King Charles’ guard, Manuel Alcantara Turner, 22, appeared unrecognizable as he was crowned Mr. England on Thursday.
The British soldier, who served during both the King’s Coronation and the late Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, is the first member of the military to win the title, surpassing over 150 competitors, according to The Times.
Manuel, from Whitley Bay in Tyneside, serves as a lance corporal with the Coldstream Guards at Victoria Barracks near Windsor Castle. Following his win, current Miss England, Milla Maee, shared the news with her 72,000 followers through a video.
Milla praised Manuel’s dedication, saying, “Each finalist worked so hard to make it to the Top 12, but there can only be ONE WINNER. I am thrilled for your journey to @mrworld.official and will support you every step of the way. There is no one more suited for this role, and I know you will make us proud, just as you already do for our country.”
Manuel expressed his pride in representing the British Royal Family, stating, “I’m honored to win this title. I’ve always wanted to dedicate my life to England, so this feels well-deserved. I’ll represent my country with pride and hope to make everyone proud.”
Based in Windsor with the British Army since he was 16, Manuel, originally from Newcastle, has participated in key ceremonial duties including the King’s Coronation, the Queen’s funeral, and her last birthday parade. In terms of operational service, he has been deployed twice to Kenya and has trained Ukrainian soldiers.
Manuel earned his title through a series of competitions, including a catwalk round, a fashion shoot, and an interview. He is now preparing for the Mr. World competition in Vietnam this November, and confirmed that taking time off work for the contest will not be an issue.
In addition to Manuel’s achievements, Miss England Milla, known as “the Cornish Pamela Anderson,” previously met Prince William before her May win. They discussed her Beauty With A Purpose project, GoFarWithCPR, which aims to make CPR and first aid training mandatory in schools.
Milla shared on Instagram, alongside a photo with the Prince of Wales: “It was so enriching to see the Prince’s recognition of the importance of CPR. We both agreed that CPR and basic first aid training could be lifesaving and should be part of the school curriculum. It’s incredible that something so simple yet so effective is not already included. Join us in our mission with St. John Ambulance to make this change—GoFarWithCPR.”
