Who are the behind-the-scenes wardrobe experts who style the Royals?
Who are the behind-the-scenes wardrobe experts who style the Royals – and mastermind those brilliant fashion transformations?
- The late Queen’s stylist, Angela Kelly, worked for the monarch for 25 years
- For all the latest Royal news, pictures and video click here
Members of the Royal Family are keenly watched wherever they go – and have been credited with some notable fashion moments of their own.
But it is rarely the case that they make their outfit decisions alone. Professional stylists are now an accepted part of how they define their fashion image.
Some dressers have seen so much success that they have styled generations of Royals, with the Queen Mother’s former dresser now serving Queen Camilla, for example.
Here, the Mail’s new Royals section looks at the women who, behind the scenes, have helped create some of the best-known looks and real sartorial success stories.
Angela Kelly
Royal dresser Angela Kelly worked with the late Queen Elizabeth for more than 25 years. She is pictured at the Queen’s state funeral last year
Earlier this year, Kelly moved from her Windsor house to a cottage in the Peak District courtesy of King Charles. She had been promised a home for life.
But the royal dresser previously held a much closer relationship with the family, working for the late Queen for more than 25 years.
Such was the intimacy of their relationship that Kelly would wear in the monarch’s new shoes, do her hair and massage her feet.
In return the Queen created the title of ‘Personal Assistant, Advisor and Curator to Her Majesty’ for the former royal dresser and gave her unprecedented permission to write a series of books about their relationship.
With Angela Kelly by her side, the Queen became known for her colourful outfits, helping the 5ft 4in monarch stand out when she was meeting her subjects.
Angela Kelly sat alongside the late Queen and Anna Wintour to view Richard Quinn’s runway show
With Angela Kelly by her side, the Queen became known for colourful outfits, helping the 5ft 4in monarch stand out when she was meeting her subjects
The Queen chose a neon green look for her 90th birthday celebrations, standing in stark contrast to the Princess of Wales dressed in white
The Queen was dubbed ‘high vis highness’ when she opted for a neon green look for her 90th birthday celebrations, standing in stark contrast to the Princess of Wales dressed in white on the Buckingham palace balcony.
As she once said: ‘If I wore beige, nobody would know who I am.’
In her book, Dressing The Queen: The Jubilee Wardrobe, Kelly revealed how she approached designing dresses for the late monarch, including picking striking colours to maximise visibility.
If the Queen was planting a tree in a setting with a predominantly green background, for example, then that colour would be avoided for aesthetic, and photographic reasons.
Fitting sessions with the Queen typically lasted half a day and, aside from the corgis, were strictly private.
As the Queen’s top designer, Kelly would sketch at least four different designs for a particular piece of fabric, from which the Queen could choose.
She would also employ a fan to test how lightweight materials such as chiffon, organza or silk will move in a breeze.
Annie Miall
Down-to-earth stylist, Annie Miall, set up a stylist company which has been running for nine years
Australian-born Annie Miall is credited with helping Zara Tindall find her fashion feet as she stepped out of her horse-riding gear.
After a career in human resources and leadership coaching, Miall acquired her fashion knowledge working on the shop floor and as a buyer, according to her website.
Her stylist company, which has been running for nine years, prides itself on its ‘friendliness and understanding’. It describes itself as ‘just good friends delivering a discreet and convenient service’.
The down-to-earth stylist encouraged Zara to go for sharply cut pieces that skim her figure by designers such as Laura Green – who spent 10 years at Princess Diana’s favourite brand, Catherine Walker.
Zara stunned at Ascot in 2020 wearing a houndstooth coat by Laura Green which she paired with coordinating burgundy accessories
Her fuchsia pink coat dress by Laura Green brought a splash of colour to the Platinum Jubilee Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral last year
Zara stunned at Ascot in 2020 wearing a houndstooth coat by Laura Green which she paired with coordinating burgundy accessories.
