ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Ever Wondered What Life Is Like For A Prince Harry Lookalike?

Ever Wondered What Life Is Like For A Prince Harry Lookalike?

Matt Hicks pretended to be Prince Harry for a reality TV dating show 'I Wanna Marry Harry' where he had to learn everything about him

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie

Whether you see May 19 as just another day on the calendar or the best day ever because a certain two individuals are tying the knot, it's hard to deny that Royal Wedding fever is sky high.

Media commentators are talking about everything under the sun, from what Meghan's dress will look like to what goes on at a wedding reception of this level (seriously, do they all get pissed or is it a very tame affair?).

But imagine being someone who looked really like one of the people getting hitched at St George's Chapel in Windsor.

PA/Matt Hicks Instagram

There's no denying that Matt Hicks looks a hell of a lot like Prince Harry.

In fact, his likeness was so striking that he was cast on an American reality dating show, I Wanna Marry Harry, where a dozen women thought they were in with a chance at dating the Royal family member.

Legit, the 27-year-old spent several weeks convincing these ladies from all across the US that Prince Harry had taken time out of his busy schedule to find a bride.

Matt has told LADbible: "I Wanna Marry Harry was a bizarre time of my life. What an opportunity for a 23-year-old single guy. Looking back on it, I had a blast. Six weeks filming, dating 12 beautiful women, unbelievably lavish dates.

"What more could you want?! But it was not easy. Dating one girl is tough. I'm sure some of you guys have tried dating two, maybe five. But 12? Dangerous territory.

"You have to remember everything you've said previously, never forget a name, or the age of their cute niece. Which elaborate stories you've told to impress them. It's hard."

In preparation for the job, he had to learn everything he could about Prince Harry, from where he grew up, where he went to school, who he's been with, who his friends are, what bars he liked to go to and his military career. It was the ultimate catfish.

While he received a bit of Prince Harry banter from people as he was growing up, it wasn't until university when the jokes really ramped up.

He says it reached fever pitch in 2011 after a trip to Barcelona where he dyed his hair brown and as it slowly faded back to blonde, it left Matt with a nice, reddish colour.

PA/Matt Hicks Instagram

Despite the striking resemblance, he's not hounded by people every time he leaves his home.

"People don't normally stop me in the street," he's told LADbible. "You see double takes, you hear a few whispers, but it's quite rare that I would be stopped in the street. There have been occasions where I've been asked for photos. Mostly these instances happen on nights out.

"I think this is probably because it's a bit darker, beer goggles are on, and people seem to get less shy about approaching a random ginger after a few cocktails."

While he never plays the Prince Harry card while trying to get into a club or trying to chat to a woman, his mates usually step in and try to say, 'Do you know who this is?'. Everyone needs wingmen like that.

Matt has used his appearance to his advantage a few times and certainly didn't turn down the offer when he was approached by drinks company Schweppes.

They flew him all the way to Tel Aviv, Israel where he stayed for five days and shot a commercial with a Meghan Markle lookalike - sounds like pretty easy money.

There was one moment in his life that he probably wished he never looked like Prince Harry.

Before I Wanna Marry Harry was released, the production team flew Matt to Memphis, Tennessee where they knew the actual Prince Harry would be for a friend's wedding with his brother, Prince William.

Matt Hicks/Instagram

Matt says: "I was dropped off on Beale Street with a bit of an entourage, camera man, bodyguard, production manager... and it was carnage.

"Within seconds, I was swarmed by the crowds, wanting autographs, to shake my hand, to say hi. I couldn't move down the street. It took about 45 minutes to shuffle 100 metres and in the end I got a police escort to a nearby bar.

"To this day I still don't know if they thought I was the real Prince or if they were just being super helpful."

Thankfully for Matt, he's been on holiday in New Zealand - which is just about the furthest place you could be from the UK, where he would likely have been getting a lot of attention.

Featured Image Credit: PA/Matt Hicks Instagram

Topics: Royal Wedding, Interesting, Lookalike, Community, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle