Prince of Hairs

by Tom Sykes Jul 15, 2012 5:49 PM EDT

Spikey gent meets prickly Prince

Prickly Prince Philip was on his dissapointingly un-outspoken form when he met a man wearing a giant red mohican.

prince-philip-spike-royalist — Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh meets Ian "Spike" Betterton, Chair of The Friends of St Georges Park, Kidderminster, at Worcester Guildhall on July 11, 2012 in Worcester, England. The visit is part of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's Diamond Jubilee tour of the United Kingdom. (WPA Pool / Getty Images)

The encounter happened in Worcester last week.

The Duke had joined the Queen on the first of her two-day tour of the region as part of her Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

He did a double-take as he met Ian Betterton, known as Spike, chairman of the Friends of St Georges Park community group which aims to develop and improve the Kidderminster parkland.

After meeting the Duke, the 42-year-old, said: “He asked me if I support local hairdressers.

“I told him I do it myself and that’s why it’s a bit wonky.”

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Tom Sykes is a writer and journalist, and he edits The Royalist blog for the Daily Beast. Tom has worked for many publications, including a stint as a nightlife reporter and gossip columnist for the New York Post. He has written several books, most recently helping John Taylor of Duran Duran write and edit his autobiography, published by Dutton. Tom lives in London and Ireland.

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About the Author

Tom Sykes

THE ROYALIST, updated several times daily, reports on all aspects of the British Royal Family. With breaking news and the latest gossip, great pictures and informed commentary, the Royalist is essential eyeballing for fans of the world’s most famous family.