WAXWORSTS
Inside waxwork museum where tourists flock to see models of royals, Presidents and celebs that are ‘so awful it’s funny’
William has worryingly yellowy skin while Kate would be unrecognisable if not for the plaque naming her
IT’S any Royal Editor’s dream to get time with Wills and Kate.
But when I saw them this week, they weren’t exactly chatty.
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The Prince and Princess of Wales are two of the most-photographed people in the world.
And thousands of tourists flock to Poland’s Polonia Wax Museum in Krakow to take selfies with these terrible figurines and other famous names from history, which are so awful it’s funny.
They have become a social media sensation, even prompting shock from Jeremy Clarkson and Co in an episode of The Grand Tour.
But nothing prepares a visitor for coming face to face with the replica royals.
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William has worryingly yellowy skin and a grimace that makes him “look like he is on acid” — while Kate would be unrecognisable if not for the plaque naming her.
The waxworks were created from photographs by a firm in China and it is understood each royal cost the equivalent of £8,000.
But time is running out to grab your ticket and pose with these two dummies — as new versions are being ordered.
Museum manager Marian Dreszer admits it is time the royal couple got an upgrade.
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‘We want people to smile’
He said: “We made them about eight years ago. At that time, they looked very similar, but now they look very different.
“In the next year or so, we will be rebooting all of the exhibitions with new Kings and Presidents. Then they will have to change.
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“We will get a new William and Kate. I’m not sure if the new sculptures will be better, so we will keep these as a spare. We will be getting new ones from China.”
Marian said the wacky waxworks are a huge hit with tourists.
He added: “Many, many people come here and see William and Kate and they smile. It’s fun.
“I don’t think William and Kate would have a problem with this. The figures were made specially this way because we don’t want to be serious.
“They are smiling and we want people who come also to smile.”
The online frenzy over Wills and Kate draws in around 500 paying visitors every day — which equates to £6,000 in ticket sales.
Marian said: “They help us very much because many people from English-speaking countries come just to see them, so we can’t get rid of them for good.”
Kate and Wills are in good — or, rather, terrible — company in the museum, which is a short walk from Krakow’s main square.
Beside them in the Royal Family room are waxworks of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip — described on The Sun’s YouTube show Royal Exclusive this week as looking more like Gollum from Lord Of The Rings.
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And it gets worse. There is a cross-eyed Michael Jackson, while Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump both look more like Halloween slasher Michael Myers.
Vladimir Putin shares a cell with fellow Russian leaders Lenin and Joseph Stalin. Meanwhile, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler’s moustache is wonky.
Al-Qaeda terror chief Osama Bin Laden sits cross-legged in a cage, while former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill relaxes on a sofa in his wartime boiler suit.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has a quiff and is only identifiable thanks to his trademark green sweater.
And Polish and Barcelona footie ace Robert Lewandowski is almost recognisable — but a crouching Elvis looks more like a tribute act.
The waxworks are so bad, wall plaques carry their names so visitors can identify them. Pope Francis has donated shoes to his replica, though three approaches to Donald Trump for an original tie have gone unanswered, the museum manager says.
Bizarrely, staff at the attraction occasionally swap ex-Polish President Lech Kaczynski’s head to change his mood between happy or glum.
The museum believes around 150,000 tourists visit every year.
Jasmine Pearson, 22, of Chester, and pal Lauren Glenn, 22, of North Wales, were among those who there this week.
Jasmine said: “It’s so awful it’s funny. We have seen it on TikTok, so we had to come.
“We spent most of the time at William and Kate’s waxworks. It’s not very flattering. What about Michael Jackson and Donald Trump? It’s enough to give you nightmares.”
Another visitor said of the Prince of Wales: “What’s wrong with his teeth? William looks like he is on acid.”
As Royal Editor at The Sun, I often get to see the Prince and Princess of Wales close up at official engagements.
I’ve travelled around the world with them, to destinations including Jamaica, the Bahamas, Singapore and South Africa.
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But these waxworks look nothing like the couple — and should really be melted down.
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