In 1979, King Charles was only a Prince when he visited Australia for an official visit. He went to Cottesloe Beach in Perth for a run and a swim. King Charles was single then, and people were scrutinising his love life. Suddenly, a 26-year-old model named Jane Priest ran towards the Prince and kissed him on the cheek. The incident produced a famous image that people still discuss over four decades later.
Jane Priest is a former model and actress. She is the model who kissed Prince Charles, now the King of England. When she raced to the Royal and kissed him, Jane Priest became renowned worldwide.
That opened opportunities for her to work as a model and in commercials. However, Jane does not want to talk about the incident anymore because it happened many years ago and is the only thing millions worldwide know about her. So where is Jane Priest now?
Jane Priest profile summary
| Full name | Jane Priest |
| Gender | Female |
| Date of birth | 1953 |
| Age | 70 (as of 2023) |
| Place of birth | Australia |
| Current residence | Northern Beaches, Sydney, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Ethnicity | Caucasian |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Hair colour | Blonde |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Mother | Margaret Priest |
| Marital status | Married |
| Partner | John Baylis |
| Children | Simon |
| Profession | Former Model and actress |
What are some unknown facts about Jane Priest?
Jane Priest was born in Australia in 1953 (age 70 as of 2023). Her mother was Margaret Priest, a famous sculptor from West Australia. When Jane Priest turned 26, her life changed when she kissed Prince Charles. Here is what you should know about Jane Priest's bio:
1. Jane Priest’s famous incident was staged
In 1979, Prince Charles, now King Charles of England, officially visited Australia to represent the Queen. However, the official visit also turned into a public relations stunt when a model kissed him on the cheek. But who was the model who kissed Prince Charles?
In the 1970s, Prince Charles was seen as the future heir to the throne. But he was a busy man who had enlisted in the British army and was rarely available to the public. People also considered him a senior bachelor because he was not dating anyone then.
The Royals wanted to change their perspective about Prince Charles. So, when he went to Australia, the Royal family arranged for Prince Charles to meet up with the 26-year-old model Jane Priest on Cottesloe Beach, Perth.
After picking Jane Priest, the Royals arranged for her to meet the Prince the night before the events to ensure she was a suitable candidate. Jane Priest was directed to kiss Prince Charles once she saw him at the beach.
The following day, everything worked according to plan. Jane saw Prince Charles at the beach diving into the water. She wanted to follow him in, but the Prince got out when she did. So, she followed him out of the water, ran towards him, and put her hands on his chest, ready to kiss him.
Prince Charles was hesitant at first. Nevertheless, Jane Priest kissed him on the cheek. Also, the Royal’s photographer got the pictures he wanted and later published them in the newspapers. The photographs made the Prince look more accessible to the public.
It also humanised Prince Charles, showing him as someone who can engage with the public casually and spontaneously. And while Jane Priest became famous, the event was a public relations stunt to improve his image.
2. Jane married a famous businessman
Before kissing Prince Charles in 1979, Jane Priest was a single mother and worked as a model to support her child. Jane was accompanied by his son, Simon, at the Cottesloe Beach in Perth, Australia, when she kissed Prince Charles. Priest’s son is now a scientist.
In 1996, 17 years later, Jane Priest married a businessman named John Baylis. John is a self-made millionaire who worked in the hospitality industry. According to Jane, she has been deliriously happy since she married John. However, it is unknown whether the two have children together.
3. The personality lives a quiet life
It has been 44 years since Jane kissed Prince Charles, now King Charles. For many years, people considered Jane Priest Perth’s It Girl. But what does Jane Priest do in 2023? As of 2023, Jane Priest today refuses to talk to the press.
That is because the press keeps asking
4. The model worked for Playboy
Jane Priest worked as a model even before meeting Prince Charles. But her career became more successful after the meeting. In the early 1980s, Jane appeared on the Playboy magazine cover. She also modelled for many companies in the 1980s.
5. What does Jane Priest do?
After her modelling career, Jane Priest landed jobs in TV commercials. Before settling in Northern Beaches in Sydney, she moved to Western Australia for work. She also appeared in several TV shows, including Rioda (1981), Bellamy (1981), Life Support (2002), and Where Are They Now (2006).
As of 2023, Jane Priest's net worth is undetermined. However, her husband is a self-made millionaire who worked in the hospitality industry. On the other hand, Jane’s son, Simon, is a scientist in Australia.
Final word on Jane Priest
Jane Priest is a former model and actress. Many know her as the model who kissed Prince Charles 44 years ago. The Royals staged Jane’s photos of kissing the Prince of Wales to show that he was an accessible person. Jane married a businessman called John Baylis in the late 1990s.
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