Angela Kelly spotted for first time since Queen’s death

The Queen’s personal dresser and close confidante Angela Kelly paid a sweet tribute to Her Majesty today as she arrived at Westminster Abbey for her funeral.

Despite being a trusted aide, the docker’s daughter from Liverpool has been noticeably absent from last week’s public mourning period.

Breaking cover with a smile as she arrived at the Abbey today, Angela wore a classic silhouette often sported by Her Majesty as she said her last goodbye to the woman she served for nearly 30 years.

The Queen’s personal dresser and close confidante Angela Kelly paid a sweet tribute to Her Majesty today as she arrived at Westminster Abbey for her funeral

Despite being a trusted aide, the docker's daughter from Liverpool has been noticeably absent from last week's public mourning period. Breaking cover with a smile as she arrived at the Abbey today, Angela wore a classic silhouette often sported by Her Majesty as she said her last goodbye to the woman she served for nearly 30 years

Despite being a trusted aide, the docker’s daughter from Liverpool has been noticeably absent from last week’s public mourning period. Breaking cover with a smile as she arrived at the Abbey today, Angela wore a classic silhouette often sported by Her Majesty as she said her last goodbye to the woman she served for nearly 30 years

Angela had started working at the Royal Household in 1994 as an Assistant Dresser, yet by the time of the Queen’s death, had risen to be indispensable.

The meticulously organised dresser kept track of which of the monarch’s outfits and accessories were worn on each occasion.

She was even entrusted with keeping track of the priceless jewels. It’s possible she prepared the clothes in which Her Majesty will be buried. 

The pair were even known to exchange light-hearted banter with each other, as the Queen once jokingly told her dresser ‘you’re sacked’ during a trip to Australia.

Angela had started working at the Royal Household in 1994 as an Assistant Dresser, yet by the time of the Queen's death, had risen to be indispensable

Angela had started working at the Royal Household in 1994 as an Assistant Dresser, yet by the time of the Queen’s death, had risen to be indispensable

The meticulously organised dresser (pictured today at the funeral) kept track of which of the monarch's outfits and accessories were worn on each occasion

The meticulously organised dresser (pictured today at the funeral) kept track of which of the monarch’s outfits and accessories were worn on each occasion

Angela was even entrusted with keeping track of the priceless jewels. It's possible she prepared the clothes in which Her Majesty will be buried

Angela was even entrusted with keeping track of the priceless jewels. It’s possible she prepared the clothes in which Her Majesty will be buried

The Queen's personal dresser pictured at the funeral. The UK's most important church, packed with 2,000 VIPs including prime ministers, presidents and the Queen's family, was serene aside from the sound of hymns and prayers in a funeral service Her Majesty has curated herself before she died

The Queen’s personal dresser pictured at the funeral. The UK’s most important church, packed with 2,000 VIPs including prime ministers, presidents and the Queen’s family, was serene aside from the sound of hymns and prayers in a funeral service Her Majesty has curated herself before she died

Her Majesty made her final and saddest journey to Westminster Abbey from Westminster Hall as Britain mourned its longest-serving monarch. Angela pictured leaving the Abbey

Her Majesty made her final and saddest journey to Westminster Abbey from Westminster Hall as Britain mourned its longest-serving monarch. Angela pictured leaving the Abbey

Angela once revealed she played a prank on The Queen with a toy kookaburra during a tour Down Under in 2006.

The Queen had told her about the bird and how it ‘makes a sound you will never forget’ and that they would likely see ‘many’ of them on their trip.

But after failing to see or hear one, Mrs Kelly bought a stuffed toy kookaburra in a market in Sydney and put it outside the Queen’s room in a little cage.

Mrs Kelly told the anecdote in her book The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, The Dresser and the Wardrobe, which was published in 2019.

‘I went to open the cage doors and she said loudly, “No, don’t do that. It will fly away,” and was behind me in a flash. I went to the bird, picked it up and solemnly told her it was dead,’ she recalled.

‘She looked horrified as I walked towards her and as she took the bird from my hands she realised I had been winding her up. It was really a stuffed toy!

Angela had started working at the Royal Household in 1994 as an Assistant Dresser, yet by the time of the Queen's death, had risen to be indispensable (pictured right, alongside Vogue editor Anna Wintour)

Angela had started working at the Royal Household in 1994 as an Assistant Dresser, yet by the time of the Queen’s death, had risen to be indispensable (pictured right, alongside Vogue editor Anna Wintour)

‘”April Fool,”‘ I said with a mischievous grin on my face, and she had only two words for me: “You’re sacked.”‘

King Charles III and his grief-stricken family have surrounded the Queen’s coffin at her state funeral in Westminster Abbey in a moving and majestic farewell to the late monarch today.

Her Majesty made her final and saddest journey to Westminster Abbey from Westminster Hall as Britain mourned its longest-serving monarch and the royals bade goodbye to a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Her coffin was placed close to the altar with her crown, orb and sceptre on its top surrounded by flowers chosen by the King from gardens she loved. The Archbishop of Canterbury then hailed the Queen’s ‘abundant life and loving service’ as he delivered the sermon at her state funeral, adding: ‘She was joyful, present to so many, touching a multitude of lives.’

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard, being carried inside Westminster Abbey to its altar

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard, being carried inside Westminster Abbey to its altar

The wreath which adorns the Queen’s coffin includes flowers requested by King Charles. Cut from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Highgrove House, the flowers and foliage have been chosen for their symbolism

Prince Charles looked tearful while his sister looked at him with concern and care before fixing her own stare on her mother’s coffin and crown. 

