The late Queen's right-hand woman, Angela Kelly, has been recognised by the King in a special honours awards marking the former monarch's death.

But there was surprise in royal circles that the straight-talking Liverpudlian, who was so close to Queen Elizabeth that she wore in her shoes and was given the title of Personal Assistant, Adviser and Curator to Her Majesty, did not get a top honour.

Miss Kelly was among many of the Queen's closest and longest-serving aides who were recognised in a 'Demise' honours list. So too were hundreds of people who played an important role during her funeral.

They include members of the RAF flight crew who brought her coffin down to London from Scotland, as well as military coffin bearers and those who organised her state funeral.

Instead of being made a DCVO – Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) – like the Queen's long-serving diary secretary, Helen Cross, Miss Kelly has been upgraded only to a CVO, or Commander.