Denise McAdam thinks the royal family awarded her a Royal Victorian Medal for "keeping my mouth shut".
The royal hairdresser was given the prestigious honour in 2010 for 35 years of service to the royal family and she believes the accolade stems from her discretion as she has never repeated stories from her time in Buckingham Palace.
She said: "I’ve heard some very good stories from my clients over the years. I could write a brilliant book. There are things that William and Harry have told me, but you have to be discreet. That’s why the Queen awarded me the Royal Victorian Medal – it was for 35 years of keeping my mouth shut!
"When I got the award, I had a handwritten note from every member of the royal family. Even the queen said, ‘Oh, that’s a very long time you’ve been working for us.’ It was a great honour."
Denise is good friends with Duchess Catherine, 32, but found Princess Anne, 63, rather "scary" when she was younger.
She told Radio Times magazine: "Princess Anne was the scary one, particularly when I was young. It was a simple up-do so I just used to go in, close my eyes and do it as quickly as possible.
"I don’t do the royals any more, although I’m a good friend of the Duchess of Cambridge. I think her hair is wonderful, maybe a little overdone at times. But she always looks lovely."
Royal hairdresser awarded for ‘keeping mouth shut’
