Inside the ‘Windsor bubble’
She’s the Queen’s dressmaker and confidante, and during COVID isolated with Her Majesty in Windsor Castle. In this new chapter of her memoir, Angela Kelly reveals the quiet joys and private heartache of that time.
In2020, when we returned from Sandringham to London in February, as we do every year, we knew that the coronavirus had taken hold of not just the United Kingdom, but the world. We headed for the usual weekend at Windsor Castle, and while we were there The Queen was advised that the situation was changing rapidly. Her Majesty and the Household sat tight at Windsor watching developments unfold. The Queen’s spring engagements were being reviewed but my normal duties remained the same, and I was waiting to hear what the outcome would be so I could make a plan of action.
Eventually the day came in March when the Prime Minister informed the country that we were going into a national lockdown. This is when a
The Australian Women’s Weekly bubble was formed by the Master of the Household, Sir Tony JohnstoneBurt, to reduce the number of staff on duty by more than half, in order to create a safe environment for
The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. The Royal Household and staff had to isolate for two weeks in a separate part of the Castle before they entered the bubble. This period wasn’t easy for anyone; we wore masks and did everything we had to do to take precautions.
Dedication to service
At a time when freedom had been taken away from us all, I felt that it was even more important to isolate myself further – I would never have forgiven myself if I had passed COVID on to The Queen. So I moved into Windsor Castle and stayed by her side for two years, without a day off. My incredible team also withdrew behind the Castle walls by choice, and we were constantly on duty except for a couple of hours in the afternoon, when we could walk in the private Home Park or catch up on our work emails.
Their dedication to their job and The Queen means everything. For those working in Windsor, staff outside the bubble would isolate for two weeks in another part of the Castle prior to coming on duty. Meals were delivered to the Lancaster Tower kitchen, where they were received with glee, as food became a highlight of isolation. A WhatsApp group was set up between those in the bubble and those in isolation waiting to join
us. A warning was put into the group when food was en route or being collected so staff could stay off the corridors and therefore minimise contact between each other. Once the meal was finished the household chores began and a rota was set up to share the washing up and drying. It was a fantastic system that was implemented by the Master of the Household.
The Pipe Major was outside of the bubble, but he could continue to play bagpipes outside The Queen’s private apartment every weekday morning. He was amazing, and would go on a regular Tesco run for us, inundated with lists from those in the bubble and in isolation. For those in the bubble The Queen also gave her very kind permission to use the normally private Home Park and the swimming pool. I am lucky enough to live in Home Park already, but for the staff it would have been the first time they had ventured within. I didn’t go to the swimming pool, but my team made great use of it. They often remarked that it felt like a mini spa break as it’s an incredibly special and peaceful space.
Kelly’s salon
Due to the bubble restrictions, The Queen’s hairdresser was unable to come into the Castle during the pandemic, so I became a temporary hairdresser for many months. From March 2020 onwards I washed The Queen’s hair every week, set and styled it, and even trimmed it when needed. My team named it Kelly’s Salon. It’s funny because at the beginning The Queen knew I was nervous, and during the first two weeks I was shaking. I had only done her hair once or twice before while on board the Royal Yacht Britannia. The Queen was so kind as she advised me on the very specific way to put the rollers in. As I grew in confidence
I’m sure The Queen thought I was a professional and started shouting at me, ‘Don’t do that, do it this way. That’s right, you’ve got it, don’t change it.’ I was thinking, goodness me, I need a gin and tonic. So while The Queen was under the dryer I said to her, ‘I’m off for a stiff drink because this is so stressful, getting it just right for you.’ I went upstairs and my team had prepped my gin! After a much-needed rest I returned to the dressing room to comb out The Queen’s hair ready to style. I must have used a whole can of hairspray to make sure it lasted the week.
The routine was then set, and Lucy [Reinhold] had a gin and tonic ready and waiting for me each time I came back upstairs.
