Before she became Queen and a figure of steadfast support beside King Charles, Camilla lived through an ordeal in her youth that shaped both her resilience and her later commitment to causes close to her heart.

A painful memory from her teenage years has recently come to light, offering a new perspective on the Queen Consort’s quiet strength and her dedication to helping survivors of sexual violence. The disclosure came through Guto Harri, former communications director to Boris Johnson, who recalled how Camilla once confided in the then-Mayor of London during his early days in office.

An Awkward Introduction at Clarence House

Boris Johnson’s first formal meeting with then-Prince Charles in 2008 had been, according to Harri, “awkward at best.” After arriving late to Clarence House due to transport delays, Johnson was met with a cool reception. “There was never a lot of love for [Boris],” Harri remembered, noting that Charles appeared irritated by the lateness.

But Camilla’s reaction was quite different. Intrigued by Johnson’s larger-than-life personality, she reportedly asked her husband afterwards: “He looks like such fun. Can we have him over for tea?”