19 September 2023 , 10:12
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Exactly one year ago today, the world came together to bid a final farewell to the late Queen during her state funeral.
And not only was it the former monarch's family who packed into Westminster Abbey and St George's Chapel in Windsor to pay the last respects - some of her most loyal staff did too.
Many of her trusted inner circle had worked for her for many years and not only were they mourning their boss, they also had uncertain futures. Now 12 months on, we take a look at what some of the late Queen's most loyal staff are up to now - a year after performing their final duties for the former monarch....
Angela Kelly
One of the most well-known of the late Queen's staff is her former right-hand woman Angela Kelly. The docker's daughter from Liverpool struck up an unlikely yet close and cosy bond with the former monarch. The 65-year-old, who had "extraordinary permission" to release two books about life behind the Buckingham Palace walls, enjoyed such a special bond with Elizabeth II that the late Queen even once reportedly remarked, "we could be sisters".
The late Queen with her dresser Angela Kelly (far right) and Vogue editor Dame Anna Wintour at London Fashion Week in 2018 (Getty Images)But in a swift change of fortune, Angela has recently had to leave her grace-and-favour Windsor home and has reportedly been banned from spilling any more royal secrets by Charles. It was believed she was going to be allowed to stay at the residence after the Queen's death, but in April, she appeared to confirm this was not the case.
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She took to Instagram to say she would be leaving a property on the Windsor estate and also seemed to confirm that her work phone had been disconnected. Reports later suggested that her new home in Yorkshire had actually been arranged for her by the King and would revert to the Crown upon her death.
However, it has been claimed that the King has banned Ms Kelly from sharing royal secrets in exchange for her new place. It is understood that she had permission from the late Queen to pen a third book, but the new agreement will likely scupper those plans, the Mail on Sunday reported.
The King reportedly felt that an updated version of The Other Side Of The Coin went "too far" in terms of revealing intimate details about the Royal Family. A source previously told the Daily Mail: "His concerns were solely about protecting both the dignity of the Queen and the Crown. Nothing has changed with his mother's death. If anything, he is more determined to defend her reputation and her legacy."
Paul Whybrew
Another of the late Queen's instantly recognisable members of staff was her footman Paul Whybrew. His 6ft 4in stature means he is more commonly known as 'Tall Paul' and he worked for the former monarch for more than 40 years.
Footman Paul Whybrew memorably starred in a James Bond sketch with the Queen for the London 2012 Olympics (Liverpool ECHO)Like Ms Kelly, he became part of Elizabeth II's most trusted inner circle and memorably appeared alongside the late Queen in her unforgettable sketch with James Bond to mark the start of the 2012 London Olympics. He was also with her during her final days at Balmoral and was among the staff that took part in the procession behind her coffin at her state funeral.
After the death of his boss, he was made a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the 2023 Demise Honours List and the 64-year-old decided to retire from the Royal Household. However, it has been reported he has been given the trusted task of organising Her late Majesty's private letters and diaries.
It is thought he spends two days a week in white gloves to protect the paper, sifting through and organising the documents. A source told the Mail on Sunday: "For this task, King Charles needed someone he could trust, someone he could be sure would never breathe a word of whatever he came across. Tall Paul is the legacy man – the keeper of the Queen's secrets. There is no one else that the King would have trusted with such a big job. This is the ultimate reward for his loyalty."
Sir Edward Young
One staff member who held an integral role for the late Queen was her private secretary Sir Edward Young. The royal aide became private secretary to the late Queen in September 2017, succeeding Sir Christopher Geidt. After the Queen's death, he stayed on in his role to advise King Charles and his new private secretary Sir Clive Alderton, but stepped down after the Coronation. However, he was recently appointed Charles' Permanent Lord in Waiting.
Sir Edward Young (left) at a service to remember the late Queen alongside Peter St Clair-Erskine and Sir Clive Alderton (Getty Images)The coveted position is one the sovereign can hand out to senior former staff when they retire from the Royal Household and will allow Sir Edward to step in and represent the King at events such as funerals or services of thanksgiving. However, one royal who may not be happy with the aide's new prestigious role is Prince Harry, as he comes in for some stern criticism in the Duke of Sussex's controversial memoir Spare - and he gives him the unflattering nickname of "The Bee".
In the book, Harry claims that after the birth of Prince Archie, he had a long tea with the late Queen and he says she was appalled by the abuse that his new family were receiving. He claims she vowed to send Sir Edward to speak to them - and he sat down to hear a detailed presentation from the couple at Frogmore Cottage. Harry writes in the book: "The Bee was oval-faced and fuzzy and tended to glide around with great equanimity and poise as if he was a boon to all living things. He was so poised that people didn't fear him. Big mistake. Sometimes their last mistake."
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Mark Flanagan
One member of staff who played a key role in the Queen's inner circle of staff was Mark Flanagan - the head chef of the royal household. He was appointed to the position in 2002 and clearly impressed the former monarch after being made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in 2022.
However, he has been one few workers who has retained his role at Buckingham Palace under King Charles and earlier this year came up with the recipe for the Coronation quiche, which thousands across the country made to mark the crowning of the King.
Lady Susan Hussey
The longest serving among the late Queen's aides was Lady Susan Hussey who was a lady-in-waiting for the former monarch for more than 60 years. After the late Queen's death, she then went on to work for Queen Camilla but just months later, Lady Susan found herself at the centre of a race row. She eventually stepped down from her role and apologised after claims she repeatedly challenged charity worker Ngozi Fulani about where she "really came from" during a Buckingham Palace reception.
Lady Susan Hussey alongside the late Queen and her racing manager John Warren (Getty Images)Several weeks later, the two women met again and Lady Susan apologised. Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "At this meeting, filled with warmth and understanding, Lady Susan offered her sincere apologies for the comments that were made and the distress they caused to Ms Fulani.
"Lady Susan has pledged to deepen her awareness of the sensitivities involved and is grateful for the opportunity to learn more about the issues in this area. Ms Fulani, who has unfairly received the most appalling torrent of abuse on social media and elsewhere, has accepted this apology and appreciates that no malice was intended."
Three months later in February, Lady Susan returned to the royal fold. It came after she was asked to step in on behalf of Princess Anne at a memorial for Dame Frances Campbell-Preston at the Royal Hospital in Chelsea. However, her name was curiously left off the Court Circular, which is the daily bulletin explaining all official royal duties.