The Queen still carried on with her red boxes, and Zoom calls replaced face-to-face engagements. Our first big event was when Her Majesty addressed the nation on the BBC. I had to wash and set her hair, and at the end of that, never mind one gin and tonic – I needed a whole bottle! The Christmas broadcast was another reason to reach for the gin. Any time The Queen was without a hat was stressful as there was nowhere to hide, so I had to get her hair perfect. Zooming became part of The Queen’s life and Kelly’s Salon became very busy. Thankfully, I only had one client!
The Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral
On April 9, 2021, the day His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh passed away, the feeling among all the Royal staff in the bubble at Windsor Castle was sombre. Only a few of us were told after the family had been informed. The procedures for the funeral, which had been in place for a long time, started to take shape. The staff in the bubble were given very kind permission on April 17, the day of the funeral, to stand outside the Augusta Tower door opposite St George’s Hall in Windsor Castle, where The Duke of Edinburgh was carried out with honour and respect.
The Queen’s dressers, pages, chefs, housemaids, footmen and Castle attendants all stood to attention as The Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin was carefully placed onto the Land Rover that he had specially designed for the day.
You could see the expression of sadness on everyone’s faces to see such a great and well-respected man making his last journey. Their thoughts, I’m sure, were for The Queen, knowing she had lost a husband and a best friend. The nation shared the grief and their hearts went out to Her Majesty.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s pages and valets walked behind the coffin and we all felt their pain, as they had worked with him for so long and we
had worked alongside them. It was hard to watch our own friends saying goodbye to their amazing boss, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. I’m sure some of the prayers that were offered were by those who had never prayed before. I think those prayers were offered to keep The Queen strong throughout the months to come, when she would be without her husband.
Once the funeral procession had departed for St George’s Chapel, everyone returned to their duties. I went to the dressing room and waited for The Queen to come back after the funeral service. I helped her off with her coat and hat and no words were spoken. The Queen then walked to her sitting room, closed the door behind her, and she was alone with her own thoughts.
Design challenge
I stayed in the Castle throughout lockdown to be there for Her Majesty. I was able to look after The Queen and make sure she was dressed appropriately for Zoom meetings and video-link calls. The Queen and I have an excellent working relationship, so the fun and conversations continued throughout the pandemic.
I also knew that in order to protect Her Majesty I had a job to do – and that was to abide by all the rules just like everybody else. A mask was required for The Queen to wear to a service at Westminster Abbey on November 4, 2020, to commemorate the centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior. As I was preparing the outfit for the engagement, I came up with a face-covering design. I knew Her Majesty would be wearing black, so for the mask I ended up using a black silk satin to which I added a white trim, so you could see that it was a face covering. That decision was also a practical one, as the binding gave it a bit more fabric to cover her nose and still allowed her to have her glasses on. It had to be comfortable, of course, so that she could breathe, but it would also really protect her. This look was smart, but at the same time functional.
Jubilee preparations
For Her Majesty, during the lockdowns the puppies, Muick and Sandy, were a constant joy. They always brought a smile to everyone’s faces. I was worried they would get under The Queen’s feet, but they have turned out to be a godsend.
They are beautiful and great fun and The Queen often takes long walks with them in Home Park. They even went on their first Royal flight when we flew to Balmoral in August 2021. They were very well behaved, with Louis the footman on hand. Candy, who is an old hand at flying – she must have been on hundreds of flights in her lifetime – ambled about and kept her eye on the young pups. The puppies stayed close to The Queen, but occasionally sniffed around your feet as they hoped for a nibble of something tasty from our lunch. The flight felt like an adventure after being cooped up inside for so long.
While moments such as the Royal flight and visit to Balmoral brought joy, challenges continued when we returned to Windsor in autumn 2021. Everyone missed the banter and being able to travel freely. With the Platinum Jubilee approaching in 2022, all hands are needed to prepare for events such as the Pageant and Royal Ascot. I am currently in the process of designing new outfits and hats so that The Queen can mark such an important milestone in style. The work is varied and never stops, and long may it continue!