The late Queen had a deep and personal desire for a unique photo, something she shared only with her close friend and personal dresser, Angela Kelly, several years ago. Angela, known for her creativity and understanding of the Queen’s preferences, saw a moment to fulfill this wish and decided to make it happen.
Over her nearly 70-year reign, the late Queen was widely recognized as one of the most photographed women globally. Whether attending public engagements or posing for formal portraits, she was frequently in front of a camera. In her official images, the Queen almost always presented herself with a dignified, formal demeanor, which lent a certain gravitas to these portraits.
However, according to Angela Kelly, who was not only her personal dresser but also a trusted confidante, the Queen had a secret desire to pose for a different kind of photograph—one that was considered unconventional or even inappropriate for someone of her status. The Queen wanted to be photographed in a more relaxed, casual pose, like standing with her hands in her pockets.
There were indications that the Queen Mother and advisors to Queen Elizabeth II were against such a photo, considering it unbefitting of the monarchy. Yet, when Angela was working on her first book, *Dressing the Queen*, she came up with a thoughtful plan. She saw this as an opportunity to fulfill the Queen’s wish. In her later book, *The Other Side of the Coin*, Angela recounts, “I wondered if I might have a wonderful opportunity to make the Queen’s wish come true.”
Angela approached the Queen cautiously, asking if she would do her a favor by posing with her hands in her pockets for a photograph to be included in the book. To Angela’s surprise, the Queen was intrigued. “The Queen looked at me in amazement as I asked whether she knew the implications of the photographs,” Angela recalled. The Queen agreed almost immediately, and Angela set about organizing the photo session.
On the day of the shoot, photographer Barry Jeffery began discussing with the Queen the type of images he aimed to capture. But Angela noted that the Queen took control of the situation, signaling politely that she knew exactly how she wanted to be photographed.
Angela described the scene vividly: “Her Majesty positioned herself in front of the camera and started to strike various poses, casually slipping her hands in and out of her pockets, placing them on her hips, and even mimicking the poses of a professional model. I watched in awe—the Queen was a natural. Barry and I felt we were witnessing something truly special, a moment that would never happen again.”
Despite the success of the photoshoot and the Queen’s evident enjoyment, when it came time to publish Angela’s book, some of the more candid photographs were left out. Angela explained that officials from the Royal Collection were worried that these relaxed images could undermine the dignity of the monarchy and might “bring the Monarchy down,” so they were not included in the final publication.
