(1 Apr 2011) Londoners might have been forgiven for thinking Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding had come a month early on Friday, when a fake royal entourage passed through the city's streets.
Lookalikes dressed as Queen Elizabeth II, William and Kate - resplendent in a wedding dress and carrying a bouquet - drove along central Piccadilly in a horse-drawn carriage.
The April Fool's Day spectacle caused chaos amid the midday traffic jam and sparked excitement among onlookers.
The stunt was part of an elaborate book promotion event.
Having descended from the carriage, the imitation bride and groom politely waved to cheering crowds as they headed into a bookshop for the launch.
The lookalike queen, escorted by a footman, arrived with corgi dogs, a favourite of the real monarch.
Jodie Bredo, a 22 year-old from Essex, recently quit her job in order to model full-time as a fake Kate Middleton.
She said she monitors closely the future queen's style.
"People come up to me and say, 'Oh, you look like Kate!', but I've never been mistaken for her or anything. But people say it to me a lot."
The fake William is, in real life, 29 year-old Australian Simon Watkinson from Adelaide.
He has also studied the real prince for hints on how to capture a suitable regal stance.
"There's just a few key things you learn: to stand with your hands clasped and as tall as possible - and also a cheesy smile also helps!" Watkinson said.
The real William and Kate plan to marry April 29 at Westminster Abbey.
Until then, their imitators expect to be kept busy with all manner of photo stunts.
Friday's event launched the book 'Kate & Wills - Up The Aisle', an irreverent look at the royal family which pokes fun at the upcoming wedding in a series of racy photos.
Author Alison Jackson said she could not resist tackling the subject matter.
"It's a piece of history. I'm an artist. I couldn't not depict what's happening right now," Jackson said.
The book is one of a series of British spoofs, including elaborate newspaper and magazine productions, capitalising on the fascination and occasional fatigue with the escalating blitz of publicity leading up to the royal nuptials.
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