HE DRESSED THE QUEEN'S HAIR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23381, 24 June 1939, Page 13 (Supplement)

HE DRESSED THE QUEEN'S HAIR

Y MAN whom the Duke of Windsor, when Prince of Wales, orice thanked for "many comfortable shaves," and to whom the Queen, when she was Duchess of York, gave a set of pipes for dressing her hail* on board ship, now runs a little barber's shop in Chatham, Kent. He is ex-Marine William Richard Uden. Few of his customers know that ho h.'is been a hairdresser to royalty. He seldom talks about it. Mr. Uden acronipanied the Prince of Wales on his tours to Canada and South Africa, and went with the Duke and Duchess of York to Australia and New Zealand. "No Whims" He has many mementoes of these trips—signed photographs of the Duke of Windsor and a letter of thanks signed by the Duke and Duchess of York. But he does not exhibit these tilings in his shop. "I prefer to keep them private," he told an interviewer. "Most of all 1 treasure the memories of my association with royalty. I found them tho most charming, natural people in the world to work for. They i

had no whims or fancies; they just lot me get on with mv job. "JJefore J sailed with the Duke and Duchess for Australia, I underwent a special course in ladies' hairdressing in the West End. "The Queen has a lovely head of dark, silky, naturally wavy hair. Jt was a delight to dress it. "When I was with the Duke of Windsor, then Prince of Wales, I used to

shave him every morning before breakfast and every evening before dinner. "He was an ideal 'customer,' one of those who put you at your ease immediately. He would chat to me, and often asked about my wife and children. "At the end of the South African tour the Prince handed me a present of £ls and thanked me. He gave me a crested silver cigarette case as well." Mr. Uden retired from the Marines in after 22 years' service.