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Daily Mail
a day ago
- General
- Daily Mail
How Queen Elizabeth's dresser caused her to break royal protocol with 'very unusual suggestion' during visit to honour indigenous community
Renowned for her vibrant fashion sense, Queen Elizabeth II understood the powerful role clothing could play in diplomacy and cultural respect. She worked closely with her Personal Assistant and Senior Dresser of 25 years, Angela Kelly, to create outfits that were not only stylish but also deeply thoughtful and culturally sensitive. Her wardrobe was often a tribute to the country or community she was visiting - whether through a symbolic colour choice, meaningful embroidery or a carefully selected piece of jewellery. A memorable example of this was during her June 2010 visit to Canada, when she met with members of the Mi'kmaq, an indigenous community known as the 'People of the Dawn,' celebrated for their exquisite beadwork. In her book Dressing the Queen, Angela Kelly recounts the honour of collaborating with the Mi'kmaq for this special visit. 'In recognition of their unique beading skills, I asked the Chiefs if the oldest generation of skilled women would like to embellish the yellow jacket that I had planned for the Queen to wear on the occasion of her visit.' This suggestion was highly unorthodox as Elizabeth's outfits were usually kept confidential until the moment of their debut. However, Ms Kelly felt that making an exception was entirely justified. She writes: 'This was a very unusual suggestion, since the Queen's outfits are normally kept secret for maximum impact on the day, but I felt it was the right decision, as their knowledge of beading goes back hundreds of years.' After the tour discussions, Ms Kelly and her team returned to London, where they created a design for the collar and cuffs of the Queen's jacket. The fabric was then sent back to Canada for the Mi'kmaq artisans to adorn. Their response was enthusiastic. 'They took enormous pride in being asked to undertake this work and returned it to us quickly for the final making-up,' Ms Kelly shares. The result was a beautifully unique garment that reflected both royal elegance and indigenous craftsmanship - a meaningful gesture of mutual respect. To complete the look, the Queen wore a special maple leaf brooch, offering a patriotic nod to Canada. This particular piece, showcased for the first time on that visit, featured a spray of enamel maple leaves edged with diamonds. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh embarked on an eight-day tour of Canada, starting in Halifax and ending in Toronto. Despite being greeted by light showers, Queen Elizabeth remained characteristically composed and elegant, wearing a classic trench coat, wide-brimmed hat and transparent umbrella, trimmed in the same cheerful yellow as the jacket she would later reveal The visit coincided with the centenary celebrations of the Canadian Navy and the marking of Canada Day - an occasion rich in national pride and pageantry. Despite being greeted by light showers, Queen Elizabeth remained characteristically composed. She stepped off the plane wearing a classic trench coat, teamed with a wide-brimmed hat and a transparent umbrella, trimmed in the same cheerful yellow as the jacket she would later reveal. The weather did little to dampen the Queen's spirits - her face lit with a radiant smile that reflected her genuine delight at being in Canada.
Telegraph
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
The late Queen's most meaningful outfits are getting a new lease of life
' Never complain, never explain ' is a motto that has become synonymous with the late Queen Elizabeth II. Yet one way in which she did convey a surprising amount was through her wardrobe, using it to win favour in the countries she visited, to pay homage to her ancestry, or even to subtly communicate her political leanings. Now the influence of the people behind the monarch's wardrobe – the Designer, the Milliner and the Dresser – are the subject of a new play. Described by the playwright Daisy Goodwin as an 'emotional journey in 12 dresses', By Royal Appointment, which opens at the Bath Playhouse today, looks at how the late Queen's wardrobe was decided on behind the scenes. Particular focus is given to the late Queen's Dresser, Angela Kelly, and the considerable influence that she exerted as one of Her Majesty's closest confidantes – quite the feat for a working class girl from Liverpool. For costume designer Jonathan Fensom, it was a full circle moment, after he wrote his university thesis on the 'mute monarch', and what she was trying to communicate with what she wore. 'I don't think she was particularly interested in fashion per se, but everything was symbolic,' he explains. 'She wanted to create a sense of continuity within her own reign, and the longer it went on the more important that became.' Here, we decode eight of the outfits featured in the play and what the late Queen was trying to communicate with each of them. A fashion-forward choice for Prince Charles's Investiture, 1969 The first look focused on in the play is the pale primrose yellow ensemble and Tudor-style gable hat she wore to her son Prince Charles's Investiture as the Prince of Wales. 'From Daisy's point of view, it was the first really iconic outfit that everybody remembers who was around at that time,' explains Fensom. 