-angela-kelly-reveals-book-2019-11-06/|title=Queen Elizabeth II is going fur-free|website=www.cbsnews.com|access-date=2019-12-16}}</ref>

Notable creations by Kelly include:

* The replica of the royal christening gown.<ref name=TeleChristening>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/royals/royal-christening-gown-what-archie-harrison-mountbatten-windsor/ |title= The story behind the royal christening robe that Archie Mountbatten Windsor wore for his baptism |last1=Holt |first1=Bethan |last2=Ranscombe |first2=Stan |date=6 July 2019 |website=The Telegraph |access-date=4 August 2019}}</ref><ref name=VogueTaylor>{{cite web |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/queen-elizabeth-angela-kelly-london-fashion-week |title= Who Is Angela Kelly, the Queen's Right-Hand Woman at London Fashion Week? |last1=Taylor |first1=Elise |date=20 February 2018 |website=Vogue |access-date=4 August 2019}}</ref> The original, which had been commissioned by Queen Victoria for the christening of her first child, Victoria, Princess Royal, was retired in 2004 by Elizabeth II for conservation purposes.<ref name="TeleChristening" /> Kelly's replica has been worn by royal babies for their christenings since 2008.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Joseph |first1=Claudia |title=Creator of christening gown finally revealed |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-family/article/creator-of-christening-gown-finally-revealed-crczq9hhlpd |access-date=26 September 2022 |work=The Times |date=20 October 2013}}</ref>

* The Queen's outfit for the wedding of Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, and Catherine Middleton;<ref name="VogueTaylor" /><ref>[http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/in-the-mix/2011/04/29/liverpool-born-designer-angela-kelly-designed-the-queen-s-royal-wedding-outfit-100252-28609017/ Liverpool-born designer Angela Kelly designed the Queen's Royal Wedding outfit - In The Mix Today - News - Liverpool Echo<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> a primrose-yellow double crepe wool coat and matching wool dress, with hand-sewn beading at the neck in the shape of sunrays.

* Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie's outfits for the wedding of Zara Phillips.<ref>[https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/07/31/zara-phillips-wedding-guests-fashion-verdicts-115875-23309124/ Zara Phillips wedding guests: fashion verdicts - mirror.co.uk<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

* Together with British fashion designer Stewart Parvin, Kelly altered, remodeled and fitted the dress that Princess Beatrice of York wore at her wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi on 17 July 2020. The original dress was designed by the British fashion designer Norman Hartnell, who had created it for Queen Elizabeth II, the bride's grandmother, in the 1960s.<ref name="tandc">{{cite web |url=https://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/fashion-trends/a33352749/princess-beatrice-wedding-dress-photos/ |title=Princess Beatrice's Stunning Vintage Wedding Dress Was Her "Something Old" |last=Hallemann |first=Caroline |date=18 July 2020 |website=Town and Country Magazine |access-date=18 July 2020 }}</ref>

Prince Harry alleged that Kelly was obstructive regarding a tiara promised by the Queen to his fiancée, Meghan Markle, for a rehearsal with her hairdresser prior to their wedding in 2018. Harry wrote in his memoir ''Spare'' that Kelly refused as "the tiara would require an orderly and a police escort to leave the palace" and that "She fixed me with a look that made me shiver. I could read in her face a clear warning. 'This isn't over.'"<ref name="Harry23">{{cite book |last=Harry |date=2023 |title= Spare |publisher= Random House |isbn= 978-0-593677-86-5}}</ref> Kelly did not respond to Harry's recollections in his memoir.<ref name=Newsweek>{{cite news|last=Crawford-Smith|first=James|url=https://www.newsweek.com/everything-prince-harry-tiaragate-meghan-markle-angela-kelly-spare-1841872|title=Everything Prince Harry Said About 'Tiaragate' Conflict|date=8 November 2023|work=Newsweek|accessdate=6 August 2024}}</ref><ref>Nolasco, Stephanie, "[https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/queen-elizabeths-aide-nicknamed-ak-47-clashed-prince-harry-explosive-tiaragate-experts Queen Elizabeth’s aide, nicknamed 'AK-47,' clashed with Prince Harry in explosive ‘Tiaragate’: experts]", ''Fox News'', 15 April 2026</ref>

With other members of the royal household, she attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on 19 September 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Newton |first1=Jennifer |title=Queen's devoted best friend who was with her until the end pays her respects |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/royals/queens-devoted-best-friend-who-28024780 |access-date=26 September 2022 |work=mirror |date=19 September 2022}}</ref>

==Other work==

Kelly founded a fashion label, Kelly & Pordum, with Alison Pordum, who was also employed as the Queen's in-house dressmaker until 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/people/in-praise-of-the-queens-elegant-cross-country-style/ |title= How Angela Kelly created the Queen's latest elegant look |last=Newbold |first=Alice |date=9 February 2016 |website=The Telegraph |access-date=4 August 2019}}</ref> Kelly is also the author of ''Dressing the Queen: The Jubilee Wardrobe'' and ''The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe''.

== Personal life ==

Kelly has three children with her first husband Frank Wylie.<ref name="Standard"/> Her third marriage was to Irish Guardsman Jim Kelly.<ref name="Standard"/>

==Honours==

* 50px Royal Victorian Order: ** 17 June 2006: Member (MVO)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue= 58014|date= 17 June 2006|page=3|supp= y}}</ref> ** 13 September 2012: Lieutenant (LVO)<ref>[http://www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary/Pressreleases/2012/The2012DiamondJubileeHonoursList13September2012.aspx 2012 Jubilee Honours List - Royal.gov website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120914201336/http://www.royal.gov.uk/LatestNewsandDiary/Pressreleases/2012/The2012DiamondJubileeHonoursList13September2012.aspx |date=September 14, 2012 }}</ref> ** 25 March 2023: Commander (CVO)<ref>{{London Gazette| issue = 64008| date = 25 March 2023| page = D2| supp = Y}}</ref>

==Bibliography==

* {{cite book |last=Kelly |first=Angela |date=2012 |title= Dressing the Queen: The Jubilee Wardrobe |isbn= 978-1-905686-26-1}}<ref>[http://www.royalcollection.org.uk/news/dressing-the-queen-the-jubilee-wardrobe New Royal Collection Trust publication Dressing The Queen: The Jubilee Wardrobe]</ref> * {{cite book |last=Kelly |first=Angela |date=2019 |title= The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers |isbn= 978-0008368364}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kelly, Angela}} Category:1957 births Category:Living people Category:English people of Irish descent Category:People from Liverpool Category:British fashion designers Category:Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order Category:Designers from Merseyside