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Dressing the Queen: The Jubilee Wardrobe
Under grey skies, more than one million people gathered for the Thames River Pageant of the 2012 Diamond Jubilee. Huddled under a sea of umbrellas, some had even spent the night there to secure prime seats. But the wait proved worthwhile. As the parade passed, there atop the splendid Spirit of Chartwell stood the Queen, resplendent against the wind and rain in a smart crystal encrusted white coat and pashmina shawl. The effect was one of breathtaking beauty, and it struck just the right note with the rain-dampened crowd, reinforcing Britain as a noble maritime nation.
Dressing the Queen reveals the careful planning and preparation that went into the Queen’s wardrobe for the Diamond Jubilee, the first such celebration since that of Queen Victoria in 1897 and made all the more momentous by London’s hosting of the 2012 Olympics. The secret to the Queen’s unfailing style is royal couturier Angela Kelly, whose team of dressmakers and milliners spent two years designing and bringing to fruition the creations seen in the events leading up to and during the Diamond Jubilee, as well as at the Olympics. In addition to presenting the right image, the Queen’s clothing must address a great many practical concerns—and all of her garments must be pristinely maintained. Of course, no outfit is complete without the perfect hat, and a chapter of the book is devoted entirely to their intricate and highly detailed creation.
Whether the day holds a historic state visit or an afternoon at Royal Ascot, the Queen commands attention wherever she appears. If you’ve ever wondered how she maintains such impeccable personal style, this well-illustrated book will answer that question and many more.
Dressing the Queen reveals the careful planning and preparation that went into the Queen’s wardrobe for the Diamond Jubilee, the first such celebration since that of Queen Victoria in 1897 and made all the more momentous by London’s hosting of the 2012 Olympics. The secret to the Queen’s unfailing style is royal couturier Angela Kelly, whose team of dressmakers and milliners spent two years designing and bringing to fruition the creations seen in the events leading up to and during the Diamond Jubilee, as well as at the Olympics. In addition to presenting the right image, the Queen’s clothing must address a great many practical concerns—and all of her garments must be pristinely maintained. Of course, no outfit is complete without the perfect hat, and a chapter of the book is devoted entirely to their intricate and highly detailed creation.
Whether the day holds a historic state visit or an afternoon at Royal Ascot, the Queen commands attention wherever she appears. If you’ve ever wondered how she maintains such impeccable personal style, this well-illustrated book will answer that question and many more.
144 pages, Hardcover
First published February 15, 2013
7 people are currently reading
738 people want to read
About the author
Angela Kelly
4 books27 followersMary Angela Kelly, LVO (born 4 November 1957, Liverpool), is a British fashion designer, dressmaker, and milliner, who served as Personal Assistant and Senior Dresser to Queen Elizabeth II from 2002 to the Queen's death in 2022. Her official title is Personal Assistant, Adviser and Curator to Her Majesty The Queen (Jewellery, Insignias and Wardrobe).
Kelly was born in Liverpool, as the daughter of a dock worker and a nurse.
She first began working for the Queen after gaining employment as The Queen’s Dresser following an interview at Windsor Castle in 1994. She was responsible for the Queen's clothes, jewellery and insignia. She researched the venues for royal visits as well as the significance of different colours, in order to create appropriate outfits for the monarch.
Kelly founded a fashion label, Kelly & Pordum, with Alison Pordum, who was also employed as the Queen's in-house dressmaker until 2008. Kelly is also the author of Dressing the Queen: The Jubilee Wardrobe and The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe.
In 2006, she was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO), and promoted to Lieutenant of the same Order (LVO) in 2012. She was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Version of the Royal Household Long and Faithful Service Medal in 2014 for 20 years of service to the Royal Family.
Kelly was born in Liverpool, as the daughter of a dock worker and a nurse.
She first began working for the Queen after gaining employment as The Queen’s Dresser following an interview at Windsor Castle in 1994. She was responsible for the Queen's clothes, jewellery and insignia. She researched the venues for royal visits as well as the significance of different colours, in order to create appropriate outfits for the monarch.
Kelly founded a fashion label, Kelly & Pordum, with Alison Pordum, who was also employed as the Queen's in-house dressmaker until 2008. Kelly is also the author of Dressing the Queen: The Jubilee Wardrobe and The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe.
In 2006, she was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO), and promoted to Lieutenant of the same Order (LVO) in 2012. She was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Version of the Royal Household Long and Faithful Service Medal in 2014 for 20 years of service to the Royal Family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
December 2, 2019
I absolutely loved this book! It may seem easy to imagine what goes into dressing the Queen, especially for the Diamond Jubilee Celebration which happened in 2012. I guarantee that you really cannot imagine the scope of what it took - what it still takes every day - to dress HRH the Queen.
Keeping in mind that there hadn't been a Diamond Jubilee since 1897 for Queen Victoria, and add the fact that in 2012 London was also hosting the Olympics, and you can see that the pressure was definitely more than "on" for the talented people in charge of her wardrobe.
Author Angela Kelly is front and center in charge of the royal wardrobe. No detail is too small. It took her and her amazing team two years to design, choose fabrics, and make the wardrobe a reality for both the Jubilee and the Olympics, where the eyes of the world would be on Queen Elizabeth. They did an outstanding job.
