Queen Camilla has offered heartfelt words of comfort to BBC racing commentator John Hunt and his daughter, Amy, following the horrific murders of their family last year. The Queen told the pair that their lost loved ones would be 'so proud' of their strength and the charitable foundation they have established in their memory.
A Private Meeting of Support and Solidarity
The poignant conversation took place last month in the Garden Room at Clarence House, London. It also included former Prime Minister Baroness Theresa May and was chaired by BBC broadcaster Emma Barnett. The discussion forms the basis of a special edition of BBC Radio 4's Today programme, guest-edited by Baroness May, which was broadcast on 31st December 2025.
John Hunt's wife, Carol Hunt, 61, and their daughters Louise, 25, and Hannah, 28, were killed in a violent attack at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire, on 9 July 2024. The assailant was named as Kyle Clifford, 27, Louise's ex-partner. The tragedy shocked the quiet cul-de-sac and the wider nation.
Launching a Legacy: The Hunt Family Fund
In response to the unimaginable loss, Mr Hunt and Amy established The Hunt Family Fund. A fundraising gala was held earlier this month to launch the initiative, which aims to raise money for charities and causes that help and inspire young women. It stands as a lasting tribute to Carol, Louise, and Hannah.
During the recorded broadcast, Queen Camilla directly addressed John and Amy. "I'd just like to say, wherever your family is now, they'd be so proud of you both," she said. "And they must be from above smiling down on you and thinking, my goodness me, what a wonderful, wonderful father, husband, sister. They'd just be so proud of you both."
A Royal Personal Revelation on Assault
In a powerful moment of shared experience, the Queen also recounted a personal story of being attacked as a teenager. She described feeling "so angry" and "furious" when a stranger assaulted her on a train while she was reading a book.
"I did fight back," Camilla recalled. "And I remember getting off the train and my mother looking at me and saying: 'Why is your hair standing on end?' and: 'Why is a button missing from your coat?'" This incident was first detailed in a book by former royal reporter Valentine Low.
After hearing the Queen's candid account, Amy Hunt responded with gratitude. "Thank you for sharing that story first, your majesty, because that takes a lot to share these things because every woman has a story," she said. The conversation highlights the ongoing work by the Queen and Baroness May in campaigning to combat sexual and domestic violence across the UK.