'When the hat arrived we were all looking at it like an ancient treasure, because it's the most extraordinary shape.' Made by French milliner Simone Mirman (who created pieces for Christian Dior, Hardy Amies and Norman Hartnell), the hat was both a callback to when the Prince of Wales was first invested, and the fashion of the time, which had been heavily inspired by the success of Renaissance films like Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet. 'Lord Snowdon designed the ceremony, and he wanted to be a bit fashionable about it,' explains Fensom. 'When you look at the Queen's dress, it looks very Pierre Cardin.' Parisian chic to say goodbye to the Duke of Windsor, 1972 For her state visit to France in 1972, the late Queen commissioned her go-to designers, Norman Hartnell and Hardy Amies, to create a series of chic looks. During the trip, she took a brief detour from official duty to visit her dying uncle, the disgraced Duke of Windsor, at his home Villa Windsor just outside of Paris. She chose a chic jacquard coat for the occasion, no doubt keenly aware of both her uncle and his wife's fastidious approach to fashion. In a particularly touching move, the Duke reportedly fully dressed for his niece's visit, despite the great pain it would have caused him. Pretty in pink at her Silver Jubilee, 1977 It would be easy to think that the late Queen's choice of a Hardy Amies baby pink dress and matching hat for her Silver Jubilee was inconsequential. Yet as ever with the late royal, it was a sartorial Easter egg of sorts. That's because Her Majesty was subtly referencing the last Jubilee that she had attended – the Silver Jubilee of her grandfather, King George V in 1935 – when she had worn pink as a little girl. 'When the Queen asked for it to be made in pink, they first came back with a bubblegum pink version,' shares Fensom. 'Then she said, no, she wanted it to be the same shade as at her grandfather's Silver Jubilee.' It kickstarted something of a trend, with pink becoming a popular colour for members of the Royal Family to wear at subsequent Jubilees. At the Platinum Jubilee in 2022, Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Lady Sarah Chatto and Lady Frederick Windsor all wore variations of the shade. Black for her 'annus horribilis', 1992 1992 was a bad year for the late Queen on all accounts. Windsor Castle was severely damaged by a fire, Prince Charles and Princess Diana separated, and the Duchess of York was caught getting her toes sucked by a man that was not her husband Prince Andrew, the Duke of York. During a speech she gave at the Guildhall to mark 40 years since her accession, she famously dubbed it her 'annus horribilis'. Rather uncharacteristically, she chose to wear all black for the occasion, looking almost as if she was in mourning – perhaps indicating a flair for the dramatic. Royal purple at Prince Edward's wedding, 1999 In the years after joining the late Queen's staff, her Dresser, Angela Kelly, was credited with giving Her Majesty an image overhaul, adding some much-needed glamour to the wardrobe of the nation's grandmother. Case in point is the elegant lilac gown that the late Queen wore for the 1999 wedding of her youngest son, Prince Edward. Featuring sheer sleeves, elaborate beading on the bodice and a pleated skirt, and accessorised with her trademark gloves and a playful feathered fascinator, it was certainly more daring than what she wore to her elder children's weddings, though theirs had been much more high profile affairs of course. Emerald for a groundbreaking visit to the Republic of Ireland, 2011 When the late Queen visited other countries, she would often nod to their heritage via a symbolic brooch or colour palette that matched the flag. But on certain occasions, she also used her look to launch a more significant charm offensive. Such was the case in 2011, when she became the first monarch in over a century to visit the Republic of Ireland. Selecting an emerald green colour palette, she made her intention for friendship clear from the moment she stepped off the plane, immediately dispelling any anguish over the visit. For the state banquet at Dublin Castle later that evening, she changed into a specially made gown with particular significance, as Kelly described in her book: 'The Queen was very specific in her guidance: The gown featured more than two thousand silk shamrocks especially designed for the dress and sewn by hand.' The 'Brexit' hat, 2017 In 2017 the late Queen made headlines after arriving at the Opening of Parliament wearing a bright blue dress coat and a matching hat, which also featured yellow floral embellishment, thought to resemble the EU flag. Coming as it did just a few months after the Brexit vote, the monarch's choice of colour palette looked to symbolise a warmth towards Europe and even the suggestion that she would not have voted to leave. 'I think she had become very brave with her fashion then,' says Fensom. 'Because it was so obvious, wasn't it?' In a kilt and a cardigan in her last photograph, 2022 It is perhaps fitting that in her final image as monarch, the late Queen looked the most authentically herself, wearing a kilt, blouse and cardigan and carrying her signature Launer handbag for a day of meetings at her beloved Scottish summer home, Balmoral. While the actress playing the late Queen, 90-year-old Anne Reid, doesn't change into every costume featured (instead they are shown on mannequins), Fensom says there was a poignancy to showing her in this one. 'It's what everyone remembers as the last thing they saw her in,' he says.
