In a landmark and deeply personal broadcast, Queen Camilla has publicly addressed for the first time her own experience as a young victim of indecent assault. The 78-year-old royal shared her story during a moving conversation on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, in a special edition guest-edited by former Prime Minister Theresa May.
A Conversation Forged in Tragedy
The Queen chose to speak within a wider discussion about women, violence, and misogyny alongside BBC racing commentator John Hunt and his surviving daughter, Amy. Hunt's wife, Carol, 61, and daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28, were brutally murdered at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, in July last year by Louise's ex-partner, Kyle Clifford.
Clifford, 27, was later sentenced to a whole life order after pleading guilty to the murders and was also convicted of raping Louise. The Queen had previously invited John and Amy Hunt to Clarence House in November to discuss these critical issues with Today host Emma Barnett.
The Royal's Own Ordeal Revealed
While Queen Camilla had never intended for her personal story to become public, details emerged earlier this year. It was reported that as a teenager, she fought off a sex pest on a train by hitting him in the groin with her shoe before reporting the incident to police, leading to the man's arrest.
According to journalist Valentine Low's book 'Power and the Palace', the Queen confided in former London Mayor Boris Johnson about the assault during a 2008 private meeting at Clarence House. The discussion was about her opening a new women's refuge.
A senior royal aide stressed that the Queen's decision to now speak was not taken lightly. They explained she had always wanted the focus of her decade-long campaigning on sexual and domestic violence to remain on other women's stories. "While it is not a situation of her choosing, now that it has been put in the public domain she decided to talk about it with John and Amy in the particular context of misogyny and the patterns of behaviour that lead to it," the aide said.
Driving Change and Destigmatising Abuse
The palace source indicated the Queen's attitude was that if public discussion of her experience does good, it is a positive outcome. "If some good comes of this publication, which is that the wider issues are discussed, it de-stigmatises the whole topic and empowers girls today to take action and seek help, and to talk about it, then that's a good outcome," they said.
The aide added that the Queen does not carry lifelong stigma or shame from the event, nor did it specifically inspire her advocacy work. However, it has given her perspective and understanding of the issues surrounding violence against women.
The broadcast coincides with the launch of the Hunt Family Fund, a memorial to Carol, Louise, and Hannah. A fundraising gala for the fund, which will support causes that help and inspire young women, is set for Thursday evening. It is understood Queen Camilla is particularly keen to support calls for more education in schools to counter misogyny.
