In today’s absolutely true story – and definitely not the ramblings of an octogenarian comedian amplified by the British tabloids – a soap star is claiming she was once approached by a friend of the royal family to take Prince Charles virginity.
Amanda Barrie, who starred in Coronation Street for the better part of two decades, but is right now trapped inside the Celebrity Big Brother house, claims she was tapped by Prince Philip to show his son Charles – then still in high school – the ways of the womanly world.
Jokes on him, of course, because Barrie came out as gay in 1967 and is now happily married to crime author Hilary Bonner.
According to the Daily Mail, Barrie was approached by actor James Robertson Justice – a friend of Prince Philip – for the royal boffing. He apparently called the invite the “ultimate compliment, but don’t be offended by it.” Unfortunately, nobody can check, because Justice died in 1975.
“He was obviously very embarrassed and went round and round in circles before it came out. Finally, he admitted he was one of eight people who had been selected to help ‘launch the royal males into their future life’, as he put it,” said Barrie.
“Between them, they had to choose anyone they thought would be suitable to teach Prince Charles about sex, and James had decided that I was suitable.
“He actually said: ‘We don’t really want people who are experienced but on the other hand, well, obviously they have to know the ropes. Frankly, the main thing one needs is a sense of humour and I know you have got that’.
“James indicated that if things went well, I would be a kind of fixture — not a girlfriend, but someone in the background. He said: ‘They [the royals] can’t possibly go off into the world without their own person.’ Apparently, it was to be a privilege as no payment was offered.”
Apparently, Barrie’s mum Connie pushed her to accept, telling her that it was a chance to become the next Nell Gwyn, the notorious mistress of King Charles II.
But although Barrie briefly considered the offer, it was the thought of khaki shorts and breakfast with the Queen that really canned it.
“The one thing that put me off was he suggested I take a pair of khaki shorts to go shooting.
“It was those that did it. I couldn’t imagine me, in my wig and false eyelashes, dressed in khaki shorts striding across the moors. I had this terrible image of having to face the Queen over breakfast. What would she say? ‘So, Amanda, how was it?’
“I also thought that because Charles was so young, it might be a dreadful experience and I might be blamed. I had to say ‘no’.”
She kept the entire deal a secret (until now, anyway), at the request of Justice, and Prince Charles – who, unthinkable as it is now, was something of a playboy before marrying Diana Spencer – reportedly lost his virginity to the daughter of the Chilean ambassador while at university.
The royals live a life of intense privilege, sure, but at least most of us will never have our virginity written about in an official biography.
Anyway. Live and let bonk, we say. And Amanda Barrie is my new hero.
