A Prince Harry lookalike who feared he'd lose work after 'Megxit' says business is booming again - and he often makes 'four-figures' a day. Rhys Whittock, 39, says demand has been sent skyrocketing by the Duke of Sussex's ongoing court cases, book launch and coronation appearance.
The doppelganger - who signed to an agency in 2017 - had thought Harry's 2020 bolt for the US with wife Meghan Markle would kill off his livelihood. But the royals' continued public appearances mean Rhys is working harder than ever - and he says his work won't be affected by the outcome of the litigation brought by the prince - "as long as Harry is on the front pages".
Rhys said: "I was a bit concerned that it was my job over. But it became quickly apparent they’d remain in the media and public domain. I knew I'd be fine as long as that’s the case - and arguably [Harry and Meghan are] more in the spotlight than ever before."
Rhys spent years being stopped in the street and told he looked like Harry before eventually signing with an agency. Since then he has jetted all around the world for various roles such as TV adverts, private functions and, most recently, GB news' re-enactments of Harry's court appearances.
Rhys can now make upwards of £1,000 in a single day in the role. Also being a lifelong fan of the royals himself, Rhys hopes to meet Harry one day - and considers his work "the best job in the world".
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Rhys, with fiancée Maria Bogatyreva, 26, said: "I have always been a big fan of the royal family. Aged 13, I went to watch Trooping the Colour in London and often watched the changing of the guard.
"As an adult, every time I went out I would get comments, pointing and double-takes. I got my first job with the lookalikes agency just before Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018 - and it just blew up from there.
"I'm one year older than Harry - I actually tell people he's MY lookalike because I got here first! I love the job - I'm very fortunate to look like one of the most talked about men in the world."
Rhys won EasyJet's 'Best Prince Harry Lookalike in Europe' competition in 2018 and interest grew even further. He found himself jetting all over the world for his work - such as a private party for a billionaire's birthday in Macau, China, in 2018 and a TV advert in Tel Aviv, Israel, in early 2020. Rhys' latest role saw him re-enacting Harry's recent court appearances, featured on GB News.
Rhys, from north Kent, said: "It is huge to be involved with such a big story. It’s a great way of portraying it to the audience using the transcripts from the courts. It's a very authentic way to portray it."
Rhys, who has never met the Prince he earns a living impersonating, says he would "love" to meet him one day. But as far as the Harry's court case is concerned, he doesn't believe the outcome will affect his future work.
He said: "I'm a big believer in there's no such thing as bad publicity - Harry and Meghan have seen good and bad the past few years. But as long as Harry's on the front pages, it's always good for me because interest remains high."
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