Royal Dresser Angela Kelly Reportedly Witnessed Incident the Sussexes Hope Never Becomes Public

The latest edition of the Daily Mail’s Palace Confidential has revealed that a new film about the close bond between the late Queen Elizabeth II and her longtime dresser Angela Kelly may be in the works.

Diary Editor Richard Eden broke the news during the royal discussion, suggesting that screenwriter Jeremy Brock could be developing the script.

Brock is known for co-creating the BBC medical drama Casualty and writing A Very Royal Scandal, the Prime Video production focused on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s ill-fated Newsnight interview.

Fox Searchlight is reportedly behind the project, although it remains unclear whether Kelly, now 68, is directly involved. Palace Confidential’s panel noted that presenting the story as a feature drama, rather than a documentary, could give Kelly more scope to participate.

Kelly has long been regarded as an influential and colourful presence within royal circles. Born into a working-class family in Liverpool, she built a career at Buckingham Palace through her expertise as a dresser, eventually becoming the Queen’s Personal Assistant and the official curator of her wardrobe.

She also became associated with the so-called Tiaragate dispute after Prince Harry alleged in his memoir Spare that Kelly had prevented Meghan from accessing her wedding tiara before a scheduled hair trial.

“Angela Kelly is a remarkably compelling character,” Eden said during the Palace Confidential discussion.

He recalled that the Queen had compared Kelly to a sister, while also describing her as fiercely outspoken. Among some courtiers, she was reportedly known as “AK-47” — a reference to her initials and her forceful personality.

Following the Queen’s death, Kelly was rapidly moved from her grace-and-favour residence, a decision that was said to have left her deeply unhappy.

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Eden said there were suggestions the film could offer a highly accurate account of events. “It is significant,” he noted, pointing to Kelly’s reportedly heated clashes with Harry and Meghan and Harry’s particularly critical treatment of her in Spare.

In his memoir, Harry portrayed Kelly as a “troublemaker” and made clear that he disliked the extent to which she had access to, and influence over, his grandmother.

According to Eden, the film is currently being referred to by the working title Trouble — a name that may deliberately echo Harry’s description of Kelly.

Charlotte Griffiths, the Mail on Sunday’s Editor at Large, joked that Harry might be “quaking in his boots” at the prospect of the drama reaching screens.

“When it comes to Spare, Angela witnessed a great deal during Tiaragate,” Griffiths said. “There is apparently another episode from that period which some people are desperately hoping will not appear in the film.”

Daily Mail Royal Editor Rebecca English added that some members of the Royal household reportedly resented the level of influence Kelly held with the Queen.

English also said Kelly was deeply hurt by how swiftly she was moved on after the Queen died at the age of 96.

“The Queen trusted her completely,” English said, adding that Kelly played a major role in reshaping the monarch’s style over the years. She also recalled that Kelly would massage the Queen’s feet after long and tiring days.

‘She was controversial, she was forthright, like a lot of people who work within the palaces. They become quite possessive of their fiefdom and they guard it quite jealously.

‘I had a story at the time [of the Queen’s death] that they effectively changed the locks so she couldn’t get back in. They ushered her out pretty blooming quickly.

‘She was so intrinsic in the household, they wanted her out basically.’

Watch the full breakdown of what the Angela Kelly film could mean for the Sussexes by subscribing to Palace Confidential on YouTube.