YOU know you are really famous when you are asked to be measured for a wax figure that will stand in the famous Madame Tussauds waxworks museum in London.
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Would-be celebrities from tacky television shows never get the chance. The good folk at Madame Tussauds know that with them it’s a case of from today’s newspaper headlines to tomorrow’s take-away fish and chips wrapping.
This certainly isn’t the case when it comes to members of the British royal family. We are told the days of the monarchy may be numbered. Try telling that to Madame Tussauds. The royal family remains among the most popular exhibits of all – especially Queen Elizabeth II, who in 2015 had her 23rd depiction, taking over from Queen Victoria as the most featured of all figures.
And that doesn’t include the dozens of models of Her Majesty at the various Madame Tussauds’ offshoots around the world.
Last Monday the renowned establishment unveiled yet another royal tableau. For the first time it features the Queen’s immediate family standing on the iconic balcony at Buckingham Palace. Tourists will be able to take selfies with the monarch, her consort the Duke of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Duke and Duchess of Cornwall.
The attraction also confirmed its figure of Prince Harry’s bride-to-be Meghan Markle will be ready in time for their wedding on May 19.
That the new exhibit has the Queen’s blessing is obvious after the official notice of Ms Markle’s imminent arrival was placed on a golden easel outside Buckingham Palace. “Giving Meghan the royal welcome she deserves,” is the way Madame Tussauds explained it.
Whether she will become as popular when it comes to selfies as Prince Harry’s mother, the late Princess Diana, is another matter. There are plans for many more depictions of the new bride. The first will be in Madame Tussauds in New York, where she will become the first American citizen to feature in a display of British Royalty, expected to be unveiled by the end of this year.
But, of course, everyone has his or her favourite. Hollywood star Tom Cruise is the subject of many a photo. But the curators have been careful to put him on a staircase, a couple of steps from the bottom to disguise the fact he is so short.
US President Donald Trump is one of the current flavours of the month. No one is quite sure whether it’s because he is a popular politician ... or despised.
This travel writer was delighted a couple of years ago when he had a happy snap taken with the wonderful Welsh songstress Shirley Bassey, who was a three-peat James Bond diva – Goldfinger, Diamonds are Forever, and Moonraker.
As for Australia – we will just have to wait a little longer!
