In a powerful display of royal advocacy, Queen Camilla has personally commended French rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot for her extraordinary courage in confronting sexual violence. The 73-year-old grandmother, who endured nearly a decade of systematic abuse by her former husband, received a handwritten letter from the monarch expressing “heartfelt admiration” for her global impact in changing narratives around victim shame.
The correspondence, revealed exclusively to BBC Newsnight with permission from both women, contains the Queen’s praise for Pelicot’s “grace and dignity” in facing “horrific crimes.” Her Majesty wrote: “I very much wanted to write to express my heartfelt admiration for the courage, grace and dignity with which you have faced the horrific crimes committed against you. You have inspired women across the globe and created a powerful legacy that will change the narrative around shame, forever.”
Pelicot’s case gained international attention during the 2024 trial in Avignon where she waived her anonymity to make “shame swap sides” from victim to perpetrator. Throughout the 15-week proceedings, supporters gathered daily outside the courthouse holding signs thanking her for her courage. Her former husband was convicted for repeatedly drugging and raping her while inviting online acquaintances to participate in the abuse.
The survivor described being “overwhelmed” and “very honoured” by the royal gesture, noting she “wasn’t expecting a letter from the Court of England” despite her story’s global reach. “I felt moved and very honoured that she had become aware of what had happened to me,” Pelicot told Victoria Derbyshire.
Queen Camilla has established herself as a long-standing campaigner against domestic and sexual violence, working extensively with survivor support organizations. Her letter concluded with personal condolences: “Thank you for all that you have done. You are very much in my thoughts and prayers, and I hope that you will now be able to rest and recover from this devastating ordeal.”
The correspondence coincides with the release of Pelicot’s memoir, “A Hymn To Life,” which documents her journey from victim to global symbol of feminist resistance.