When the Duchess of Sussex retreated from royal life, it had a knock-on effect for her doppelganger, Sarah Mhlanga…
Sarah Mhlanga is used to being stared at wherever she goes because of her startling resemblance to Meghan Markle.
And ever since Meghan became part of the Royal Family, actress Sarah has managed to capitalise on being her doppelganger, earning hundreds of pounds appearing on screen and at events as the Duchess’ double.
She was often accompanied by Harry, William and Kate lookalikes and in the run-up to Meghan’s wedding she was doing a couple of appearances a week.
But since Meghan and Harry decided to make a new life for themselves in America, and the rift with William and Kate became public, her work has all but dried up – and now she’s concentrating on being an actress in her own right.
Sarah, 40, explains, ‘Meghan’s life has changed and so has mine – in many ways for the better. But I miss being part of the ‘Fab Four’ – we used to have such a laugh together on our jobs. ‘Harry’ and I were the jokers while ‘Kate’ and ‘William’ were more sensible. I miss my family of lookalikes!
‘We’d have been so busy in the run-up to the coronation. But now I’m hired on my own, which isn’t as much fun. During the coronation, I’ll be working at a theme park – doing a walkabout and posing with people for selfies.
‘I’ll enjoy getting dressed up as Meghan, I love how glamorous her look is. And I don’t blame her for choosing not to come to England to celebrate it, it’s her son Archie’s birthday and he’s her priority – her children come first. And I suspect that she needs more time to heal from all the rows.’
Sarah acknowledges that Meghan’s popularity has waned in Britain since the couple left before making a series of damaging accusations about the royals – but she still defends the Sussexes.
Sarah, who lives with her husband Jabu, 42, and their two children Josiah, 13, and Mimi-Raie, 10, in Cheshire, explains, ‘Meghan does amazing charity work and champions women, which as a feminist I completely agree with, and I think she’s had a tough time.
‘I don’t know how she copes with it. I was trolled just for being her double. I got nasty comments and felt terrible, so I can only imagine how tough it is being constantly bombarded by vile comments.
‘I now ask for security if I’m going to be out and about in public as her, especially if I’m near Buckingham Palace or Windsor where people have previously believed I really am Meghan.
‘At the end of the day, I just see her as a mother who’s doing the best for her family and if she believes that’s raising them outside of the UK, then that’s her decision.’
Sarah has mixed feelings about the forthcoming coronation.
She says, ‘I was a huge Diana fan so I struggle slightly with Charles. But I admired the Queen enormously and I am a royalist so once my public appearance is over, I will watch the coronation on catch up.’
And Sarah partly credits Meghan for the success she’s having in her acting career. She explains, ‘I’ve studied acting since university. Meghan didn’t inspire me to do it, but what she has inspired me to do is keep going.
‘I’ve read about how many knock-backs she had in auditions before she got the part in Suits and it made me more determined than ever to fulfil my ambitions.
‘I recently played her in a Netflix film but also last month I was in a play which had a two-week run at Wakefield Theatre Royal and got a standing ovation after one performance. It was a huge buzz and what I really want to do.
‘Meghan and I are both going in different directions, but we’re being true to ourselves.’