Review: By Royal Appointment at Leeds Grand Theatre

“…Quentin’s convincing portrayal…shines through in every look and movement throughout the production….”

By Royal Appointment by Daisy Goodwin, Leeds Grand Theatre

By Helen Kelly

Daisy Goodwin’s By Royal Appointment examines the lives of three important figures and their roles during Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. These three characters are based on Dresser Angela Kelly, Designer Hardy Amies and Milliner Freddie Fox.

The play explores how clothing was just as important – if not more so – than the Queen’s actions during her public appearances. Wearing the wrong colour, for instance, could send the wrong message. Similarly, dressing in outdated styles could suggest that the monarchy itself was outdated and out of touch with its people.

The show opens with Caroline Quentin (laying the dresser) returning from the Queen’s funeral, Now that her employer is dead, Gráinne Dromgoole (as the curator) asks her to help find information about the Queen’s clothes for an interactive multimedia show. When pressed on what this would look like by the dresser, the curator replies, “like the ABBA show”. Quentin’s convincing portrayal of the Queen’s devoted dresser—her confidante and longtime companion—shines through in every look and movement throughout the production.

The play then takes the audience on a journey through the key events of the Queen’s reign, showcasing the outfits worn at pivotal moments such as the investiture of Prince Charles at Cardiff Castle, a meeting with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Lord Mountbatten’s funeral, and the historic visit to Ireland, to name but a few.

The flashbacks begin with the designer, played by James Wilby, and the Milliner, played by James Dreyfus, entering what resembles one of the state rooms in the Queen’s residence. Wilby is tutoring Dreyfus on how to greet the Queen, as it is his first time of meeting her majesty. Wilby advises Dreyfus not to bow deeply, only to nod his head; however, upon meeting the Queen, Dreyfus ignores this instruction and does everything he was told not to do. The wonderful Anne Reid plays her Majesty and she plays the role superbly. From the first outfit to the last outfit, she has the queen’s mannerisms down to perfection.

The first outfit under discussion is the one for the Prince of Wales’s investiture. The Queen wanted the outfit to be modern – but not too modern. Wilby explains his design choices for the dress after Dreyfus introduces a hat, which he claims was inspired by Anne Boleyn. As soon as the clothes are agreed, the Queen leaves the room and those on stage freeze as the curator steps in to give the audience a brief insight into the historical context of the year the next scene is set in.

There are emotional highs and lows throughout the play for all the characters, performed brilliantly by each actor. Through the relationships of these four people we learn that Wilby has a strained relationship with his father and watch him after his father’s death and on receipt of gaining a knighthood. The Queen is there to offer parenting advice to him. Dreyfus’s character is coping with a close friend who was dying and, again, the Queen was there to lend a supporting hand. The Dresser, meanwhile, goes through a divorce after finding an earring in her bed. She too is supported by the Queen, though the Queen’s initial advice is simply to “look the other way”.

The production projects background pictures at the back of the stage to show the Queen in the costumes discussed onstage. Despite my understanding of their purpose, some pictures were too hard to see and therefore added little to the performances at times.

There were problems with the microphones switching off and on, especially at the beginning. There were also a few times where all the actors stumbled with words, but that just left me and my companion having a conversation as to whether it was accidental or deliberate to show that they were aging.

Goodwin’s writing meant that this play was not only serious and captured times of historical importance but it was also funny and gave the audience a different perspective to think about when we look at the clothes that Her Majesty wore and why. It also helped to shine a light on the roles of certain individuals that were, in many ways, just as important as the roles played by the Royal Family themselves.

By Royal Appointment plays at Leeds Grand Theatre until Saturday 28 June. Tickets are available here.

Helen Kelly wrote and published her first Romance book in 2022 after being inspired by completing three master’s degrees in history. She has now written three books and various short stories. In her spare time, Helen loves to visit various parts of the country, some of which have been an inspiration for her books. Helen is a mother of two grown-up daughters living in North Yorkshire. She loves to read and to visit historical places and theatres. Find out more about Helen at www.helenkellyauthor.com