'I was asked to appear in an X-rated film as the King!'

King Charles lookalike Guy Ingle, 62, has spent over 30 years working as the royal’s doppelganger. Here, Guy, from  Ampthill in Bedfordshire, tells his story

- LUCY ROBINSON

As I entered a building just off Oxford Street, a floor full of visitors turned towards me in shock. “Ladies and gentleman, please welcome Prince Charles,” a voice announced over the speaker. “Welcome to London,” I said before being met by a flood of camera phones and requests for selfies. As a King Charles lookalike, scenes like this are a normal part of the job.

Having started out in the 80s, after initially doing impressions and hosting parties, I’ve done everything from wedding speeches to cameos in films. In 2007, I went to Los Angeles where I spent four weeks filming Superhero Movie alongside Hollywood icon Leslie Nielsen.

While I was there, I lived the A-list lifestyle. I had my own chauffeur, rode in a limousine and got free tickets for Universal Studios simply for looking like Charles. I even stayed in Leslie’s Beverly Hills apartment. It was incredible.

I’m lucky that my job has taken me all over the world. I’ve filmed adverts in locations like Japan, the United States and Spain. I even starred in a Bollywood movie and was once paid over £1,000 to deliver a five-minute speech to celebrate Heathrow Airport opening Terminal 5.

But there are things I wouldn’t do, regardless of the money on offer. One time I was asked to appear in an X-rated film, much to my amusement. I laughed at the offer but politely declined. I’ve always had a great respect for the royals, so I’d never portray the King in a negative way.