November 6, 2024

Brighton Journal

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The house that King Charles bought for a friend of the late Queen

The house that King Charles bought for a friend of the late Queen

With its brick facade and plastic window frames, it is a far cry from the country house she enjoyed for years as the Queen's wardrobe.

But this £465,000 three-bedroom bungalow is where Angela Kelly, 66, one of Queen Elizabeth's closest confidants, can finally call home thanks to the King's generosity.

As the Department of Tourism reported last year, Ms Kelly was asked to leave her Grade II listed home on the Windsor estate within months of Her Majesty's death in 2022.

However, Charles decides to fulfill his mother's promise to provide lifelong housing for her dedicated employee by secretly purchasing a house.

Angela Kelly (66 years old) was one of the closest confidants of the late Queen Elizabeth
The house in Yorkshire that King Charles bought for Lady Kelly, who was the late Queen's dress designer and personal assistant

Believed to be part of a deal preventing Kelly from sharing royal secrets, the 1980s-style property is located 160 miles from Berkshire in the Peak District and has stunning views of rolling hills.

It is believed the estate, paid entirely from the royal family's Coutts bank account, will revert to the Crown when Ms Kelly dies.

Although it may be a downscale version of her historic home in Windsor, the bungalow includes a spacious lounge with gas fireplace, a cozy dining room and an open-plan kitchen.

Ms Kelly was asked to leave her Grade II listed cottage on the Windsor estate (pictured) within months of Her Majesty's death in 2022
Queen Elizabeth sits front row at a fashion show with Anna Wintour (third right), British Fashion Council CEO Caroline Rush (left) and royal fashion designer Lady Kelly (second right) in 2018

Ms Kelly has published two books about working for Her Majesty, and it is understood she has received the Queen's permission to write a third.

But while providing her with a home, a senior palace aide working on behalf of the king provided a non-disclosure agreement as part of the deal.

A source familiar with the NDA called it a “gagging order” that banned Wardrobe from using the words “king” and “palace” for commercial purposes.

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The late Queen adored Ms. Kelly, and in 2018 she joined her and Vogue editor Anna Wintour at London Fashion Week.

Appointed to the Victorian monarchy in 2012, she was among a handful of personal staff alongside the Queen during her final days. But Kelly often incurred the wrath of her colleagues, and was nicknamed “AK-47” because of her temper.

When she returned to Windsor after the Queen's death, carrying bags of Her Majesty's belongings, the locks on the castle's royal apartments were changed, ending her unrestricted access.

In May last year, Kelly was photographed packing up her quaint home for a new life up north, looking overcome with emotion.