The late Queen Elizabeth II always looked impeccable, especially with her hair, favouring her symmetrical, highly coiffed, short curly coiffure.
One of the people behind creating the late royal's signature look was Scottish hairdresser Ian Carmichael, and speaking to Woman & Home for its centenary issue, he spoke about the huge honour he felt when working with Her Late Majesty, while also remembering to know his place.
"It was a very intimate job and there probably weren't many people who could touch her in such a normal way, as you just didn't touch the Queen," he told the publication. "I enjoyed being with her and it was always an honour, but I knew my place."
Ian also shared how he felt that Elizabeth placed a "huge amount of trust" in him. In his role, Ian would have had unprecedented access to the late monarch, being able to get close to her in ways that her other staff members wouldn't be allowed.
The late Queen rarely changed things up when it came to cutting her hair, with Ian usually shampooing her locks, before setting it with rollers. However, there would be the "occasional silver rinse for a bit of shine".
Who else worked on the late Queen's hair?
Ian isn't the only person to have worked on the late Queen's hair, with her senior dresser, Angela Kelly, having to take on the task during the COVID-19 lockdowns.
At the time, she was part of "HMS Bubble", and speaking to HELLO! in 2022, she said: "From March 2020 onwards I washed The Queen's hair every week, set and styled it, and even trimmed it when needed. My team named it Kelly's Salon."
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesShe added: "The Queen knew I was nervous, and during the first two weeks I was shaking. I had only done her hair once or twice before while on board the Royal Yacht Britannia. The Queen was so kind as she advised me on the very specific way to put the rollers in.
"As I grew in confidence I'm sure The Queen thought I was a professional and started shouting at me, 'Don't do that, do it this way. That's right, you've got it, don't change it.' I was thinking, goodness me, I need a gin and tonic.
© Getty"So while The Queen was under the dryer I said to her, 'I'm off for a stiff drink because this is so stressful, getting it just right for you'."
Angela then joked: "I had to wash and set her hair, and at the end of that, never mind one gin and tonic – I needed a whole bottle! The Christmas broadcast was another reason to reach for the gin. Any time The Queen was without a hat was stressful as there was nowhere to hide, so I had to get her hair perfect.
"Zooming became part of The Queen's life and Kelly's Salon became very busy. Thankfully, I only had one client!"
