Pippa recruits Kate’s crimper for wedding

With her wedding to hedge fund manager James Matthews less than a month away, Pippa Middleton is doing her utmost to ensure that the occasion is the intimate ‘family affair’ she set her heart on.

Aside from stipulating that guests at St Mark’s Church, Englefield, Berkshire, refrain from bringing along their latest squeezes — a ‘no ring, no bring’ policy, with a possible tactful exception for Prince harry’s love, Meghan Markle — i hear her Royal hotness has also decided to maintain family tradition by entrusting the styling of her tresses to celebrity crimper Richard Ward.

Ward describes himself as ‘an award-winning Royal hairdresser’ and on his website namechecks Pippa’s sister the Duchess of Cambridge and the Countess of Wessex among his clients. he also looks after ‘a glittering celebrity clientele in his exclusive Chelsea salon’, who are able to experience his ‘world famous Chelsea Blow Dry’. Little wonder that Pippa’s mother, Carole, has been a devoted client for years, as has her elder daughter Kate, who prepared for her wedding to William with a special two-hour appointment at Ward’s salon, just off the King’s Road.

On that day, however, Ward was unusually selfeffacing, allowing a team member, ‘creative director’ James Pryce, to take full control.

‘Usually the pressure is on me, but that day was all about James,’ Ward later acknowledged. ‘ he did so well. i was there passing the pins and loving every moment.’

Ward was being too modest. he did ensure that his PA was available for repeated practice sessions, complete with a £10 tiara — a substitute for the Cartier heirloom which the Queen lent Kate for the wedding — thereby allowing Pryce to perfect a demi-chignon. Pryce subsequently left the salon admit rumours of a rift, although Kate — and Carole — have remained loyal to Ward, who declines to elaborate on his forthcoming duties. ‘We are unable to comment on the wedding at this time,’ says a spokesman coyly. Nor can Ward confirm whether Pippa will be wearing a tiara. Given her fiance has already splashed out on a £250,000 engagement ring, there could be quite a lot of bling on show.