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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Rosaleen Fenton

'I look like young Queen Elizabeth - I'll make twice my monthly salary this weekend'

A woman who has forged a part-time career impersonating Queen Elizabeth has revealed how she is set to make twice her monthly salary during the Platinum Jubilee weekend.

Harriet Ball, 23, from Preston, Lancashire, turned her likeness of the Royal into a profitable side hustle after friends started commenting on her likeness.

Hattie, who has just completed a degree in screenwriting, has had some appearances booked up for more than a year. She normally makes about £700 a month but will double that in just four days.

She says business started booming when Netflix released The Crown.

Hattie said: "When I look in the mirror, I just see Hattie, I don't think I look much like anyone else.

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"In 2015 the film A Royal Night out came out, and I went to see it with friends who all said I looked like Sarah Gaddon, who played Queen Elizabeth.

"Then The Crown came out and they said I looked like Claire Foy, and then my friends would say 'maybe it's just the Queen you look like'.

"I was once at an event that the Duke of Kent was attending, and he also commented on how much I look like her, so I've got family approval!

"I think it's such a compliment because she was a beautiful woman at my age, and she still is today, so hopefully I'll age as well as she has!"

Hattie revealed that she's been a fan of Queen Elizabeth her whole life.

She said: "She's an absolutely amazing woman.

"My grandma gave me some books about her that she had had when she was younger, and I started to look into her Majesty more.

"I'm just a huge fan."

Hattie's wardrobe includes an exact replica of the Queen's ATS uniform.

Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret in Balmoral (BBC)

She said: "I love vintage clothes anyway, so when I'm looking for outfits, I can wear for appearances it's close to my usual style.

"Quite a few of the things I own are replicas of outfits she's worn, like her ATS uniform.

"When I first started, I scoured the charity shops and vintage shops and built a wardrobe of ball gowns and day dresses.

"Now I can channel Her Majesty in any given situation."

It usually takes Hattie two hours to get ready for an appearance.

She said: "I have very very thick hair, so putting the curlers in takes time.

"Once I've done that my hair usually stays curled for about three days, so I'll be going through a lot of hairsprays over the four-day weekend!

"The make-up I do is quite like my everyday make-up, so it doesn't take me too long.

"I find once I have the outfits on, that helps me get into the persona a bit more.

"They're such gorgeous clothes, I want to do them justice so I'm immediately standing taller with better posture and everything."

Hattie currently has a jam-packed bank holiday weekend ahead of her.

She said: "I'm doing two private events on Thursday, and then another one on Sunday.

"Friday I'll be at the East Lancashire Railway, and Saturday I am at the international bomber command centre jubilee concert and ball.

"I've also got some things in the week, finishing at the RAF Cosford Air Show on June 12 at their Jubilee Village covering all eras of the queen's reign.

"I've some people reach out to me over the past few weeks who are looking to book, but obviously I've had to prioritise people who got in touch with me ages ago, some nearly a year in advance!

"Appearances usually involve me doing lots of waving and maybe making a speech.

"I'm not looking forward to going back to my normal job on Monday after such an amazing few days.

"I love my job, but it will be a big transition back to normal life."

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