RICHARD EDEN: Why new drama about late Queen's aide Angela will be Trouble

When it was revealed last month that a film was being made about Queen Elizabeth’s gatekeeper, Angela Kelly, courtiers feared that she could defy a gagging order to reveal Her Majesty’s private thoughts on everything from King Charles to Megxit.

‘The royals will be worried, and they are right to be worried,’ an insider told my colleague Richard Kay at the time.

Now, I can disclose that filmmakers may have found a way around the confidentiality agreement that the crane driver’s daughter had to sign as part of her royal service.

The film will not be a documentary, as had been thought. Instead, it will be a drama in the style of Netflix hit The Crown. This will give the creators much more freedom to tell the extraordinary life story of Liverpool-born Ms Kelly, 68, who wielded almost unparalleled influence in the royal household.

‘The film’s title tells you all you need to know,’ a source says. It’s called Trouble.

The script is being written by Bafta winner Jeremy Brock, whose agent Charlotte Knight confirms: ‘He has just been commissioned to write an original screenplay entitled Trouble for Fox-Searchlight about the friendship between Elizabeth II and Angela Kelly.’

Brock previously wrote the script for A Very Royal Scandal, a 2024 drama about Prince Andrew’s disastrous interview with BBC presenter Emily Maitlis.

Netflix has found a way to tell the story of Angela Kelly, the late Queen's personal dresser

So close were the two women that the Queen said she and Ms Kelly could have been ‘sisters’. Ms Kelly was trusted to ‘wear in’ the monarch’s new shoes, arrange her hair and even massage her feet.

But she was not admired by all her fellow courtiers. Willing to ruffle feathers and in possession of a fearsome temper, she was nicknamed AK-47, a play on her initials and the Soviet assault rifle.

Waleses want to trademark slogan

William and Catherine’s dramatic fallout with Harry and Meghan played out in the media and split opinion.

But six years on from ‘Megxit’, the royal couple have moved forward and it appears their focus is now on standing with the general public in the face of tough issues.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are seeking to trademark the phrase ‘On Your Side’ – the name of their mental health in sports initiative.

They applied to the Intellectual Property Office to own the rights to the words in eight areas, including healthcare and psychiatric and psychological counselling services.

The Royal Foundation campaign was fronted by England football captain Harry Kane in an official video, and offers a guidance ‘toolkit’ to help those who may be at risk of suicide.

Pugh shows off her superhero strength

Florence Pugh was not afraid to show off the results of her training regime

For her role as superhero Yelena Belova in a string of Marvel action films, Florence Pugh trained with former US Marine Brendan Johnston.

‘It was a great experience,’ he said. ‘Her super-strong mind wants to do it all.’

And Oxford-born Florence, 30, is keen to show off the results of all that hard work in the gym. Promoting the Netflix series East of Eden in New York, she wore a bralette that displayed her sculpted abdomen.

Florence makes it clear she retains a hearty appetite, filming cooking videos for social media.

Gavin & Stacey star Alison Steadman continues to seek the advice of her mother, Marjorie, who died 30 years ago. ‘I still consult my mum,’ says the actress, 80. ‘She was known as the wise old owl of the family. If I’m having difficulty or wondering what to do, I’ll say: “Mum, what should I do? Tell me, give me some help, please.” I like to think I can hear her voice saying, “Yes, you can do it.”’ 

Lottie’s new love wins over big sister Kate

Lottie Moss suffered a painful family fallout over her decision to pose for adult website OnlyFans in 2021.

Now, however, she’s found happiness with a boyfriend who’s won the approval of her half-sister, Kate Moss, 52.

Lottie Moss says her new beau has 'completely changed her view on men'

Lottie’s been going out with art dealer and oil broker Themy Kalaitzis, 28, for ten months and they now live together.

‘Themy has met my whole family, and everyone loves him,’ Lottie, 28, tells me at Dr Rasha’s Clinic in Knightsbridge, for the launch of the face-tightening treatment XERFWave.

‘He’s completely changed my view on men.’

She adds: ‘You grow up, don’t you? I feel I’ve taken that step. I’m in a different era of my life.’

Jesse Wood claimed poverty when he appeared in court on speeding charges earlierthis year.

The son of Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood, who married Fearne Cotton in 2014, said he was unemployed and living off savings of barely £1,000 a month.

Jesse Wood with his father Ronnie and ex-wife Fearne in 2011

His estranged wife has no such problems. The broadcaster, 45, who split from Jesse, 49, in 2024, has notched up £1.4million in riches through her wellness brand, We Are Happy Place. Newly published figures disclose that the business made a £500,000 profit in 2025.

Fearne, who hosts the podcast Happy Place, holds £2.2million in assets before bills, including £1.1million in cash.