I have proper, metal, heat curlers (somewhere) that I could use but would they be to tight, or could I do a big chunk at a time . . . .??? but when/ how would I do the colour if I was using them?
Seriously, Molly, you could do worse than go to your local 'old-lady' hairdresser and ask her to do you a shampoo and set a la her maj. I mean, you might feel a bit daft sitting there under the dryers alongside the old dears, but at least it'll be more authentic. Shouldn't cost you very much.
Molly, go to Boots or another chemist and get some spray grey colour, it'll wash out. I'd not use talc, it will really clog your hair (well, it would mine).
Saxy the little old ladies all go to the college because it's dirt cheap, but that's because the people doing it aren't qualified yet so don't do a decent cut.
How thick is your hair and how short are the layers around the front?
Length might be an issue but if you have shorter layers at the fromt and a fringe you could curl and set it at the front and a bit at the sides and pin the rest up under a crown/tiara, pin it so some of the natural curl shows.
You can get proper setting lotion but bit of a waste for a one off, I'd be tempted to put product on before you set the curls to help them hold. Might be hard to pin the front curls properly so you need to get them to set and stay if at all possible. I'd also consider the best way to keep frizz free if your hair is naturally curly, I'd get a better job setting them while my hair is damp then set under heat so they dry in shape.
My hair is quite a bit longer than yours and naturally curly and I could get away with it though it's very fine so easy to pin up.
This is incidental to the question but I stood within 6 feet of the queen when she visited our town in 2002 during her jubilee tour. I was astonished how healthy and good looking the queen was for a 76 year old woman! She looked completely different to when you see her on TV.
I agree with dotty.'s suggestion of buying a second hand wig and spraying it grey. You can always put the wig in the washing machine first, or put a shower cap over your hair and put the wig on top of that