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The real reason Queen Elizabeth's Diamond jubilee outfit took two years to make - and the clever rain-proof detail it came with
In June 2012, one of the most dazzling highlights of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee celebrations unfolded on the River Thames. A spectacular river pageant set a world record, with 1,000 vessels sailing from Battersea to Tower Bridge - marking one of the largest flotillas ever assembled in London. Despite the rain, tens of thousands of well-wishers lined the banks of the Thames to witness the grand maritime procession. A vibrant display of rowboats, working boats and pleasure vessels of every shape and size, all adorned in their finest regalia, brought the river to life. As always, Queen Elizabeth II made a striking sartorial statement. Her outfit for the occasion - almost two years in the making - was a collaborative masterpiece led by her senior dresser, Angela Kelly, and her team. Ms Kelly found inspiration in the grandeur of Queen Elizabeth I's wardrobe and tailored the ensemble to suit both the historic event and the royal barge's vibrant setting. In her book Dressing the Queen, Ms Kelly shares: 'I thought about the sort of costumes that Queen Elizabeth I used to wear, which were often richly jewelled on a white background. 'White was also important because I knew that on board the barge the Queen would be surrounded by strong reds on the carpets, upholstery and canopy.' For this unique occasion, Elizabeth wore a white bouclé dress with a matching coat, intricately embroidered in silver, gold and ivory spots, and adorned with Swarovski crystals to reflect the water. The coat was finished with a silk organza frilled trim, which also served a practical purpose in the inclement weather. Her coordinating hat featured a swept-up brim and was crafted from the same fabric as the coat. It was further embellished with hand-dyed feathers - coloured at Buckingham Palace by a member of Ms Kelly's team - and more silk organza and crystals, giving it a distinctive and regal flair. Unfazed by the dreary weather, Elizabeth appeared in high spirits. Kelly reflects: 'We never imagined that the weather would turn out so badly, but I am glad that we gave the Queen some protection from the wind and rain with the frill that ran round the coat's neckline and down its front, and the matching white cashmere pashmina.' The overall ensemble evoked the image of Britannia, a fitting tribute to the sovereign of a great maritime nation. Camilla, then Duchess of Cornwall, complemented the Queen in an elegant cream outfit designed by Anna Valentine, paired with a hat by Philip Treacy. In contrast, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, stood out in a vivid red Alexander McQueen dress - originally from the brand's pre-Fall 2011 collection. The dress was modified with sleeves and a longer hemline to suit royal protocol. She completed her look with a floral hat by Sylvia Fletcher for Lock & Co. The Royal Family made their journey aboard the Spirit of Chartwell, a barge lavishly decorated with gilded carvings and adorned with 10,000 fresh flowers. As the flotilla neared Tower Bridge, the rain intensified, yet the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Royal College of Music Chamber Choir continued their programme of patriotic music to the very end. That memorable day also marked the public launch of the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, a charitable initiative focused on supporting good causes across the UK and the Commonwealth, with a particular focus on young people.
Daily Mail
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Queen Elizabeth's best style secret - and why Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton should take note
Famed for her vibrant wardrobe and iconic accessories, Queen Elizabeth was the epitome of elegance - always impeccably dressed, with not a single crease in sight. Every public appearance was marked by flawless presentation thanks to a meticulous approach to fabric selection, as revealed by Angela Kelly - her senior dresser of nearly 30 years - in her book Dressing The Queen.
