Members of the royal family find themselves in the press on an almost daily basis. But in a piece of wholesome news, a British solider who has served as a guard for both Queen Elizabeth and King Charles just won the Mr. England competition.
Lance Corporal Manuel Alcantara Turner of the Coldstream Guards competed against 150 hopeful contestants to win the title of Mr. England. The competition took place in Leicester, England on August 20, and saw Turner fight off 11 other finalists to secure the trophy, People reported. The final wasn't easy, either. Turner was required to take part in a catwalk and a fashion shoot, before being interviewed by Miss England.
The 22-year-old has been in the army since he was 16, and is currently based at Victoria Barracks near to Windsor Castle, according to People. Turner's dedication as a solider has seen him serve in a plethora of important events. As well as taking part in King Charles III's coronation, Turner was also in attendance at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral.
Turner celebrated his Mr. England win, saying (via The Telegraph), "All I want to do is lay my life down for England, so I think that’s pretty deserving for Mr. England." He continued, "It’s an absolute honor to win this. I will represent my country well and hopefully make everyone proud."
However, the soldier wasn't completely prepared for the Mr. England competition. "This is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this, so I was quite nervous," Turner said of his win, according to The Telegraph. "But I do think myself quite a charismatic kind of guy. I know my work would appreciate it, and I checked with them just in case, so time off work will not be an issue."
The new Mr. England will travel to Phan Thiet, Vietnam for the Mr. World competition on November 23. Having served in the army and worked at prestigious royal family events, Turner is more than ready for the challenge.
"In terms of ambitions, it’s to serve my country," he revealed, via The Telegraph. "That has always has been my ambition and always will." We're sure King Charles would be very proud of the royal family guard!
