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Topics: News, The Queen, Royal Family
Ali Condon
Queen Elizabeth II gave a generous gift to her most trusted confidant, Angela Kelly, before her passing.
Buckingham Palace confirmed on Thursday, 8 September, that Queen Elizabeth had died at age 96, following at 70-year reign.
But it has since emerged that before she passed away, the Queen ensured that her personal assistant and dresser Angela would be taken care of.
Angela Kelly, 69, held the official title of Her Majesty's Personal Advisor and Curator, and naturally developed a strong friendship with the monarch over the years.
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The Liverpool native had started off as an assistant dresser at the Royal Household, and eventually worked her way up to becoming one of Queen Elizabeth's most trusted staff members - so much so, that she was granted the Queen's blessing to write a series of memoirs.
While most of the Queen's former staff would only be given a month's notice before they're moved to another Royal household or asked to move on to alternative employment, Angela's close relationship with the Queen has left her in a much more favourable position.
Before her passing, as reported by an insider, the Queen granted permission for Angela Kelly to remain living in her grace-and-favour home.
The insider confirmed to the Daily Mail: “The Queen was very clear that she was close to Angela and wanted to look after her people.”
It's understood that Kelly hopes to spend some time in America now that the Queen has passed away, but when she returns, there'll be a home waiting for her just a short walk away from Windsor Castle.
As the years went on and the Queen's mobility started to decrease, Angela was known, not only as the Queen's dresser, but almost as a lady-in-waiting.
According to insiders, she would often spend time sitting by the Queen's side, keeping her entertained and advising her on certain engagements.
In an excerpt from her second memoir, The Other Side Of The Coin, Angela revealed that it was she who encouraged the Queen to visit the set of Coronation Street for its 60th anniversary last July.
"She doesn't watch Coronation Street, but I filled her in," wrote Kelly.
"I was thrilled that the Queen chose my outfit and my hat to wear for the event."
Speaking about how she was chosen to join the Queen on her visit, she admitted: "I was so giddy you'd think I was walking on hot sand."
In an interview with the Telegraph back in 2007, Kelly described the Queen as a great friend of hers, revealing: "I do worry about her and care about her. But we also have a lot of fun together. The Queen has a wicked sense of humour and is a great mimic. She can do all accents - including mine."
When asked why she thought the Queen had placed so much trust in her, Kelly joked: "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.”
The death of the Queen marks a monumental moment of history: having ascended to the throne in 1952 aged just 27, she was the longest reigning British monarch, as well as the longest-serving female head of state ever.
Earlier this year, she reached 70 years on the throne and became the first British monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee.
During her reign, she worked alongside 15 prime ministers, beginning with Winston Churchill and continuing through to new prime minister Liz Truss.