After Princess Diana and Prince Charles separated, the future King’s aff.air with Camilla (then Parker Bowles) exploded into public view when a transcript of their intimate phone conversation leaked to the press. The recording — which some described as containing “phone sex” — became front-page news and was nicknamed Camillagate and Tampongate. It followed a year of public strain for the royal family.

The Infamous 1989 Call

The call reportedly took place on December 17, 1989, while Charles was still married to Diana and Camilla to Andrew Parker Bowles. Alongside talk of how to meet in secret, the pair exchanged romantic and sexual remarks.

In the most notorious section, Charles joked about wanting to “live inside” Camilla’s clothes, adding, “Or, God forbid, a Tampax. Just my luck to be chucked down a lavatory and swirl round forever.” The conversation ended with declarations of love.

The press published the transcript in full and even set up a phone line for the public to hear the recording. In a 1994 documentary, Charles admitted to infidelity but claimed it happened only after his marriage had “irretrievably broken down.”

How the Recording Emerged