Carrie Johnson shared a joke about motherhood with Queen Camilla as the royal greeted her warmly at a reception at Buckingham Palace this afternoon.
The former prime minister’s wife, 36, attended the relaunch of the Queen’s Wash Bags project, which provides a bag of toiletries to victims of sexual violence.
When the royals arrived for the engagement, Carrie lined up alongside Love Island star Zara McDermott to be greeted by the Queen.
In images captured by Daily Mail royal editor Rebecca English, Carrie, looking elegant in a red midi dress, bowed to the Queen as they shook hands.
The two women then exchanged a kiss on each cheek before trying to remember their last encounter.
Shadow Minister for Victims and Sentencing Kevin Brennan speaks to Carrie Johnson as they attend a reception hosted by Queen Camilla in recognition of those who support survivors of sexual assault.
Carrie began by saying, ‘Hello, it’s nice to see you!’
The Queen then replied: “It’s a pleasure to see you.” […] A lot of time has passed. Not since you had [child] Number Three.’
In response, the mother of three said: ‘I know, it’s chaos! Chaos. Nice to see you.
Carrie and Boris welcomed their third child, Frank Alfred Odysseus, in July 2023. The couple already share four-year-old Wilfred and two-year-old Romy.
After this warm interaction, Camilla met Zara McDermott, who previously opened up about being a victim of revenge porn as a teenager, and her mother.
The Queen’s initiative is a cause that is undoubtedly close to Carrie’s heart, as she has bravely spoken out about being attacked by black cab rapist John Worboys when she was 19.
Camilla originally launched The Wash Bags Project in 2013 after speaking to survivors of rape and sexual abuse during her visits to Sexual Assault Referral Centers, which began in 2009.
The bags, donated by Boots, are offered at the centers after victims undergo forensic examinations, as a small gesture of comfort at a difficult time.
The two women then exchanged a kiss on each cheek before trying to remember their last encounter.
Pictured: Carrie Johnson was warmly welcomed by Queen Camilla at a reception at Buckingham Palace today.
Queen Camilla shakes hands with Carrie Johnson while hosting a reception for the relaunch of The Wash Bags Project.
After this warm interaction with Carrie, Camilla met Zara McDermott, who previously opened up about being a victim of revenge porn as a teenager, and her mother.
When the royals arrived for the engagement, Carrie lined up alongside Love Island star Zara McDermott to be greeted by the Queen.
Pictured: Carrie Johnson with her son Frank Odysseus in July 2023. Carrie also shares her son Wilfred and daughter Romy with Boris Johnson.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie Johnson arrive at the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in May 2023.
As well as working with organizations that support victims of sexual abuse, Camilla has also worked extensively in the area of domestic abuse, as a patron of SafeLives, and has worked with many organizations such as Refuge and Women’s Aid in the UK and many others a international level.
In her speech, Camilla cited how almost 800,000 women and 275,000 men experience attempted or actual sexual assault each year in England and Wales.
The Queen said: ‘Their stories and experiences are vital tools as we seek to bring about change – to forge a world where people, whoever they are and wherever they are, do not live in fear of being abused.
‘As I have often heard victims say: talking about the experience is one of the key ways to survive it. By sharing with each other today, we can strengthen our alliance against sexual abuse in all its forms. […]
“The goal of the toiletry bags was to create something that would be ‘a crumb of comfort’ for those who found themselves in this horrendous situation.”
Elsewhere, Camilla spoke about a letter she received from the family of a sexual assault survivor, to whom she gave the fake name Jane, who was grateful for the small act of kindness after an attack.
Queen Camilla (pictured today) originally launched the Wash Bags Project in 2013 after speaking to survivors of rape and sexual abuse during her visits to Sexual Assault Referral Centres.
Queen Camilla shakes hands with a guest as she hosts a reception in recognition of those who support survivors of sexual assault.
The victim’s mother wrote: ‘We were getting ready to leave and we were all feeling very depressed and dull. Jane’s personal contact returned with a wonderful bag of toiletries and items to pamper and relax her.
‘This simple act completely changed the atmosphere and lifted our spirits. “It was such a lovely and completely unexpected gesture, reminding my daughters and I of the kindness of strangers in a very dark time.”
Camilla continued: ‘As you can imagine, I was deeply moved by this letter. The phrase “the kindness of strangers in a very dark time” is, for me, the guiding principle of everything you all do: extending a hand of friendship to people who have been dehumanized in the most brutal ways; give comfort to those who are traumatized; and offer hope that physical and emotional healing is possible, as Jane can attest.
‘So, to each of you I would like to say: thank you. Thank you for sharing your stories, thank you for your kindness, thank you for not remaining oblivious to those enduring the darkest of times, and most of all, thank you for standing up and committing to ending these heinous crimes. forever.’
In 2021, Camilla became a patron of the Mirabel Centre, Nigeria’s first sexual assault referral centre.
At the launch of the Wash Bag Project in 2013, Camilla said: ‘When you’re sick, the first thing you want to do is wash your hair and brush your teeth. The same applies here.
“It’s a small thing to make women and girls who go through such a terrible experience feel a little bit human again.”
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this story, Help women offers free support through its instant messaging service and hotline.