The Duchess of Cornwall came face-to-face with her teenage past when she was reunited with a friend she had not seen for 45 years.

Camilla, 62, was 17 years old and crazy about the Beatles and make-up when she last saw Charlotte Ericson at the Swiss finishing school Mon Fertile.

But her former classmate - nicknamed Lottie - was determined to meet the Duchess when she visited Victoria, British Colombia, on Friday as the royal continued her tour of Canada with the Prince of Wales.

Armed with a placard she had made which read "Camilla! Lottie Here, Remember Mon Fertile 1963-1964?" Mrs Ericson, 62, waited for her friend outside the province's parliament.

When the royal couple went on a walkabout after a ceremonial welcome outside the building the Duchess stopped and greeted her friend.

Mrs Ericson, who like Camilla has two grandchildren, said: "She recognised me and said hello. It was great to see her.

"She told me she had recently seen some pictures of us all, so she must have been in touch with some of the girls from the school."

Camilla grew up in rural Sussex and was educated at the Queens Gate School in South Kensington, before going to finishing schools in Switzerland and France.

Mrs Ericson, originally from Sweden but now living in Victoria, said there were around 40 girls at the Swiss school who were taught French, sewing, typing and etiquette for eight months during 1963-64.

Speaking about Camilla's life as a member of the British royal family the 62-year-old said: "I think it's fantastic she's a Duchess, she has really grown into the role."