I found the book fascinating in historical details, photos, and explanations of everything that must be considered. A must read for anyone who loves everything Royal, or history buffs, and even home sewers who can marvel as I did at the spectacular one-of-a-kind creations.
Keeping in mind that there hadn't been a Diamond Jubilee since 1897 for Queen Victoria, and add the fact that in 2012 London was also hosting the Olympics, and you can see that the pressure was definitely more than "on" for the talented people in charge of her wardrobe.
Author Angela Kelly is front and center in charge of the royal wardrobe. No detail is too small. It took her and her amazing team two years to design, choose fabrics, and make the wardrobe a reality for both the Jubilee and the Olympics, where the eyes of the world would be on Queen Elizabeth. They did an outstanding job.
I found the book fascinating in historical details, photos, and explanations of everything that must be considered. A must read for anyone who loves everything Royal, or history buffs, and even home sewers who can marvel as I did at the spectacular one-of-a-kind creations.
February 26, 2018
Admittedly an Anglophile and a genuine admirer of Her Majesty, I had to have this coffee table book. The photography alone is worth the price but I thoroughly enjoyed the behind-the-scenes look at the people, the materials and the process. A worthy addition for a collector of HRH memorabilia.
October 13, 2017
Anyone interested in royalty and/or fashion will enjoy this. It's a gorgeous book, as you would expect from an official Royal Collection publication, full of close-ups of fabric, details, and jewelry. And the photos at the end of The Queen in "model pose" are a guaranteed smile.
June 14, 2021
In 2012 Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her Diamond Jubilee, 60 years on the throne, only the second English monarch to do so, Queen Victoria being the first. Even in an ordinary year she attends many events, but this year was special so more were planned, and her wardrobe had to be special too. Angela Kelly serves as the queen's personal assistant, advisor and curator of the personal jewel collection. She also designs most of the queen's wardrobe, including hats, but always with input from the queen. Everything has to be reasonably comfortable to wear, easily seen in a crowd. They start with the fabric which has to not crease or crush easily. They do special shopping, but start with the collection of fabric they already have, much of it bought on previous trips overseas as well as locally in the UK. The wardrobe is made in-house by dressmakers, with a milliner for the hats.
And of course they have to make sure that everything is suitable for the location, weather, and event, as well as not causing a problem when exiting a car or other transport. They have to embellish things appropriately: not too much, not too plain. Necklines have to be appropriate for whatever necklace is to be worn with it. Brooches are chosen to go with the outfit, location or occasion. Things can't be worn too often. All the dressers have their own diaries to record when things are worn (and where and who was there), duplication in case a journal is lost or damaged.
A very complex operation carried on inside Buckingham Palace.
My favorite event was the opening of the 2012 London Olympics, for which they had to design a dress that wasn't one of the colors of competing countries (they chose a peach color), and they had to make two, which nobody knew the reason for, even those who worked on them. And only one dress was out of storage at any one time so nobody else knew there were two. The queen met with James Bond and then "helicoptered and parachuted into the arena" for the opening ceremonies. Actually a stunt double of course for the exciting part. But the rest was really the Queen.
And of course they have to make sure that everything is suitable for the location, weather, and event, as well as not causing a problem when exiting a car or other transport. They have to embellish things appropriately: not too much, not too plain. Necklines have to be appropriate for whatever necklace is to be worn with it. Brooches are chosen to go with the outfit, location or occasion. Things can't be worn too often. All the dressers have their own diaries to record when things are worn (and where and who was there), duplication in case a journal is lost or damaged.
A very complex operation carried on inside Buckingham Palace.
My favorite event was the opening of the 2012 London Olympics, for which they had to design a dress that wasn't one of the colors of competing countries (they chose a peach color), and they had to make two, which nobody knew the reason for, even those who worked on them. And only one dress was out of storage at any one time so nobody else knew there were two. The queen met with James Bond and then "helicoptered and parachuted into the arena" for the opening ceremonies. Actually a stunt double of course for the exciting part. But the rest was really the Queen.
November 16, 2019
I read this beautiful book after finishing her later book The Other Side of the Coin and was disappointed at how much repetition there is between the two books. This book has many more photographs — often stunning photographs of the luxurious fabrics and the careful workmanship. But it has the drawback of focusing on JUST the diamond jubilee year, which makes it less useful for a reader wanting a broader overview. Of the two, I’d probably recommend this one because it’s difficult to talk about fashion without photographs. I just wish there were more original content in The Other Side of the Coin.
August 25, 2018
This book is more than half photos. That's why I was able to read it in one sitting. There is plenty of text that I found fascinating. I love the behind the scenes information about the design, manufacture, organization, and maintenance of Queen Elizabeth's wardrobe for her Jubilee events. Even the method of choosing and presenting jewelry is covered. If you like clothing and like to find out how things are done, you will enjoy this book very much.