She continued to have sartorial success under Miall’s guidance, with a host of flattering outfits for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Her fuchsia pink coat dress, also by Laura Green, brought a splash of colour to the Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, which she paired with a lilac Juliette Botterill hat as well as shoes and a clutch bag in the same colour.
Miall also helped Autumn Phillips, the former wife of Princess Anne’s son, Peter, transition out of her corporate consultant attire.
For the first day of Cheltenham races in 2020, she helped Autumn find an elegant green jacket with a tie belt by Really Wild clothing, paired with a stylish floral hat by Sally-Ann hats.
Georgia Pincus
Former stylist Georgia Pincus, who lives in Ascot, near Sophie’s home, Bagshot Park, has been friends with the Duchess since she married Prince Edward in 1999
Former PR executive Sophie, now the Duchess of Edinburgh, was always seen in business attire until she sought the help of stylists Georgia Pincus and Pandora Delevingne.
From grey suits and baggy corduroy trousers came a regal wardrobe of colour to suit her blonde colouring.
Georgie also chose more glamorous cuts for the Duchess of Edinburgh, opting for maxi and midi-length dresses to accentuate her slender figure.
The Duchess has been friends with the stylist since she married Prince Edward in 1999.
She helped transform Sophie’s collection of grey suits into a regal wardrobe of colour to suit her blonde colouring
The former stylist, who lives in Ascot, near Sophie’s home, Bagshot Park, has been friends with the Duchess since she married Prince Edward in 1999.
She studied fashion at the Paris College of Art and later set up her own fashion consultancy, styleu, working with clients including former Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington.
Georgie gave up working as a stylist, and has since set up her own yoga studio, qualifying as an instructor and sharing blogs focusing on nutrition and wellness.
Pandora Delevingne
Pandora Delevingne, a former personal shopper at Selfridges, was instrumental in changing the Duchess of Edinburgh’s look
As a former personal shopper at Selfridges and mother of model, Cara Delevingne, Pandora was instrumental in changing the Duchess of Edinburgh’s look.
Alongside Georgie Pincus, she found expensively-cut outfits for Sophie, making her appear younger.
In 2015, Grazia reported that Pandora had also been involved in Kate Middleton’s sartorial choices, with a source adding: ‘They’ve known each other for years and Kate trusts her advice.’
Pandora was diagnosed with bipolar 30 years ago and, speaking to the Daily Mail in 2020, described her life as a recovering addict.
Alongside Georgie Pincus, Pandora found expensively-cut outfits for Sophie, making her appear younger
She said that for much of her life she was ‘searching, always searching to fill a hole I was never able to fill’.
In 2017, Pandora was taken to Bela Vista in Mozambique – a deprived area where family life was shattered by civil war – and was inspired to launch the Bela Vista Project, a charity intent on improving the lives of those who live there.
Since Pandora’s involvement, 60 children have been fed and clothed, a children’s day shelter has been built and a fresh water point has been installed, according to the website.
Jacqui Meakin
Jacqui Meakin was formerly the dresser for the Queen Mother and is now responsible for the transformed look of Queen Camilla
Formerly the dresser for the Queen Mother, Jacqui Meakin is now responsible for the transformed look of Queen Camilla.
She has worked with Camilla since her wedding to Charles and helped the Royal assemble a working wardrobe appropriate for a woman of her age.
While still counting on her fashion favourites, such as her trusted Sole Bliss heels, Camilla’s chic pastel suits and oversized Philip Treacy hats gave her an air of regal elegance.
Jacqui has also helped Queen Camilla put together a glamorous collection of occasion wear and she has come to love designers such as Bruce Oldfield, Anna Valentine and Vivienne Westwood.
Chic pastel colours and oversized hats have given the Queen an air of regal elegance. Camilla is pictured in Nigeria in 2018
Jacqui has helped the Queen put together a glamorous collection of occasion wear. Queen Camilla is pictured wearing a dazzling embroidered gown by Bruce Oldfield for a state banquet in Berlin in March
For an interview with Vogue to mark her 75th birthday last year, the Queen opted for an outfit chosen by Meakin rather than the magazine’s experts, donning a cobalt-blue Bruce Oldfield evening gown for the shoot.
