to make each Royal engagement memorable for those who will be seeing The Queen for the first time
Angela is a talented and inspiring woman, who has captured the highlights of her long career with The Queen for us all to share.
Samantha Cohen CVO
Assistant Private Secretary to The Queen (2011–2018)
by Stewart Parvin MVO
I first met Angela one morning in the summer of 2001. She had come into my shop in Motcomb Street and was chatting to our saleslady, Gill Edwards. From Angela’s questions it became apparent that she needed a conversation with me. In those days our workroom was in the basement of the shop at Number 14 (previously the home of Royal couturier Ian Thomas), so I was immediately available. I ran upstairs to meet her and discuss her mystery client’s needs. She wanted to look at the quality of our workmanship, and I agreed straight away.
A few days later Angela reappeared and we had a lengthy discussion about fabrics. Her client couldn’t be seen wearing any of the items that we had in the main collection. The easiest way around this, I thought, was for us to pop downstairs and go through our archive: Angela could look at fabrics we had never used or had made into just one or two garments in previous seasons. I saw her delight as we pulled out tweeds, crêpes and silks – our mutual enthusiasm was infectious!
After we had taken cuttings from several rolls, I suggested that a few simple sketches to go with the swatches might help her client decide if I was the person she was looking for. Unbeknown to me, that was the start of our Royal journey.
Shortly afterwards I heard from Angela, who told me that her client liked four fabrics in particular: would it be possible for me to do sketches for each one?
I produced a pile of sketches offering three or four alternatives for each of the selected fabrics and waited for Angela to collect them. A week or so later she telephoned, delighted to tell me that her client had chosen several outfits, and she could now reveal that she herself was Senior Dresser to The Queen. She asked if I would like to make clothes for Her Majesty. After a few seconds’ disbelief I replied with an enthusiastic ‘Yes!’
In the early days, on occasion there might be an urgent request, and the lack of technology in our studio meant that we’d sometimes have to fax a design to Angela’s office to be discussed over the phone. As our relationship developed, Angela would often come to the studio – we later moved to a larger sewing room in West London – and we’d have fun as I proposed fabric combinations, buttons and trims. I would make preliminary sketches, Angela inspiring me with ideas that Her Majesty might like.
By now Angela, who had been creating off-duty clothes for Her Majesty, had started designing more formal outfits with a team of seamstresses at the Palace. I would often pop along to the in-house workroom and offer a helping hand to ease the process along, sometimes suggesting different techniques, interlinings, and other tricks of the trade. Over coffee in her office, Angela would show me her latest finds – such as exquisite laces and embroideries that she’d sourced on her travels and at shops such as London’s Joel & Son. We would drape the beautiful fabrics on stands, coming up with ideas for gowns for Her Majesty. No one knows better than Angela Kelly what is required of a Royal wardrobe, and it makes my end of the process so much easier. While sketching and choosing the ideas to put before Her Majesty, it’s been fascinating to see how Angela’s guiding hand often tends towards a bolder, more glamorous look.
At Joel & Son Fabrics.
These days we often meet at Joel’s as soon as they have their latest collection in stock to select prints that we will propose to Her Majesty. Often we find we’ve chosen the same design. We know, though, that either of us will come up with something fabulous for Her Majesty to wear.
Angela not only creates many wonderful outfits, she’s responsible for The Queen’s complete look. It’s fun to be shown into her millinery workroom, where, under Angela’s watchful eye, Stella McLaren creates so many of the eye-catching hats that Her Majesty now wears.
In fact, on several occasions we’ve worked as a team. Between us, we created the outfit The Queen wore for Prince Harry’s wedding: I designed several options for the coat and dress from the stunning silks Angela had chosen for the event, while Angela created the show-stopping hat that finished the iconic outfit.
We share so many fantastic memories of our times together from the start of our working relationship – when I had no idea who Angela was or who she worked for – to the present day.
When I look back at some of the iconic outfits we have both created, I feel such pride in what Angela and I have achieved.
Me and my pal at Joel & Son in 2019.
The Queen, wearing a Stewart Parvin outfit, with The Duke of Edinburgh during Trooping the Colour in 2016.
The Queen at the State Opening of Parliament in 2014.
Crowning Glory
During my twenty-five years of working closely with Her Majesty The Queen, I am lucky enough to have travelled to some of the most amazing places in the world. But one moment in particular makes me emotional every time: the sight of The Queen putting on her Imperial State Crown at the annual State Opening of Parliament. It is a truly special moment for me, and I am so privileged to play a small part in it. Whenever I see Her Majesty in a Diadem or a tiara, I am composed, but when she puts on the crown, it touches my heart.
We are alone behind the privacy screen in the Robing Room in the Houses of Parliament just before The Queen enters the Chamber to make her speech on behalf of her government. We are silent and serious, concentrating hard, and The Queen is deep in thought. When I have positioned the State Robe on her shoulders, she takes the crown off its cushion, and I watch as The Queen raises it above her head. The magnificence of that moment takes my breath away every time. I watch in awe while I wait for her to secure it. Then Her Majesty turns, gives me a smile, and lets me know that she’s ready to go. And for a moment, I am speechless. Luckily I don’t need to say anything and The Queen always says thank you, and I smile back.
The Queen has seen my emotions get the better of me quite a few times. This happens particularly at special events, such as when I dress Her Majesty for important events and State occasions. Once The Queen has the robe on and places the crown on her head, I feel so proud to be serving Her Majesty in such a unique position. Normally The Queen rolls her eyes and playfully tuts at me when she sees my eyes fill up! Even after all these years, I still find it overwhelming to watch her lift the crown. It is the ultimate reminder of just how lucky I am to be in the presence of The Sovereign, Her Majesty The Queen.
