Johnson ‘squared up’ to the King over Rwanda plan, claims former press chief

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Boris Johnson confronted King Charles, “essentially squaring up” to him for describing the Rwanda asylum policy as “appalling”, according to No 10’s former director of communications Guto Harri.

The pair are said to have had a disagreement at a Commonwealth summit in the east African country in June 2022 after reports that the monarch, who was then Prince of Wales, had criticised the plan to deport people travelling across the Channel to Rwanda.

Writing in the Daily Mail, Harri said Johnson told him that he “went in quite hard” against Charles over his reported criticism of the policy.

Johnson disputed his longstanding ally’s account as “inaccurate”, with a source saying he “deplores” any commentary on conversations with royals.

Harri added the former Conservative leader also warned Charles against making a speech expressing regret over slavery over concerns that it could result in demands for financial reparations. Charles went ahead with the speech.

At the time, Johnson described his discussion with the Prince of Wales as a “good old chinwag” that “covered a lot of ground”.

Harri, a former BBC journalist who joined the Number 10 press team in February 2022 and left in September, wrote: “What actually happened was less amicable. ‘I went in quite hard,’ he told me at the time, essentially squaring up to the prince and confronting him about what he – as unelected royalty – had said about the actions of a democratically elected government.

“Prince Charles was busted. He had obviously expressed some criticism, and though he tried to play it down, Boris pointed out the obvious, [saying]: ‘If you didn’t say it, we both know your people could ring the newspapers and kill the story. The fact they haven’t done that says it all.'”

Johnson attended the king’s coronation on Saturday with his wife, Carrie, along with other former prime ministers including John Major, David Cameron and Liz Truss.

Harri, who has detailed his time in Downing Street for a new podcast series for Global Player, claimed that Charles and Johnson had a fractious relationship which stemmed from the latter being accused of being late for a meeting with the prince while he was mayor of London.

“Relations never fully recovered and Charles will be relieved that Boris had left No 10 before he ascended to the throne,” he added in his piece for the Mail.

A source close to Johnson told the paper: “Boris Johnson does not recognise this account and it is inaccurate. It does not accurately reflect any conversation.

“We would never comment on these matters and Mr Johnson deplores any attempt to do so.”

PA Media contributed to this report