A fresh release in the royal literary canon suggests that King Charles III made a controversial move, deviating from royal tradition by asking Angela Kelly, a former aide to Queen Elizabeth II, to vacate her home in Windsor following the Queen's demise in September 2022.
The established protocol, known as the "grace-and-favour," usually allows seasoned royal employees to reside in the royal estate, reports Page Six. Kelly, who had been the Queen's personal assistant and chief dresser since 1994, had been provided with a cottage in Windsor Home Park. Her proximity to the royal family extended to having a room on the same floor as the Queen's private apartments in Augusta Tower.
Kelly's close-knit relationship with the late Queen is well-documented. "In the twilight years of Queen Elizabeth II, no one outside her immediate family was as intimately connected to her as Angela Kelly," reveals Valentine Low in his newly released book "Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown."
Low describes Kelly as the Queen's companion, confidante, and caregiver, despite her official designation as personal assistant, adviser, and curator.
Despite Kelly's expectation to retain her Windsor residence as a "grace-and-favour" recognition for her dedication, King Charles III reportedly had other plans. An unnamed source told Low, "Angela Kelly may not have been everyone's preference, but the King had no intention of leaving her without a roof over her head. The sense I got was that the King preferred not to have her as a neighbor."
Following negotiations, it was suggested that King Charles III would purchase a home for Kelly near Sheffield, England, allowing her to be closer to her grandchildren. Buckingham Palace has yet to comment on Low's revelations.
Kelly, who attended Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral in September 2022, confirmed in April that she was vacating her Windsor cottage. She posted on Instagram about her upcoming move, "Finally preparing to say farewell. My new home, finally, will be entirely mine."
Reports suggest that the move was a trade-off for Kelly's discretion regarding her past work as the Queen's aide, following the publication of her book, "The Other Side Of The Coin: The Queen, The Dresser And The Wardrobe," which King Charles III found too revealing. The book provides intimate accounts of Queen Elizabeth II, including her quiet solitude following Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021.
