Fox Searchlight is currently developing a new film titled Trouble that focuses on the intimate relationship between the late Queen Elizabeth II and her longtime dresser, Angela Kelly. According to a report by Richard Eden in the Daily Mail's Palace Confidential, the project is expected to be a significant dramatic production rather than a standard documentary.
Jeremy Brock and the Fox Searchlight push for a scripted drama
The production is expected to feature a script potentially penned by Jeremy Brock, a writer with significant experience in royal and high-stakes drama.. Brock is widely recognized for co-creating the hospital series Casualty and for writing A Very Royal Scandal, the Prime Video series centered on the Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Newsnight interview.
By opting for a scripted drama format,the producers may be attempting to capture the nuanced emotional landscape of the palace. As reported by Richard Eden, the film is intended to provide a highly accurate portrayal of the Queen's inner circle,moving beyond mere historical timelines to explore the personal dynamics that shaped the late monarch's final years.
The 'Spare' connection and the 'AK-47' nickname
The working title of the film, Trouble, appears to directly reference the friction between the royal household and Prince Harry. In his memoir Spare, the Prince specifically targeted Angela Kelly, branding her a "troublemaker" and accusing her of interfering in royal protocols, most notably during the "Tiaragate" incident involving Meghan Markle's wedding tiara.
Kelly’s influence within Buckingham Palace was so pronounced that she earned the nickname "AK-47" among certain courtiers, a play on her initials and her perceived combative nature. While the Queen reportedly viewed Kelly as being "like a sister," the film is expected to examine how this closeness created resentment among other members of the royal staff .
The sudden exit from Buckingham Palace after the Queen's death at 96
The film is expected to delve into the turbulent period following the death of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96.. As Rebecca English reported, there was significant tension regarding Kelly's status within the household once the Queen was no longer there to protect her position.
Reports suggest that Kelly was ushered out of her position with remarkable speed following the Queen's passing. Some accounts even claim that the royal household effectively changed the locks to prevent her from returning to the palace. This abrupt transition from being a trusted confidante to an outsider remains a central, potentially dramatic pillar of the upcoming production.
Will Angela Kelly collaborate on the 'Trouble' production?
It remains unconfirmed whether the 68-year-old Angela Kelly will participate in the film or provide her own perspective. While some experts suggest that a scripted drama might be more palatable for her than a documentary, her level of involvement is currently an open question.
There are also lingering questions regarding what specific incidents will be included in the script. Mail on Sunday Editor at Large Charlotte Griffiths noted that there are certain undisclosed events from the Tiaragate era that royal observers are anxious to see addressed, or perhaps avoided, in the final cut.
Comments 0