Kate Middleton And The Behind-The-Scenes Beauty Feud That's Rocking The Royals

The battle is on to become the Duchess of Cambridge's go-to hairdresser...

Kate Middleton has found herself in the midst of a battle over her world-famous locks, with the royal beauty's previous hairdresser James Pryce reportedly having been pushed out of her styling team by the Palace.

The renowned royal stylist and former Creative Director at the Duchess of Cambridge's favourite salon, Richard Ward in Chelsea, famously tended to Kate's thick brunette tresses at her 2011 Royal Wedding.

He also accompanied her on her tour of North America later that Summer.

But after allegedly repeatedly using Kate's photos to promote his work after cutting his ties with the salon, James is now said to have fallen out of royal favour.

'When he went solo and tried to tour around the USA, he launched a Facebook page and Twitter account which featured hundreds of pictures of Kate and her various hairstyles to promote his business', a hairdresser at Richard Ward told The Telegraph.

'Obviously, that did not go down too well with the Palace at all.' Pryce, who later took a job at rival salon Josh Wood Atelier in Holland Park, now works part time.

'Richard Ward still cuts Kate’s hair and she has her colour done at the salon,' the insider continued. 'Plus, she has her stylist, Amanda Cook Tucker, who blow dries her hair for events, but James has really been pushed out.'

It was recently revealed that the Duchess had booked Joh Bailey, a hairdresser in Sydney, for her and Prince William's upcoming tour of Australia next year.

He is the same snipper who tended to the locks of Diana, Princess of Wales during her final visit to the Antipodes the year before she died.

Looks like the battle is well and truly on to secure a spot as the Duchess' number one stylist...

Got a tablet? You can now download Marie Claire magazine straight to your iPad, Kindle (just search the store for 'marie claire magazine'), Nook or Google Nexus.