When Queen Camilla announced her visit to Swindon, I was lucky enough to be invited behind the scenes and meet the woman I'd only ever before seen on TV.

Having met Prince William in September 2023 when he paid a visit to BEST youth charity, I was not a stranger to royal visits and how well-oiled a machine the whole procedure is.

The royal family operate on what is called a 'royal rota', which means that only a select few journalists are invited to each event and they are expected to share their content with other news organisations for the day.

This ensures that royal visits aren't flooded with press, and the whole process is an organisational triumph by the team at Buckingham Palace, complete with a strict, confidential timetable and every second and step planned to a tee.

From previous experience, I expected scripted smiles for the cameras, planned impersonal questions and a flying visit that would be over before you could even blink - but Camilla's response to meeting domestic abuse victims was anything but.

Swindon Advertiser: Every moment of royal visits are usually planned to a T.Every moment of royal visits are usually planned to a T. (Image: Newsquest)

From the moment she entered the confidential location of Swindon's domestic abuse refuge, she was attentive, warm and clearly deeply touched by what she saw.

I watched as Camilla turned her back to the flashing cameras and instead turned her full attention to the staff and victims of domestic abuse who opened up their hearts and shared their stories with her.

Swindon Advertiser: I was surprised at how deeply moved Camilla appeared to be.I was surprised at how deeply moved Camilla appeared to be. (Image: Newsquest)

Almost half of her visit was dedicated to speaking to families and children living upstairs in the refuge residency, even though media teams were not allowed into the room due to the need for anonymity, so she would not get any 'media moments' or posed photos out of it.

Queen Camilla had been set to end her visit by unveiling a plaque and smiling for photos before driving away, and she was not due to give any speech.

However, the Queen felt so touched by her experience at the residency that she was moved to words and stayed to praise the staff at the abuse service as "doing something very special."

I have never described myself as a 'royalist', and probably still wouldn't, but I was taken aback by how human and attentive Camilla seemed and how completely far removed she was from the portrayal that has been in the national media in years gone by.

Whether you love or hate the royal family, the excitement, happiness and life-long memories that Camilla's visit brought to the town was clear to see.