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Queen Elizabeth’s aide, nicknamed ‘AK-47,’ clashed with Prince Harry in explosive ‘Tiaragate’: experts
Queen Elizabeth II’s fiercest protector, who earned the nickname “AK-47,” would “take a bullet” for the monarch, royal experts claimed. This devotion later put her on a collision course with Meghan Markle during the infamous “Tiaragate.”
“Angela Kelly was the real deal, a friend who would take a bullet for the queen,” British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News Digital. “And it’s telling. Palace insiders called her ‘AK-47’ after the assault rifle because ‘people felt threatened by her.’ She was influential enough to ‘take people out’ of Buckingham Palace.”
It’s been said that the late queen’s devoted dresser was no-nonsense, especially when it came to royal protocol.
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“Meghan Markle was on a collision course as she wasn’t adhering to longstanding traditions, which ruffled many feathers among many staff members,” British royals expert Hilary Fordwich claimed to Fox News Digital. “Angela was loyal to proper protocol and was the enforcer of such. Her dedication and duration of service meant she ended up shaping the presentation of the monarchy and was a gatekeeper regarding access.”
“Her influence really impacted optics,” Fordwich added.
Fordwich and Chard’s statements came after Kelly, the queen’s longtime assistant, advisor and curator, gave a rare interview to Vanity Fair correspondent and royal author Katie Nicholl.
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Kelly laid bare her close friendship with Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, who would have turned 100 on April 21, and how, during their decades-long friendship, she managed the queen’s wardrobe, including her iconic, colorful outfits.
Kelly also oversaw the queen’s collection of jewelry and ceremonial items, a responsibility that reportedly placed her at the center of a heated dispute with Prince Harry dubbed “Tiaragate.”
Nicholl wrote that ahead of her wedding to Harry in 2018, Meghan was presented with a selection of tiaras for the occasion. Although the former American actress was drawn to an emerald piece, Nicholl noted it was ultimately deemed unsuitable for her big day.
“While Meghan was happy with the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau that the queen had offered her instead, tensions arose again when Meghan was told by Kelly that she was not allowed to use the tiara for a trying-on session with her hairdresser ahead of the wedding day, reportedly causing Harry to ‘erupt’ at Kelly,” wrote Nicholl.
A palace source told Nicholl that the queen refused to let the tiara leave the palace two weeks before the wedding.
“[Angela] often took a bullet for the queen, but this time Harry really went for [her],” a source claimed to Nicholl. “Harry was giving Angela hell.”
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Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital that Kelly wasn’t afraid to face anyone who challenged her. But that also reportedly put her in direct conflict with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
“With the nickname ‘AK-47,’ she guarded the sacred values of the queen’s collection, including the precious jewels, clothes and hats,” he explained.
“She guarded these areas with a renowned intensity, making her the queen’s fashion bodyguard. There were many rumors surrounding how the royal household never tried to oppose or impose any strategies on her. She was regarded as the feminine equivalent of a Rottweiler, with a bite if she was questioned.”
However, nothing prepared Kelly to reportedly go toe-to-toe with the boss’s grandson, who was just as protective of his future wife. A palace source told Nicholl that she “was very much caught in the middle.”
“At one point, [Harry] said, ‘Let me tell you, I don’t agree with you talking to my grandmother about this,’” Nicholl wrote. “Angela was in tears and went to the queen, saying she couldn’t take it anymore. Eventually, the queen said, ‘He can’t have it; I’ll deal with him. We’re having enough trouble with this wedding.’”
“People still question how Kelly had the queen’s ear, viewing her as a mere servant,” said Chard. “Kelly’s power wasn’t ceremonial. She controlled access to the queen daily, and Queen Elizabeth backed her. Kelly put her heart and life into her work. She ran a tight, tidy ship, never leaving a stone unturned. She cared deeply for Queen Elizabeth, instilling confidence, protecting royal protocol and hierarchy, which was seen as an obstruction to some. However, it was given the queen’s approval.”
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“Queen Elizabeth declared that the tiara in question ‘was not a toy,’” Fordwich claimed. “Angela was loyal to proper protocol and was the enforcer of such.”
Fox News Digital reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.
Harry, 41, shared a different account of “Tiaragate” in his 2023 memoir, “Spare.” He wrote that Meghan was initially set to wear the Spencer tiara, previously worn by his mother, the late Princess Diana. The queen then asked if Meghan wanted to wear a tiara from her collection.
“She offered us access to her collection of tiaras,” Harry wrote, as quoted by People magazine. “She even invited us to Buckingham Palace to try them on. ‘Do come over,’ I remember her saying.”
Harry said that the queen herself suggested that Meghan practice putting on the heirloom with her hairdresser. “It’s tricky, and you don’t want to be doing it for the first time on the wedding day,” said the queen, he recalled.