August 5, 2022
Hmm...3.5 rounded up? 5 for the photos, which include a number of jewels not previously seen (by me at least) in such detail. 2.5-ish for the text...a bit too fawning, and there were so many more details I wanted about how the fabrics are sourced, where the fabrics from outfits spotlighted came from, the Queen's devotion to re-use and recycling and how that plays out.
May 25, 2019
This is a really beautifully put together book by Angela Kelly. The pictures also bring it to life and it was lovely to see the exquisite fabrics the Queen wears for functions.
I really enjoyed it and I hope Kelly does another.
I really enjoyed it and I hope Kelly does another.
August 8, 2017
Very interesting... wonder how long the dresses are kept and where they go after they're no longer useful for the queen.
January 8, 2019
Beautiful pictures and fascinating info about what goes on behind the scenes when it comes to what The Queen wears. Wish this book had been longer!
October 4, 2019
Fascinating book about the Queen’s Wardrobe......how her dresses, etc are made, the accessories to go with outfits and the jewellery that is paired with her outfits.....so interesting.
March 18, 2020
a really interesting book about what does on in designing the queen's wardrobe. lots of interesting pictures, and really fun, quaint stories at the end of the book
July 3, 2020
I only looked at the photos, after listening to “The other side of the coin”.
So much wealth in the world, yet so many are in poverty... don’t get me started Jeff Bezos - whoa, that took a turn.
So much wealth in the world, yet so many are in poverty... don’t get me started Jeff Bezos - whoa, that took a turn.
March 21, 2021
I'd probably give this 3.5 stars if I could. It's a beautiful book, but since I'd already read The Other Side of the Coin, which is a lot more interesting, this one couldn't really compare.
April 21, 2022
lmfao not goodreads recommending this to me, a princess diana stan
January 24, 2024
Fantastic pictures of a fashion icon. Very interesting.
April 19, 2024
Lush pictures. Never realised what detail went into planning the Queen’s outfits.
December 9, 2022
Really quick read about the Queen's Jubilee wardrobe from 2012. Lots of pretty clothes, details easier to see here than on tv or press photos.
April 7, 2020
Very similar to the other Angela Kelly book but still a good read.
April 23, 2016
I gave this book four stars because it is the first book I have come across that deals with dressing the Queen. It was a very interesting read.
Ms. Kelly provided a view of what takes place on the Dresser's Floor in Buckingham Palace, where everything that goes into the make up of the Queen's wardrobe for every occasion takes places: the color, type and choice of fabric to the designing for each and every event and occasion.
It was also interesting to see drawings of many of pieces designed by Ms. Kelly over the last 2 decades and the finish product worn by Her Majesty.
It is worth reading if you are a royal watcher.
Ms. Kelly provided a view of what takes place on the Dresser's Floor in Buckingham Palace, where everything that goes into the make up of the Queen's wardrobe for every occasion takes places: the color, type and choice of fabric to the designing for each and every event and occasion.
It was also interesting to see drawings of many of pieces designed by Ms. Kelly over the last 2 decades and the finish product worn by Her Majesty.
It is worth reading if you are a royal watcher.
April 21, 2013
I admire Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth,a great deal and am also a fan of textiles and textile art so my interest in this book was quite natural. It is clear that her dressers love what they do and take great pride in their work from the craftsmanship and detail displayed in the photos of the Jubilee Wardrobe. I can attest that the hours and amount of handwork that went into making some of the more formal attire in this wardrobe would have been phenomenal. A lovely book.
May 28, 2013
What a treat for someone totally enamoured with the British monarchy! Bright, gorgeous pictures showing the outfits The Queen wore during her Jubilee year, 2012. I even remembered a fair amount of them from the events I watched while over there. It's told first person by her Personal Designer and Dresser and the book is filled with all sorts of interesting facts and details. I recommend this to anyone who loves fashion, the British Royal Family or just looking at a piece of history.
September 22, 2014
I love that this designer uses the jewelry that the Queen picks to wear for an occasion as the basis for the type of fabric she chooses to make the dress. And it always matches the swirls and patterns. The fabric must showcase the Q's complexion and not offend anyone with whom she meets. So many little things to make an outfit!!!
July 29, 2013
This book not only had fantastic pictures, it had really interesting information regarding construction of the Queen's dresses, and how the seamstresses and designers decide what type of dress/outfit needs to be designed for each appearance. Fascinating and beautiful!
February 3, 2014
I adore reading about the "everyday life" of the Queen and it is especially interesting to find out some of the intimate details and skills necessary to dress Her Majesty. Love all the glossy photos and the peek into her dressmakers world!
May 5, 2015
I thought this was incredibly interesting from several standpoints. Absolutely worth the read if you are interested in dressmaking/millinery/costume design, the logistics of the Queen's wardrobe, gorgeous jewelry with pictures that does it justice, etc.
May 4, 2013
Personal asst., adviser & curator to Queen Elizabeth II, tells the story of the creation of Her Majesty's Jubilee wardrobe.
July 18, 2013
Interesting - would have liked more detail
September 7, 2015
The text could have used an editor-it is a tad twee. However, the photography is marvelous. An annotated list of events/outfits would have been a nice addition.
August 20, 2013
Beautiful photographs, wonderful insight into the Queen's wardrobe and dressmakers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews