Queen to rely on personal assistant in wake of close friend's death

The Queen's personal assistant, with whom she shares an intimate bond, is expected to support her in the aftermath of her close friend's death. 

• The Queen's personal assistant, Angela Kelly, is expected to support the monarch in the wake of her two close friends' recent deaths. 
• The 64-year-old, who has worked as the Queen's dresser for over two decades, will likely be on standby to comfort the grieving monarch during this difficult period. 
• In other royal news, Prince William quick to ‘stamp out’ other people’s ‘triggering’ treatment of Kate Middleton.
  

Her Majesty will likely be supported by her personal assistant and dresser, Angela Kelly, as she recovers from the deaths of her two close friends. 

The Queen was left in mourning after Lady Farnham, her confidant and lady-in-waiting, died aged 90 on 29 December. Diana Maxwell had worked for the monarch since 1987, regularly accompanying her on royal tours and attending state events such as the Opening of Parliament. Her passing came just a month after the Queen suffered heartbreaking grief over the death of the Duchess of Grafton, another longstanding member of Her Majesty's ladies-in-waiting team. 

It's understood that the Queen, who spent her first Christmas without Prince Philip at Windsor Castle last week, will now rely on her personal assistant for comfort and company during this difficult time. 

"Interestingly, the present Queen’s principal confidantes are probably her dresser, Angela Kelly, and her groom, Terry Pendry, who in the hierarchy of the Royal Household are classed as servants," royal correspondent Camilla Tominey wrote in the Telegraph. 

Angela Kelly, 64, has worked as the Queen's chief dresser for 25 years, curating the Head of State's iconic style for all royal engagements. Not only does she live on the grounds of Windsor Castle, she reportedly sees the 95-year-old almost every single day. It's understood that Her Majesty strongly trusts the Liverpudlian dressmaker's taste, often asking for her opinion during those all-important wardrobe fittings. 

Unlike Lady Farnham and the Duchess of Grafton, who rarely joined the Queen as she got ready in her secret quarters, Kelly played a major part in the preparations stage. 

"This intimacy arises because while ladies-in-waiting do not spend much time on the other side of the door into the Private Apartments, or ride out with their employer in the park, servants do," Tominey explained. 

While Kelly is officially employed as a 'servant' of the royal household, it's understood that the Queen has grown to regard her as family over the years. The monarch reportedly once said, "We could be sisters", in reference to her relationship with the esteemed British milliner. 

As well as ensuring Her Majesty always looks polished, Kelly is also responsible for optimizing the monarch's comfort. The Queen's secret trick to walking at royal engagements can be owed to the nifty designer, who has volunteered to break in her boss's shoes on multiple occasions in the past. Now that's what we call a true friend.