'My mouth is a weapon, but Charles left me speechless'

AT HOME, she wakes up at 6am and runs into the garden, throwing her arms wide to welcome the new day. Meditation aside, she rarely switches off. This year she published her third poetry collection, Through My Pain, and her second novel, psychological thriller Grave Expectations. Her eight books include her memoir, Unzipped. The 2019 documentary, Suzi Q, saw the likes of Debbie Harry, Chrissie Hynde, Lita Ford and Joan Jett saying she had inspired their careers.

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As a teen, Suzi's tough-cookie persona and sharp wit silenced hecklers and would-be Romeos alike. But one man who did disarm her was King Charles. After a mid-80s Prince's Trust show, Charles told Suzi, who'd appeared wearing a basque, fishnet stockings and heels, "You have the best legs since Tina Turner!" It left her speechless.