A close friend of the late Queen Elizabeth II revealed intimate details about how the former monarch liked to wake herself up in the morning, and it involved some killer dance moves to the tune of Terry Wogan’s Radio 2 show. 

Angela Kelly, 68, was the Queen’s dresser for 25 years and reflected on their time spent together choosing outfits before her busy day of royal engagements started.

She explained that King Charles’s mother loved ABBA and would move “side to side” every time the band’s hit, ‘Dancing Queen’, would come on the radio and that the pair had great fun together. 

Angela first started at Buckingham Palace as an assistant dresser in 1994, and slowly climbed the ranks to become the Queen’s most trusted advisor. She eventually became her personal assistant and senior dresser in 2002.

During her first interview reflecting on her time with the late monarch since her death aged 96 in 2022, Angela opened up about their special morning times and explained how they danced while getting ready. 

“When the song came on, she loved it, and both of us would dance. The queen would move from side to side and sing. Her Majesty loved singing and had a good voice. I didn’t. 

“I’d get carried away and be dancing all round her like I was at a disco, and the Queen would tell me to ‘move over’ because I can’t sing, and we laughed. They were moments to cherish, to see the queen so relaxed,” she told Vanity Fair. 

The late Queen Elizabeth II loved to wake up and dance to Radio 2 © PA Images via Getty ImagesThe late Queen Elizabeth II loved to wake up and dance to Radio 2
A domestic Queen 

Angela was with the late Queen right up until her death four years ago and shared a rare insight into what she was like at home, behind closed doors. 

The former dresser revealed that the monarch loved her role as a grandmother and said she was a “really cool granny” to her many grandchildren, which included Prince William and Prince Harry. 

Angela Kelly was the Queen's personal assistant and dresser for 25 years © Getty ImagesAngela Kelly was the Queen’s personal assistant and dresser for 25 years

She added details about Her late Majesty’s hosting skills and revealed: “She did barbecues and fun things and she always washed the dishes, even when she was entertaining the Prime Minister.

“If the Duke, or whoever was cooking, burned the burgers, she’d just laugh. The Queen was just full of energy and a really cool granny, to be honest.” 

The pair were great friends and spent their first moments each day having fun © POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesThe pair were great friends and spent their first moments each day having fun

Angela also said that the palace would be full of “fluffy chicks and chocolate eggs” during Easter time, further demonstrating how seriously she took her role as a grandmother to the future king and his siblings and cousins. 

Holographer Rob Munday exclusively shared stories of the ladies’ unique friendship with HELLO! and said: “The rapport between Angela Kelly and the Queen was unbelievable and you could just see the connection they had with each other. The Queen just totally trusted Angela to do whatever.”