Being Camilla: Life as a Royal Lookalike

by Jane Mosse

What happens when you look so much like Queen Camilla, that strangers bow, curtsey, or simply stare at you in the supermarket?

For Jane Mosse, a retired head teacher, this was daily life. Weary of the double-takes, she embraced her uncanny resemblance and stepped into the surreal world of royal lookalikes.

Soon dubbed 'the world's best Camilla lookalke', Jane's life became a rollercoaster of humorous events.

In this hilarious memoir, she recounts her bizarre adventures—from flirting with a faux Prince Charles in a Bollywood movie, to whacking Harry Hill with her handbag, and even landing in prison alongside a Tom Jones doppelgänger.

With her image splashed across global exhibitions, press, and TV, Jane reveals the absurdities of living as a royal double. A delightful peek into a life where every supermarket trip could spark a regal encounter.

227 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 7, 2025

About the author

Jane Mosse was born in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne where she was awarded the title of Freeman of the City and, as a result, has the right to graze her cow on the town moor. She began her writing career as a researcher and writer for Nicholson's Guide to the Waterways alongside developing her love of poetry. In 2018 she published her first collection of poems, Guernsey Legends, in partnership with local artist Frances Lemmon. Barking Mad is her first novel and was inspired by some of the adventures that she and her husband Richard have had since taking up house-sitting following their retirement. They live on the beautiful island of Guernsey in the Channel Islands.

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very entertaining, thoughtful and informative account of life as a royal lookalike. Telling the story of how Jane Mosse made the transition from classroom and pupils to palaces and subjects in interesting and readable chapters.From teacher to Queen with very amusing incidents along the way, told in Jane’s witty style.
Thoroughly entertaining, we are taken to quick and public dress changes on a bus, an appearance in Catherine Tate’s television comedy and even a Bollywood film.
Always respectful to Queen Camilla , describing Royal occasions and the responding lookalike events.
Even if you aren’t in any way a Royalist, ‘Being Camilla’ will give you a new admiration for Camilla as well as a lot of chuckles on the way as life as her lookalike.
Immensely enjoyable.

[M. White · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating account of the world of the look alikes who have made careers out of impersonating the well-known people they resemble.