Duchess Catherine

Duchess Catherine

Richard Ward, the hair stylist of Britain's Duchess Catherine, didn't realise who she was for years.

Ward, who styled the 32-year-old's hair on the day of her marriage to Prince William in 2011, admits it took him a long time to realise she was even famous.

He explained to Stuff.co.nz: "I remember looking over my shoulder and one of our junior stylists had been cutting her hair...I said, 'Is that Prince William's girlfriend, Kate Middleton?' I certainly made sure I knew her after that."

Ward explained that he did lots of preparation work before he styled Duchess Catherine's hair for her wedding.

Ward said he practiced up to 15 times on his red-haired personal assistant Sam.

He remarked: "It was top secret what I was doing, and I'd just practice and practice... I was actually practicing with a €12 tiara that you'd buy on the high street anywhere.

"You can't faff around on the morning of the royal wedding, the timings are to the last second."

Ward, whose salon is based in west London, lists the likes of Liz Hurley, Kim Cattrall and Pippa Middleton among his other clients.