The UK’s most important church, packed with 2,000 VIPs including prime ministers, presidents and the Queen’s family, was serene aside from the sound of hymns and prayers in a funeral service Her Majesty has curated herself before she died.

On an highly emotional occasion for Britain and the world, the Queen was carried in her oak coffin to the gun carriage used by her parents and was followed through Parliament Square by her son, the King, and her relatives including the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex. Andrew, the Duke of York, appeared to be crying. Outside  the Abbey an estimated 2million people are in central London along procession routes and watching on big screens.

The Royal Family stand and sing as they say goodbye to Britain’s beloved Queen

Princess Anne looks at her mother's coffin and the crown on the saddest of all days for Britain and the world

Princess Anne looks at her mother’s coffin and the crown on the saddest of all days for Britain and the world

The State Gun Carriage carrying the Queen’s coffin began its funeral procession from the Palace of Westminster to Westminster Abbey at around 10.45am, arriving just before 11am. A single toll from Big Ben signalled the start of the service at Westminster Abbey, where kings and queens have been crowned and buried since 1066. Her Majesty will be laid to rest at Windsor next to her beloved husband Prince Philip and her parents, George VI and the Queen Mother.

Despite the huge crowds, there was absolute silence as around 200 pipers and drummers of Scottish and Irish Regiments, the Brigade of Gurkhas and RAF played as the procession went through Parliament Square. The Queen’s own piper played a lament that echoed through the heart of London.

Walking behind the carriage were the King and his siblings, followed by the Prince of Wales, Duke of Sussex and Peter Phillips. The State Gun Carriage has also been previously used for the funerals of King Edward VII, King George V, King George VI, Winston Churchill, and Lord Mountbatten.

Meghan and Harry were sat directly behind the King and the Queen Consort

Meghan and Harry were sat directly behind the King and the Queen Consort

The view in Westminster Abbey above the Queen -  where she married and was crowned more than 70 years ago

The view in Westminster Abbey above the Queen –  where she married and was crowned more than 70 years ago

There was complete silence from the crowd close to Parliament Square, as the State Gun Carriage carrying the Queen’s coffin slowly moved past. The crowd, momentarily still and with phones held aloft to capture the moment, was around 10-people thick in places, as tens of thousands thronged the streets to say goodbye to the monarch and witness a moment of history.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte travelled to Westminster Abbey in the same car as the Queen Consort, with the Princess of Wales arriving with them. They arrived at the church shortly after some of the Queen’s grandchildren including Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

World leaders including Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron arrived at Westminster Abbey around an hour before the service began. The congregation of 2,000 sat in solemn silence as Her Majesty arrived. 

King Charles III and members of the royal family follow behind the coffin

King Charles III and members of the royal family follow behind the coffin

King Charles III, Camilla, the Queen Consort, Princess Anne, and her husband Vice Admiral Tim Laurence, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince William, and Kate, Princess of Wales with their children Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Britain's Prince Harry, and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, David Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowden, Peter Phillips, The Duke of Gloucester, Prince Michael of Kent and the Duke of Kent follow the coffin

King Charles III, Camilla, the Queen Consort, Princess Anne, and her husband Vice Admiral Tim Laurence, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Prince William, and Kate, Princess of Wales with their children Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Britain’s Prince Harry, and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, David Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowden, Peter Phillips, The Duke of Gloucester, Prince Michael of Kent and the Duke of Kent follow the coffin

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard, is carried inside Westminster Abbey

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II, draped in the Royal Standard, is carried inside Westminster Abbey

In his sermon at the state funeral of the Queen, the Archbishop of Canterbury has told mourners the ‘grief’ felt around the world over her death ‘arises from her abundant life and loving service’, adding: ‘She was joyful, present to so many, touching a multitude of lives.’

The Most Rev Justin Welby said: ‘People of loving service are rare in any walk of life. Leaders of loving service are still rarer. But in all cases those who serve will be loved and remembered when those who cling to power and privileges are forgotten. The grief of this day – felt not only by the late Queen’s family but all round the nation, Commonwealth and world – arises from her abundant life and loving service, now gone from us.’

He added: ‘We will all face the merciful judgement of God: we can all share the Queen’s hope which in life and death inspired her servant leadership. Service in life, hope in death. All who follow the Queen’s example, and inspiration of trust and faith in God, can with her say: ‘We will meet again.”

The Dean of Windsor gave the bidding, ahead of the first hymn, ‘The day thou gavest, Lord, is ended’, written by John Ellerton, and which evokes the image of one day, one era, leading into another.

He told the congregation: ‘Here, where Queen Elizabeth was married and crowned, we gather from across the nation, from the Commonwealth, and from the nations of the world, to mourn our loss, to remember her long life of selfless service, and in sure confidence to commit her to the mercy of God our maker and redeemer.’

The coffin of Queen Elizabeth II with the Imperial State Crown resting on top is carried by the Bearer Party into Westminster Abbey past the grave of the Unknown Soldier

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, stands next to King Charles, Anne, Princess Royal, and William, Prince of Wales, as they salute during the state funeral

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, stands next to King Charles, Anne, Princess Royal, and William, Prince of Wales, as they salute during the state funeral

The King and the royal family march to Westminster Abbey from Westminster Hall

The King and the royal family march to Westminster Abbey from Westminster Hall

The extraordinary scene in Westminster Abbey as the Queen

The extraordinary scene in Westminster Abbey as the Queen 

Princess Beatrice and Sarah Ferguson arrive at the Abbey

Princess Beatrice and Sarah Ferguson arrive at the Abbey

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