The Other Side of the Coin

The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe

By: Angela Kelly

Narrated by: Angela Kelly

Length: 5 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

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 25 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)

©2019 Angela Kelly (P)2019 HarperAudio

Very Interesting

Absolutely enjoyed this book...Learned a lot about fashion design and the wonderful relationship Angela Kelly shares with HM...Read so many ridiculous stories in the media it was fun to learn more about HM from someone who loves and respects her. Highly recommend this book in audio...Angela did a wonderful job narrating it.

Loved every minute!!

Delightful, joyful, interesting and beautiful! Looking forward to Ms. Kelly’s third book as I couldn’t put this one down.

Sweet Stories

I enjoyed listening to this book more than I expected. The stores were interesting and a very nice glimpse of what goes into keeping up the appearances of the monarchy and the personal side of the demands. I found the author's voice very calm and soothing. As an American I loved her accent and her voice. listened to this on my daily commute after work for a week and it was the perfect way to wind down.

Good Story

I enjoyed the story of how the Queen’s clothing was designed to so specifically fit each event and the culture of the people she reigned. I also enjoyed Angela Kelly’s rise to position of the queen’s designer. However it was annoying listening to her read her story. The click she makes at the end of words ending with the letter g is very distracting.

Personal Anecdotes of Life with Her Majesty

Loved it! Angela Kelly gives an insight into life behind the palace doors with stories, interesting facts and all with a resounding admiration and love for Her Majesty that comes through in her voice.

Such a great listen, I wish it was longer!!!

I’ve known about Angela Kelly for several years, mostly through podcasts and similar sources. I’ve always admired her incredible job and imagined she must have formed a close bond with Queen Elizabeth II due to their working collaboration. It was fulfilling to learn that my assumption was accurate. While Angela had to be cautious about what she shared in her book, I appreciate her openness. The dynamic between her and the Queen shines through the pages, revealing a deep connection. I particularly enjoyed the behind-the-scenes insights, as they offer a glimpse into the unseen world they navigated together.

I look forward to potential future writings from Angela, delving deeper into her working relationship and friendship with the Queen. In the days leading up to the Queen’s passing and during the mourning period, my thoughts often turned to Angela, imagining the challenges she faced. Her strength and resilience are truly admirable, and I hope she is finding fulfillment in her current endeavors. Her storytelling prowess leaves me eager for more, yearning to uncover the nuances of her experiences without revealing too much. I am particularly curious about how she navigated the final years leading up to the Queen’s passing, as I can only imagine the emotional toll it must have taken.

For those with a keen interest in Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family, Angela’s book is a captivating read. While reading it is engaging, hearing Angela herself narrate the stories in the audiobook adds an extra layer of enjoyment. Her narration evokes laughter and empathy, allowing listeners to connect with her journey. There’s a sense of both joy and melancholy, stemming not from the content but from pondering Angela’s own emotions throughout. I eagerly anticipate any future literary works from her, craving more insights into her world and her remarkable bond with the Queen.

Light and enjoyable for Anglophiles

Light and interesting book. It was very pleasant to hear about the queen’s wardrobe. She has become much more chic and fashionable in her later years and it’s clear that Angela Kelly is the reason. Good for her!

Light hearted account

An easy listen, but fairly detailed account from a lady working closely with the Queen in her capacity as the Queen’s dresser and other positions. Performance is not very fluent but still worth a listen.

amazing book

I absolutely loved this book. It was so well read. The details about working for her magesty were amazing. I really enjoyed it a lot. Angela Kelly did a great job reading it. I loved it.

No secrets revealed but a wonderful listen

Don’t expect to find anything out you probably don’t already know. This isn’t a book about spilling the tea. It is a wonderful memoir by a lady who has worked with Her Majesty The Queen for many years, and because of this she has many lovely stories to tell. I’ve listened a few times and will definitely listen more. Her work on Her Majesty’s wardrobe is fabulous and so is this little book. Fans of the Queen (like me) will love this.