Bee venom and shoulder pads: Insider tips on looking as good as the Queen

For members of the royal family, a huge part of their job is being visible. As the late Queen Elizabeth II put it, she had to be seen to be believed. And when you’re in the spotlight so much of the time, often multiple times a week, with the cameras – both official and unofficial – always on you, it pays to look your best. It’s practically part of the job description.

So it’s no wonder then that Queen Camilla has decided to bestow the honour of a royal warrant on the trusted team of couturiers, designers and beauty experts who are responsible for her glamour and glow, naming six of them in the honours list for 2025.

Included among the Queen’s favourites were Jo Hansford, the London hair stylist who has been colouring her hair for decades, as well as Deborah Mitchell, the Midlands-based skincare expert who travels up and down the country to give her majesty her signature bee venom facials.

Also in the list were the milliner Philip Treacy, dressmakers Fiona Clare and Anna Valentine, and couturier Roy Allen, who was previously granted a royal warrant by the late Queen Mother.

Here, some of her glam squad share their top tips on how to look as good as the Queen at 77.

Deborah Mitchell, facialist

Queen Camilla arrives for a farewell ceremony on the final day of the royal visit to Australia and Samoa in October. Photo / Getty

The Queen’s glowing complexion is the result of frequent bee sting facials with skincare expert and founder of Heaven, Deborah Mitchell. “The bee venom has an anti-wrinkle effect on the skin, helping to smooth static lines as well as movement lines,” says Mitchell. “It works around the eye area too, and you can use it on your neck and decolletage. The results are cumulative and get stronger and stronger the more that you apply.”

The other key part of Mitchell’s treatment for the Queen is the massage element. “We physically move the skull, so that it gets tighter and smaller,” she says. “As we get older, our jaw moves and the stresses and strains of life show up on our face. So if you release all of that stress, it actually moves millimetres and you can feel the skin tightening so that the face looks drastically younger.”

Another of the Queen’s go-to products are collagen drops, which Mitchell says can make your skin look youthful within one week. “My drops bypass the liver, so they can get to work straight away,” she says. “As well as giving you glowing skin, it also promotes hair growth, which is great for anyone with thinning hair as they age.”

And one thing you can do at home? Give yourself a little lymphatic drainage massage. “Put your head in your hands, as if you’re upset, with your arms on a table, and move your hands backwards in a wave motion,” she says. “This relaxes the back of your neck, and it actually gets rid of some of the lymphatic fluid that’s built up in your face. It’s very good if you’ve been drinking over Christmas as well.”

Jo Hansford, hair colourist

The Queen's hairstyle has changed very little in the past few decades. Photo / Getty

Queen Camilla is known for her signature blonde choppy bob, a look that has changed very little in the past few decades. That is, unless you look closely. As her hair colourist Jo Hansford explains, the royal has gradually changed her hair colour, warming it up as she has got older to compliment her complexion now that she is in her 70s.

“I’ve changed the Queen’s hair over a period of time as obviously everyone’s skin tone changes as they get older, so you have to soften the hair colour,” says Hansford, who has worked with the Queen for more than 30 years. “ I’ve made the Queen Consort’s colour much warmer now, more honey than white blonde. Her current shade really compliments her skin colour and it was a mutual decision between us because that’s how it has to be. The colour really suits her and if you see it in real life it looks much softer.”

“When it comes to colour, if you get it right, hair colour can give you an optical facelift,” says Hansford. “As a rule, everyone’s natural hairline is lighter than the rest of their hair because it grows finer there, so we always keep it a shade or two lighter as there’s nothing worse than having a horrible hard line that shouts against the skin; it’s also really ageing. So it’s all about bringing light to the face.”

In order to maintain colour, Hansford recommends maintaining a strict conditioning regimen. “Do it properly or don’t do it at all,” she says.

In terms of her cut and style, Hansford thinks that a shorter length suits everyone once they reach 70. “As a rule, hair shouldn’t fall past the shoulders if you’re over 70,” she says. “I don’t think it does you any favours. Any cut that sits around the jawline is uplifting and youthful.”

Fiona Clare, dressmaker

Queen Camilla and King Charles visit the Australian National Botanic Gardens in Canberra, Australia. Photo / Getty

The Queen’s dressmaker Fiona Clare says you can’t underestimate the power of great tailoring. “I always cut to follow the body shape,” she says. “An inner lining with some hidden structure will give a base for any fabric, clients often think looser is more flattering but sharpen it up and it will transform the look. I love the longer length, it’s just a matter of perfecting it for each client.”

Other tips include shoulder pads and choosing the right dress length. “When you have a bespoke outfit created for you, all concerns are taken into consideration, a strong shoulder, shaped in at the waist, three-quarter or long sleeves and some detail with seaming or embroidery,” she says. “It’s amazing when a slightly sharper shoulder pad goes in, even on an off-the-peg dress, and when the length is right for one’s height, it transforms the look. Never forget what you wear underneath as well – it can take years off.”

In terms of colour, it’s about what makes you feel great – though there are a few staples you should have in your wardrobe. “You should always wear a colour which makes you feel confident, if you are having a dress made, navy is a classic which always works; a second dress maybe claret or red; ivory is also a winner,” says Clare. “For prints I would always go to Liberty - the quality of their silk and cotton is fabulous, the colours always photograph well and you can always find a print.”