LONDON (AP) – Queen Camilla of Britain publicly addressed her personal experience of indecent assault for the first time on Wednesday. In her comments, she emphasized that sharing her story was a way to leverage her royal platform to bring attention to the growing epidemic of violence against women. This statement aligns with her commitment to combatting domestic abuse, which has become one of her primary causes.
Camilla recounted an incident from her teenage years in the 1960s, during which she faced an attack on a train. “I was reading my book, and you know, this boy, man, attacked me, and I did fight back,” she explained in an interview with the BBC. After the confrontation, she recalled her mother noticing her disheveled appearance, asking, “Why is your hair standing on end?” and “Why is a button missing from your coat?” This resonant recollection highlights the lasting impact of such experiences on survivors.
While the attack left her feeling “furious,” Camilla revealed that she had remained silent about it for many years. It wasn't until she began hearing similar stories from other women that she felt compelled to speak out. “Domestic violence has been a taboo subject for so long that most people don’t realize how bad the situation is,” she remarked. With her influential position, she desires to utilize her voice to encourage dialogue around this important issue. “I thought, well, if I’ve got a tiny soapbox to stand on, I’d like to stand on it,” she stated. Camilla recognized her role in highlighting domestic abuse and fostering community conversations about the topic.
These remarks were made during a group interview with the family of Louise Hunt, a 25-year-old who, along with her sister Hannah, 28, and their mother Carol, 61, was tragically murdered by Louise’s ex-partner in July 2024 at their home near London. The queen expressed admiration for former racing commentator John Hunt and his daughter Amy, acknowledging their dedicated efforts in the fight against domestic violence. “Wherever your family is now, they’d be so proud of you both,” she said, conveying her support and empathy for their loss while celebrating their resilience.
This is the first instance in which Queen Camilla has publicly shared her experience with indecent assault. However, the incident had been previously mentioned in the book “Power and the Palace,” authored by Valentine Low, a former royal correspondent for the Times of London, which conveyed details of the attack. According to Low’s account, while on the train to London’s Paddington Station, a man seated next to her attempted to touch her inappropriately. In a moment of self-defense, she fought back using her shoe to strike him in the groin. After reaching Paddington, she reported the incident to a uniformed man, leading to the attacker’s arrest.
Queen Camilla’s revelation is significant in the ongoing national conversation about violence against women and the importance of speaking up to combat this pervasive issue. Her willingness to share her past experience contributes to breaking the silence surrounding domestic abuse and inspires others to come forward with their stories.
