Ken Coates, in London, meets a royal look-alike

Press, 24 June 1981, Page 12

Ken Coates, in London, meets a royal look-alike

(hat it was of the Queen. “But when the artist was asked to confirm this, and explained that I was the subject, she was asked to withdraw it,” explained Jeannette. “It was then that this role was really thrust on me,” she adds. “A Daily Express’ reporter interviewed me.photographs were taken and. it just snowballed -. From then on. she was asked to appear all over the world. “Although I have been to Australia :several' times, for the production of television commercials. I have not yet been to New Zealand.” ■ At first, she had many outrageous requests, such as being asked to appear as the Queen for photographs in the red light district of Paris. “But I turned down all requests because first I am a loyal subject, and I also did not want anything to rebound on my family." She frequently appears in films and in television sketches in among other programmes. "The Two Ronnies,” "Not the Nine O’Clock

“Therq is an aura surrounding her majesty and it -Rind of spreads around to what I feel too.” An avowed ..Royalist — how could she be otherwise? — Jeannette Charles- says she has a file full of accolades from people who have appreciated her "surprise appearances.” ■ " ■ . Such is that status of royalty in (Britain that even a look-alike “queen” can receive homage. .Some firms engage her to . appear at "that; special occasion" in recognition of employees’ .service..' ?/' ’? ■ . “And there’s the fun like giving a ‘knighthood’ or? the order-of. the boot.” . Has she ever come face ti>. face with the Queen? Jeannette Charles/aged 53 (theQueen, 54) says ,this has not vet happened. But as to whether her majesty is) amused, or not . . . ’ And stepping out of her royal mantle, she adds: “I’m right up there, with all the big people — it really is thrilling for me. . .. “I was at John Conti’s restaurant one night and. Mohammed Ali asked' to have his photograph , taken with me,” she said. “I was proud that such a person should have heard of me.” Now that her children have grown up — David is 22, Peter.,2l, and Carol, 17 — Jeannette Charles, travels widely, as does her husband in his' job. She was due to leave for Mexico City the next day, was then due in Los Angeles and New York, and following the United States, to Cologne to open a jewellery exhibition, a radio interview for Canada, another for Public Service Television in America and an appearance for a film for an Australian company. Jeannette Charles admits there is sometimes an unpleasant side to her work. “For example, someone who has perhaps had too much to drink comes at you, criticis- j ing royalty. “But then even the Queen j has to put up w T ith that — | like that time when a man I came at her with a bottle in . his hand at Stirling Univer- ; sity. Quite a scene it was. , “But then that’s show business. And royalty are in show business too. I mean, Lord Litchfield is a male , model, as well as a photogra- , pher, and gets paid for it.”