The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe

Written by Angela Kelly

Narrated by Angela Kelly

When Angela Kelly and The Queen are together, laughter echoes through the corridors of Buckingham Palace. Angela has worked with The Queen and walked the corridors of the Royal Household for twenty-five years, initially as Her Majesty’s Senior Dresser and then latterly as Her Majesty’s Personal Advisor, Curator, Wardrobe and In-house Designer. As the first person in history to hold this title, she shares a uniquely close working relationship with The Queen.

In The Other Side of the Coin, The Queen has personally given Angela her blessing to share their extraordinary bond with the world. Whether it’s preparing for a formal occasion or brightening Her Majesty’s day with a playful joke, Angela’s priority is to serve and support. Sharing charming anecdotes of their time spent together, this revealing book provides memorable insights into what it’s like to work closely with The Queen, to curate her wardrobe and to discover a true and lasting connection along the way.

‘The book documents the unique working relationship between Her Majesty The Queen and the woman who has been her Personal Assistant and Senior Dresser for more than two decades: Angela Kelly. It gives a rare insight into the demands of the job of supporting the Monarch, and we gain privileged insight into a successful working relationship, characterized by humor, creativity, hard work, and a mutual commitment to service and duty. Angela is a talented and inspiring woman, who has captured the highlights of her long career with The Queen for us all to share.’

–Samantha Cohen, Assistant Private Secretary to The Queen (2011–2018)

‘For the nearly seven decades of her reign, Her Majesty The Queen has used clothing to create a powerful visual identity that transcends fashion and has made her perhaps the most readily identifiable person on the planet. Angela Kelly, building on the work of the great designers and milliners who have worked with Her Majesty through the years – including couturiers Sir Norman Hartnell, Sir Hardy Amies, and Ian Thomas, and milliners such as Simone Mirman and Freddy Fox – brings her own imagination to bear on an iconic ‘uniform’ that suggests continuity and tradition, and ensures that the wearer is always the most visible person in a room or a crowd.’

–Anna Wintour, Vogue

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Oct 29, 2019
• ISBN: 9780063006577

Angela Kelly

Angela Kelly lvo is Personal Advisor, Curator and Senior Dresser to Her Majesty The Queen (The Queen’s Jewellery, Insignias and Wardrobe), as well as In-house Designer. Angela started working in the Royal Household in 1994 as an Assistant Dresser and shares with you her unique perspective on her working life with Her Majesty The Queen. Angela is also the author of the successful book Dressing The Queen, which celebrated The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Reviews for The Other Side of the Coin

[grace · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It really does gives you a view of what’s in the other side of the coin. Seems like you’re there With them from decision making for the queen’s outfit up until being a spectator in the event. A lot of things you get to know about anything that’s royal that you don’t usually see in movies or TV. I like this book.

[ahef1963 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I've not bought myself a hardcover British Royal Family-related book in several years, so I was excited about this one, and then quickly disappointed.The photos are lovely. The two and a half stars cover my liking of photos of Her Majesty the Queen that I'd not seen before. The lack of further stars is for the writing, which is puerile. Nothing new about the Queen is revealed in this book, and it is dull and irritating prose. Even I, a monarchist from when I took my first breath, was nauseated by the amount of lavish and free-flowing grovelling at the feet of Her Majesty. Recommendation: find a copy at the library or a bookstore, leaf through the pretty pictures, close the book, don't borrow or buy it.

[clue_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Angela Kelly was her Majesty's dresser for twenty-five years. As she points out, she didn't dress the Queen, the Queen could dress herself! Instead Kelly managed the Queen's wardrobe, selected or suggested what the Queen would wear whether for a normal work day or for an event, selected fabrics for new clothes, and eventually designed them. Although all of those things were interesting, what I liked most was learning about the warm relationship and mutual respect the two had for each other.

[salsabrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A fascinating account by the Queen's personal dresser and designer. Who knew that so much exacting detail happens in the background leading up to the Queen's public appearances? Afashionados and Anglophiles will pore over the color photos and descriptions of extraordinary hats, capes, dresses, formal wear and jewelry. The royals do not dress like you and me!

[cyderry · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I have to admit I was a bit disappointed by this book. It sounded as if it was an in depth story of the relationship between the Queen and her dresser (assistant) but that's not what came across. First of all, Angela Kelly, the dresser, may be absolutely sensational at choosing fabrics and designs for the Queen, but she is no writer. Secondly, there was very little narrative about interaction with the Queen, there was more about discussions with designers and other staff. So if you want to know about how the Queen's wardrobe is acquired/designed/made, this book would be just right, but if you wanted more about the personal side of the Queen, no.

[hobbitprincess · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Angela Kelly has dressed the Queen for many years, and she shares some of her experiences. The book has some beautiful photographs of the Queen, many that I've not seen before. I enjoyed getting a glimpse of what it is like behind the scenes with the Queen. It was obvious that all the stories are told through the lens of protecting the Queen, however, which only makes sense since the Queen endorsed the book, and Ms. Kelly would not do anything to put the Queen in a bad light since she honestly adores her. I guess I was hoping for more juicy facts, but while those are absent, the book is very good.