The dresser has even helped Camilla revamp a selection of more unique pieces, including a daqlah -a long robe open at the front – originally belonging to her husband, Charles.
The King had been given the beautifully embroidered robe, made by renowned Saudi designer Yahya Al Bishri, during an official visit to Saudi Arabia in the 1990s.
Camilla wore the piece for the Platinum Party to celebrate the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee last year, with Jacqui altering the sleeves and length of the robe to fit Camilla.
Natasha Archer
Natasha Archer was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order at Buckingham Palace in 2019 in recognition of her services to the Royal Family
The Princess of Wales’ stylist was initially tasked with making her look more ‘regal’ as per the late Queen’s request, according to insiders
Natasha joined the Prince and Princess of Wales as a personal assistant in 2007.
Married to Royal photographer Chris Jackson, Natasha, known as Tash, attended Uppingham boarding school, before reading Hispanic Studies at King’s College London.
According to insiders, Archer was promoted to become Kate’s stylist and was initially tasked with making her look more ‘regal’ as per the late Queen’s request.
Soon the knee-length hemlines and nude court shoes were dropped in favour of wide-legged trousers, silk pussy-bow blouses, on-trend prints and peplum waistlines.
She has travelled around the world with the Waleses on official tours to help co-ordinate Kate’s wardrobe and was a key figure in their successful tour of Australia.
Archer is credited with introducing Kate to much-loved Pakistani designer Maheen Khan in advance of her royal tour to Pakistan in 2019
Kate’s original knee-length hemlines and nude court shoes were dropped. She is pictured in a floor length Elie Saab gown for Crown Prince Hussein’s wedding to Rajwa Al-Saif in Jordan in June
Archer is also credited with introducing Kate to much-loved Pakistani designer Maheen Khan in advance of her royal tour to Pakistan in 2019.
The stylist had found Maheen Khan’s designs at O’Nitaa, in London’s Chelsea Green, and asked the designer to create some custom-made pieces for the royal.
Then the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate was highly praised for her style on the trip, where she donned outfits including a bespoke blue kurta and trousers, hand embroidered in white silk and pearls created by Maheen.
In 2019, Archer was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order at Buckingham Palace in recognition of her services to the Royal Family.
Virginia Chadwyck-Healey
Virginia Chadwyck-Healey, stylist for Kate Middleton, attended the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2011
Virginia, also known as Ginnie, became known as Kate Middleton’s ‘secret weapon’ and reportedly began working with the Royal while Natasha Archer was on maternity leave.
The talented stylist is the daughter of the 3rd Lord Strathalmond and an old friend of the Prince and Princess of Wales, attending their wedding in 2011.
Speaking of the occasion, she said: ‘To my great surprise, I found myself included in the fashion reviews as one of the “best-dressed wedding guests”,’ after she wore an Emilia Wickstead watermelon pink skirt and a bubblegum pink trapeze-sleeve silk top.
‘Royal protocol had to come first, but I wanted to feel like I had an identity amid the sea of celebrities, friends, military personnel, foreign members of state and, of course, the Royal Family.’
She promotes sustainable shopping habits and was spotted in the same outfit that she wore to the wedding at Ascot in 2021
The Princess of Wales’ style was said to become modern and sleek. She donned a Gucci pussy bow blouse for a trip to the Henry Fawcett Children’s Centre in Lambeth in 2019
Ginnie (left) worked as Executive Retail Editor for Vogue before setting up VCH Style in 2018, which focuses on fashion consultancy and styling. She is seen wearing a similar pussybow blouse to one worn by the Princess of Wales in 2020
But she added: ‘To my mother’s horror, I didn’t wear tights.’
