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Jeanette Charles has enjoyed a glittery career as The Queen's best lookalike, thanks to her uncanny resemblance to Her Royal Highness.

But now she's drawn the curtains on her 42-year reign, which saw her rise from local celebrity to Hollywood movie star almost overnight.

Mrs Charles, 86, began working as a royal doppleganger in 1971, when she commissioned a painting of herself as a birthday present to her late husband Kenneth.

She spotted an advert in her local newspaper by an artist, who also wrote a column in the paper, who commented on her likeness to the Queen in his article.

All of a sudden, she was inundated with calls from media across the world wanting to interview her.

Mrs Charles said: "I thought it'd be a nine-day wonder, but then I was interviewed by Russell Harty on his TV chat show and it snowballed."