Harry claimed that Kelly made it difficult to arrange. Not only did she become unresponsive to the couple, but she eventually told them that the tiara needed a “police escort” to leave the palace. When Harry agreed to arrange for an orderly and a police officer to do so, Kelly “inexplicably” told him, “can’t be done,” the book claimed.
“I considered going to Granny, but that would probably mean sparking an all-out confrontation, and I wasn’t quite sure with whom Granny would side,” Harry wrote. “Also, to my mind, Angela was a troublemaker, and I didn’t need her as an enemy.”
Chard noted that with Meghan being a newcomer to the British royal family’s tight circle, there were bound to be obstacles with protocol.
“The ‘Tiaragate’ controversy arose as Hollywood and palace hierarchy clashed,” said Chard. “Sources have also shared whispers of other family tensions. However, sources have only offered glowing reports of the queen and Angela Kelly’s relationship.”
Fordwich said that Kelly earned her “clever” nickname with good reason. She was “sharply effective” and “an empowered gatekeeper and protector” of the queen.
“Angela earned her place of privilege with the immense trust shown by the queen due to her dedication and loyalty, two characteristics that are critical to serving the royals,” said Fordwich. “Angela also, rather uniquely, earned personal trust through some special talents, such as breaking in shoes for the queen, updating her look, which was successfully welcomed, and becoming a trusted confidante during the COVID lockdown.”
“Although from different backgrounds, the late queen and Angela Kelly held similar values, with duty being their priority,” said Chard. “They forged an unbreakable bond. Queen Elizabeth loved Kelly’s pragmatic bluntness and viewed her as an incredibly loyal friend.
“As Kelly ascended the hierarchy, she gained seniority and status. However, this led to many feeling somewhat jealous and threatened by her access to Queen Elizabeth.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California.
Kelly’s role came to an end after the queen died in 2022. She quietly stepped away from royal duties and retired from public service.
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Warsh’s $226 million fortune under scrutiny as Fed nominee faces Senate confirmation
Kevin Warsh heads into his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday morning vying to be the richest-ever chair of the Federal Reserve amid mounting questions over his sizable financial portfolio.
Newly released disclosures reveal the extent of Warsh’s wealth but leave key portions of his holdings unclear, which could complicate his path toward confirmation since the position he is up for wields enormous influence over financial markets.
The disclosures are likely to draw scrutiny from lawmakers due to potential conflicts of interest and concerns over transparency, both central focuses of the confirmation process — particularly at a time when the central bank’s credibility is already under a microscope.
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According to documents submitted to the Senate last week, Warsh reported assets valued at roughly $135 million to $226 million, positioning him to become the wealthiest chair in the Federal Reserve’s history if confirmed.
The nearly 70-page filings, released by the U.S. Office of Government Ethics as part of the standard vetting process for senior nominees, detail a portfolio spanning investments, board roles and other financial interests.
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Still, the disclosures leave some gaps.
For example, certain holdings are listed in broad ranges or lack full detail, a common feature of such filings but one that can draw scrutiny when nominees are poised to oversee institutions with vast influence over financial markets.
In fact, a note from a government ethics official attached to the filings says Warsh is currently out of compliance with ethics rules for certain holdings where he did not disclose the funds’ underlying assets.
The Office of Government Ethics said the rest of the filing meets federal requirements and that Warsh would return to full compliance once he divests those assets, which he has pledged to do within 90 days of confirmation.
That dynamic could prove especially sensitive for Warsh as lawmakers weigh potential conflicts of interest and the steps he would need to take to avoid them.
Beyond that, the filings also underscore the scale of wealth tied to his family.
They do not include the far larger fortune connected to his wife, Jane Lauder — granddaughter of Estée Lauder’s founder — which Forbes estimates at about $1.9 billion. Separate disclosures show Lauder holds millions of dollars in additional assets, further adding to the family’s overall financial footprint.
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Warsh’s potential ascent comes at a turbulent moment for the central bank.
Senators are still weighing ethics concerns tied to Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, with at least one Republican vowing to block Warsh’s confirmation over the issue.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who has been holding up the nomination, said he supports Warsh but will not back his confirmation until a Justice Department investigation into Powell is resolved. But that’s unlikely considering President Donald Trump’s push for the probe and refusal to back off pressuring DOJ to investigate.
On Jan. 11, Powell confirmed that the Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into his congressional testimony regarding the renovation of the Federal Reserve’s two historic buildings on Washington, D.C.’s National Mall.
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That probe comes as the Federal Reserve faces mounting pressure on multiple fronts, including a Supreme Court case testing its independence and persistent cost-of-living concerns weighing on President Donald Trump’s economic agenda.
Against that backdrop, scrutiny of Warsh’s finances — and how he manages them — is likely to intensify as his nomination advances.
