“Extraordinary permission”: Queen Elizabeth allows close friend to write tell-all book
The Queen’s personal dresser and confidant Angela Kelly has been given “extraordinary permission” from the Queen herself to write a tell-all book that details their working relationship.
Kelly has been employed by Her Majesty since 1994 and is the first member of the royal household to be given permission to write about their experiences on the job, according to Nine Honey.
The monarch has "personally given Angela her blessing to share their unparalleled bond with the world", says a spokesperson for the publisher, HarperCollins.
Kelly, 51, started at the palace as the Queen’s senior dresser before rising to Her Majesty’s Personal Advisor and Curator, which includes jewellery, insignias and wardrobe as well as in-house designer.
She is the first person in history to hold such a job title and shares a uniquely close working relationship with the Queen.
The Other Side of the Coin will include never-before-seen photographs from Kelly's private collection as well as anecdotes of their time spent together.
"Angela Kelly is the first serving member of the Royal Household to have been given this extraordinary permission," the publisher says.
Kelly likened her relationship with the Queen as “two typical women” who “discuss clothes, make-up and jewellery” in a 2007 interview with The Telegraph.
"I don't know why the Queen seems fond of me - because I don't give her an easy time," Kelly said. "I do think she values my opinion, but she is the one who is in control. I do worry about her and care about her. But we also have a lot of fun together."
Australian palace aid Samantha Cohen, assistant Private Secretary to the Queen between 2011-2018, says the book "gives a rare glimpse into the demands of the job of supporting the Monarch, and we gain privileged insight into a successful working relationship, characterised by humour, 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."