[Camilla Parker-Bowles, now Duchess of Cornwall: personal reminiscences of John Phillips.] Privately-printed pamphlet: 'Camilla Story', with facsimiles of five letters from her, and accounts of two meetings, with her negative view of Cherie Blair..

After a twelve-year 'amitié amoureuse' with Phillips, Violet Trefusis (a relation of Camilla Parker-Bowles, both being members of the Keppel family) died in 1972, appointing him her literary executor and leaving him her last home, La Tour de Saint Loup. The present item – no other copy of which has been traced – is from a collection of Phillips's papers amassed by his friend Barbara Reed, containing pamphlets privately printed by him between 2009 and 2014. Phillips's obituary in the Daily Telegraph ('John Phillips, globetrotting flâneur and literary executor of Violet Trefusis', 24 March 2017) places the item in context, by describing how, at the end of his life, 'economics caught up with Phillips. He sold Violet Trefusis’s house, papers and chattels. He moved to Thailand after spells in Italy and Switzerland, settling in Phuket, from where he tried with relentless persistence to persuade friends and casual acquaintances to seek publishing outlets for his memories of once famous figures or to purchase valueless copyrights, despite having sent his own papers to the Lilly Library at Indiana University in 2004 and 2013 [...] His friends sighed at the deluge of attachments which arrived by email, along with desperate pleas for financial assistance.' Very much a home-made affair: bound in transparent plastic covers, with spine of blue tape. 16pp, 8vo. In good condition. Drophead title: 'CAMILLA STORY | 1996, SURPRISE TO RECEIVE THIS LETTER, WHAT LOVELY WRITING.' The rest of the first page carries facsimile of first page of autograph CPB letter to Phillips of 11 May 1996, the rest of the letter in facsimile on the second page. The pamphlet contains facsimiles of a further four letters, one in autograph and three typed. (On 16 July 1999 she writes, regarding his unpublished memoirs: 'My only reservation is that I have always believed that personal letters should be kept private.') It also contains two accounts, from Phillips's 'diary notes', of visits to 'Camilla', 30 April 1998 and 13 April 1999, including references to John Julius Norwich and Derek Hill. Also six colour photographs. In the first account he describes a visit to Raymill House, of whose owner he writes: 'Camilla – her penetrating eyes concentrate on me as we speak. “We meet at last.” Simply dressed. No nail polish. Nothing chic, a country woman. | The room is dominated by the famous portrait of Alice Keppel over the fireplace, also a portrait of George Keppel, […] Talk about John Julius Norwich whom Derek saw two nights ago at Windsor Castle, Reception for the Arts. John Julius – who knows everyone – remarked that he knew almost no one. The Blair “Cool Britain” had decided that this is the Age of Rock Musicians. A very different Britain! | Camilla has strong opinions. Vehement in her dislike for P.M.'s wife – Cheri – whom she says, does not curtsey to the Queen, but extends her arm – also rude remarks about not wishing to stay at Windsor....' On the second occasion he notes that CPB is 'much prettier than photos suggest. Sense of energy, animated intelligence; she concentrates on me as I speak, kindly but shrewdly. This is similar to impression that I have of Alice Keppel from Violet's accounts.' As stated, no other copy has been traced; it does not feature among the 'Writings' listed in the inventory of the Phillips Papers at the Lilly Library.