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Mexico pyramid shooter who took hostages and killed 1 is identified
A gunman who fatally shot a Canadian tourist and wounded more than a dozen others atop a historic pyramid in Mexico on Monday has been identified, according to officials.
Authorities identified the gunman as 27-year-old Julio Cesar Jasso, a Mexican national, according to a state official who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the case publicly.
Jasso later died by suicide after turning the gun on himself, and security officials found a gun, a knife and ammunition. Authorities said he acted alone, with the State of Mexico government confirming he was the sole assailant on Monday night.
Officials said seven of the victims were struck by gunfire, while others were hurt in the chaos as people scrambled to get down from the pyramids, with some falling during the panic.
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Those hospitalized included tourists from several countries, among them the United States, Colombia, Russia, Brazil and Canada, authorities said. The victims ranged in age from 6 to 61.
Footage circulating in local media appears to show the suspect positioned atop the structure as visitors rushed for safety below, with gunfire echoing across the site.
The Teotihuacan complex, located just outside Mexico City, is one of the country’s most visited archaeological landmarks, drawing millions of international visitors each year to its towering pre-Hispanic structures.
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The shooting took place shortly after 11:30 a.m. when dozens of tourists were at the top of the Pyramid of the Moon.
Security measures at the site have changed in recent years, with routine entry screenings no longer consistently in place, according to a local guide.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on social media that the shooting would be investigated and that she was in touch with the Canadian Embassy.
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“What happened today in Teotihuacán deeply pains us. I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families,” she wrote.
Anita Anand, Canada’s foreign affairs minister, said on X that as a “result of a horrific act of gun violence, a Canadian was killed and another wounded in Teotihuacán” and that her “thoughts are with their family and loved ones.”
Later in the evening, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson also expressed “deep concern” and sadness over the deaths and numerous injuries, and said in a post on X that the U.S. is “ready to provide support as needed while Mexican authorities continue their investigation.”
The National Institute of Anthropology and History said in a statement that the Teotihuacán archaeological site will remain closed until further notice.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Blue state poured thousands of dollars into study on reparations as effort launches
Washington reportedly began a study on “reparative actions” for descendants of slavery on Friday after allocating $300,000 to the effort.
Last year, the Washington State Legislature funded a study to examine the history and impact of slavery in the U.S. as it relates to “the geography of the former Washington and Oregon territories.”
The state also wants to analyze how residents were impacted by state laws and systems regarding criminal justice, economics and education, according to the Washington State Department of Commerce.
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State documents show that the legislature approved $300,000 to fund the project. The Washington State Department of Commerce reserved 10% of the money for administrative costs to manage the program and the remaining funds will be distributed yearly through fiscal year 2026 to 2027, beginning July 1 to the end of June.
The department is open to philanthropic or private donations to “expand the scope and depth of the study.”
Ashley Gardner, the lead director of the project, vowed a thorough review of the historical injustices during an info session last month.
“We intended to leave no research stone unturned,” Gardner said, according to Seattle Times reporting.
The amount of funding provided by the state resulted from consultation with the Commission on African American Affairs. The commission is a representative of the African American community in Washington advising the governor, legislature and state agencies on public policy and its execution.
Researchers must have a Ph.D. qualification in history, African American studies, sociology and several other listed social science and liberal arts degrees with a “direct focus” on “reparations or United States chattel slavery.” The study sought candidates with an “expertise in calculating the present value of uncompensated slave labor for direct victims of the United States chattel slavery.”
The launch of the study came after the state issued a survey to residents to help inform policy recommendations within the study.
“We’re tasked with looking at the national picture, and understanding, is Washington culpable, and if it is culpable, to what degree?” Marvin Slaughter Jr., co-lead of the valuation and policy team, said.
The research team, the Washington Department of Commerce and the Commission on African American Affairs did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Washington follows several other local municipalities and states spanning from coast to coast looking to study the harms of slavery, Jim Crow-era policies, and redlining policies that led to housing discrimination in order to issue reparations in some form. Many others have already conducted a study, which resulted in reports on a detailed review of the past that linked to researchers’ policy recommendations.
A Chicago suburb — Evanston, Illinois — went as far as paying $25,000 in cash to Black residents to address past racial housing discrimination through its program.
As far as what reparations would look like in Washington, researchers reportedly believe it is too early to determine.
“Should it be cash payments? Should it be pensions? Should it be health care?” asked Thomas Craemer, the co-lead of the valuation and policy team on the research project.
“There’s a number of ideas,” he continued. “This is a research project. We’re not actually making any decisions, and we don’t want to. We want to let the community speak to us and to guide us.”
Despite efforts to issue reparations, some of the programs are facing obstacles due to budgetary or legal pressures. The cities of Evanston and San Francisco have been hit with lawsuits over alleged racial discrimination due to their reparations efforts.
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