Ginnie worked as Executive Retail Editor for Vogue before setting up VCH Style in 2018, which focuses on fashion consultancy and styling and promotes sustainable shopping habits.
The stylist herself was spotted rewearing her outfit from the Royal wedding for Ascot in 2021.
She is credited for helped Kate adopt a modern, sleek style, indicated when the Princess of Wales stepped out in a Gucci pussybow blouse paired with flattering wide leg trousers from Jigsaw for a trip to the Henry Fawcett Children’s Centre in Lambeth in 2019.
A royal source told the Daily Mail’s Richard Eden at the time: ‘She has made a big difference to the Duchess’s wardrobe for public engagements and has helped give her a whole new sense of confidence.’
Olivia Buckingham and Lady Emily Compton
Olivia Buckingham, a photographer-turned-stylist, is credited with Princess Beatrice’s glamorous appearance at the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and his wife Rajwa’s wedding in Jordan
She wore a pale pink embellished satin piqué gown with ruffled sleeves by Reem Acra, paired with the York tiara
Princess Beatrice stunned in a floor-length Reem Acra gown and tiara at the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein and his wife Rajwa’s wedding in Jordan.
The look was styled by Olivia Buckingham – one half of the style duo who had originally sparked the Princess’ elegant fashion transformation.
Olivia and Lady Emily Compton helped Beatrice choose a navy sheer lace Self-Portrait gown for Lady Gabriella Windsor’s wedding in May 2019 and continued to help with high-profile appearances.
Lady Emily is a former society editor for Tatler magazine and the daughter of the Marquess of Northamptonshire, while photographer-turned-stylist Olivia has been a contributor to Vogue Hong Kong.
Olivia Buckingham (right) and Lady Emily Compton (left) worked as a duo to give Beatrice a chic style transformation
The Princess looked the picture of elegance in a pretty powder blue collared dress at Ascot in 2019
She gave an expert lesson in colour blocking in a pale pink dress for Trooping the Colour in 2019
The pair also chose Beatrice’s Royal Ascot look in 2019, where she looked the picture of elegance in a pretty powder blue collared dress, which nipped in at the waist.
Emily and Olivia also put together Princess Beatrice’s sleek Trooping the Colour outfit in the same year, where she gave an expert lesson in colour blocking.
Sarah Price
London-based stylist, Sarah Price, originally from Dublin, runs the company Style Tonic and began working with Eugenie after they were introduced by a mutual friend.
Exclusive stylist Sarah Price helped Princess Eugenie realise her vision of looking like a ‘contemporary princess’ as she tied the knot with Jack Brooksbank in 2018.
The princess asked that her dress, designed by Peter Pilotto and Christopher de Vos, feature a low back to show the scar from surgery she underwent to correct scoliosis.
Sarah, who works on a referral basis only, also helped Eugenie with her two other wedding looks – including a Hollywood-style pale pink gown by Zac Posen for her evening reception.
The London-based stylist, originally from Dublin, runs the company Style Tonic and began working with Eugenie after they were introduced by a mutual friend.
Sarah helped Princess Eugenie realise her vision of looking like a ‘contemporary princess’ as she tied the knot with Jack Brooksbank in 2018
She helped Eugenie with her two other wedding looks – including a Hollywood-style pale pink gown by Zac Posen for her evening reception
Eugenie was introduced to pared-down labels and wore an elegant metallic ombre Peter Pilotto dress Eugenie for the Animal Ball Art Show Private Viewing in 2019
Sarah has been credited with introducing Eugenie to an ‘edgier’ look, with the royal wearing designers including Osman, Paule Ka and Roland Mouret.
Both Princess Eugenie and her older sister, Beatrice, have benefitted from Sarah’s wisdom as she introduced them both to pared-down labels, such as the metallic ombre Peter Pilotto dress Eugenie wore to an art show 2019.
She studied styling and fashion photography at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.
Since graduating, she has worked as a personal stylist, with clients in the UK, US, and the Middle East.
Source: Read Full Article