King Charles III and Queen Camilla had a years-long friendship with Joan Rivers before she died in 2014.

“Charles was first introduced to the caustic comedienne — famous in America for her forthright humor and for her hilarious takedowns of celebrities on the red carpet at star-studded events — by mutual friends in 2003, while on a painting vacation in the south of France,” former royal butler Grant Harrold shared in his upcoming book, The Royal Butler: My Remarkable Life of Royal Service, according to an excerpt obtained by Us Weekly exclusively.

Rivers referred to Charles, 76, as “darling” following their first meeting, even though she had previously “poked fun” at him. Charles, meanwhile, referred to the comedian as “Miss Potty Mouth,” according to Harrold.

“Joan also hit it off with

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