Residents on a quiet street in Sale have spoken of their utter astonishment after learning that their next-door neighbour is the new King of Rwanda.

Emmanuel Bushayija has spent the last few years living on the low-key housing estate and running a successful business.

Unbeknownst to most of his neighbours and friends, the dad-of-three was actually the exiled Royal Highness Prince of the central African republic.

However his cover has now been spectacularly blown after he was announced the successor to the throne, following the death of his uncle, King Kigeli V, aged 80.

Rwanda abolished its monarchy in the 1960s - and its royal family since that time have been in exile.

Mr Bushayija, 55, lives in a modest but well-kept £130,000 three-bed home in a quiet corner of Lingfield Avenue in a part of Sale known as ‘The Racecourse’ estate.

He runs his own security firm and lives there with is wife and three children, two grown-up boys and a young girl.

He has lived the terraced home - which has a clean and well-kept garden - for about seven years although the majority of his neighbours had no idea he was royalty.

There are no airs and graces, and he is said to enjoy a pint at his local pub.

(Image: PA)

However, he kept his lineage a secret from almost everyone and only a few knew he was a prince and the story that he had become king was news to most of his shocked neighbours.

Next-door neighbour Clare Dwan, 35, said: “We had no clue we were living next door to royalty until a reporter knocked on our door and told us. One of the neighbours knew he had been a prince but that was it. Obviously, the whole square is talking about it now.”

So was there any bowing or courtseying?

“No. He’s not royalty here. He’s royalty over there. And he’s not like that anyway. It’s not like he wants any special treatment or anything like that,” said Clare.

Other neighbours described how the Royal neighbour appeared to be a down-to-earth but hardworking dad.

No-one answered when the M.E.N. knocked on King Bushayija’s door.

Although, the previous King Kibeli died in humble circumstances in the US and did not have any children his passing has been mourned by many in his homeland - who still regard the banished Royals with affectin.

And in an official statement, it was announced that Prince Emmanuel - who will now be known as King Yuhi VI - was born in Rwanda on 20th December 1960 but grew up in exile in Uganda, he later worked for PEPSI Cola and in the tourism industry in Kenya, before eventually moving to the UK.