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If you can tell a lot about a person through their clothes, it stands to reason that there's even more to be learned from the people who select their outfits for them. Such is the case with The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe, the newly released book from Angela Kelly, Queen Elizabeth’s personal advisor and senior dresser, who has worked in the Royal Household for 25 years. With her famous client's blessing, Kelly takes readers through the intricacies of her relationship with Her Majesty, touching on everything from the symbolism behind specific outfits to the Queen's sense of humour. Read on for some of the key highlights from the memoir.
Moving in line with the fashion industry, the Queen has officially gone fur-free
The Queen's wardrobe is full of exquisite, often historic, fur items, from the ermine-trimmed, purple velvet robe she wore to her coronation ceremony in 1953, to the floor-length fur coat she's had on rotation since the 1950s. However, in recent years, her choice to wear real fur has come under fire from activists, as attitudes towards fur have shifted – so many will be happy to learn that the Queen has officially ditched fur for future engagements. “If Her Majesty is due to attend an engagement in particularly cold weather, from 2019 onwards fake fur will be used to make sure she stays warm,” Kelly writes.
The Queen is as obsessed with pockets as the rest of us
The Other Side of the Coin includes a never-before-seen set of photographs of the Queen with her hands inside her dress pockets, a smile on her face. According to Kelly, the Queen has always wanted the freedom to be photographed in informal poses, but her advisors have cautioned against it. "Given that the book was all about Her Majesty's outfits and relationship with fashion, I wondered if I might have a wonderful opportunity to make The Queen's wish come true," Kelly writes. "So, although I was very nervous, I finally asked the question: 'Your Majesty, would you do me a favour? I would like you to consider doing a photoshoot of yourself modelling a dress with your hands in your pockets.'" The Queen agreed enthusiastically, and spent an entire afternoon being photographed by Barry Jeffery in a series of relaxed stances.
There was no political message behind the so-called Brexit hat
When the Queen opened parliament in 2017 wearing a blue-and-yellow hat – the colours of the European Union flag – Twitter was awash with speculation that she was trying to send an anti-Brexit message, but now Kelly, who designed the hat with milliner Stella McLaren, is laying those rumours to rest. "It never occurred to Stella and me that people might think we were copying the European Union flag," she writes. "It was a coincidence but, boy, did it attract a lot of attention, and it certainly made us smile."
The rumours are true: a 'flunky' breaks in the Queen’s shoes for her…
"As has been reported a lot in the press, a 'flunky' wears in Her Majesty’s shoes to ensure that they are comfortable and that she is always good to go. And yes, I am that 'flunky'," Kelly admits in the book. As she tells it, it's less a matter of unchecked privilege, and more about practicality. "The Queen has very little time to herself, and no time to wear in her own shoes, and as we share the same shoe size it makes the most sense this way." Most of the Queen's shoes are handmade and follow a classic look. However, when Kelly sought to modernise her footwear in the mid-2000s, she says she consulted with Nick Rayne of Rayne Shoes, as well as Stuart Weitzman, Manolo Blahnik and Kurt Geiger CEO Neil Clifford.
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… but she puts on her own make-up 364 days a year
Believe it or not, the Queen is her own glam quad, choosing to apply her own make-up for public engagements. The only time she calls in a professional (in her case, Marilyn Widdess) is for her annual Christmas Message. Considering that 7.1 million people watched the programme on Christmas Day last year, we can understand why she made the call.
The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe by Angela Kelly, published by HarperCollins, is out now.
