LONDON — In a groundbreaking public disclosure, Queen Camilla has revealed her personal encounter with sexual assault for the first time, utilizing her royal platform to address the pervasive issue of violence against women. The Queen Consort shared her harrowing experience during a BBC interview on Wednesday, detailing how she fought off an attacker while traveling by train as a teenager in the 1960s.
Camilla recounted the traumatic incident: “I was immersed in my book when suddenly this man assaulted me. I instinctively fought back with everything I had,” she told the BBC. The aftermath revealed visible signs of the struggle, with her mother immediately noticing disheveled hair and a missing coat button upon her arrival home.
Despite the fury the attack provoked, Camilla maintained silence for decades until hearing similar stories from other women. This collective sharing inspired her to break her own silence, particularly given domestic violence’s longstanding status as a taboo subject that obscures the severity of the crisis.
“I realized that if I possess even a modest platform, I should use it to amplify this crucial message,” Camilla stated. “While my capabilities are limited, I can facilitate conversations and bring people together to address this epidemic.”
The Queen made these revelations during a meeting with the surviving family members of Louise Hunt, 25, her sister Hannah, 28, and their mother Carol, 61—all murdered by Louise’s former partner near London in July 2024. Camilla specifically praised John Hunt, a former racing commentator, and his daughter Amy for their advocacy work against domestic violence.
While this marks Camilla’s first public discussion of her assault, the incident was previously documented in Valentine Low’s recent publication “Power and the Palace.” According to Low’s account, which originated from Camilla’s conversation with former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Queen successfully defended herself by striking her attacker with her shoe before reporting the incident to authorities at Paddington Station, leading to the man’s arrest.