Queen Camilla has publicly recounted a terrifying sexual assault she endured as a teenager for the very first time, revealing she fought off her attacker by hitting him in the groin with her shoe.
A Traumatic Journey to Paddington
The incident, which the Queen described as having "lurked in the back of my brain for a very long time," occurred in the 1960s. Camilla was aged just 16 or 17 and travelling on a train to Paddington station when she was assaulted.
She recalled the moment she met her mother after the attack, who immediately noticed something was wrong. "Why is your hair standing on end and why is the button missing from your coat?" her mother asked. Camilla's stark reply was: "I had been attacked."
Finding Courage to Speak Out
The Queen chose to share her personal story during a special edition of BBC Radio 4's Today programme. She was inspired by the courage of BBC racing commentator John Hunt and his surviving daughter, Amy.
John Hunt's wife, Carol, and two daughters, Hannah and Louise, were murdered in July 2024 by Louise's ex-boyfriend, Kyle Clifford. Clifford received a whole life order in March after pleading guilty to the murders and the rape of Louise.
Camilla explained the connection, stating her long-held fury about her own assault resurfaced when discussing the broader issue of domestic abuse. "Suddenly you hear a story like John and Amy's, it's something that I feel very strongly about," she said.
A Legacy of Anger and Resilience
Reflecting on the traumatic event from her youth, the Queen emphasised her immediate reaction. "I remember at the time being so angry," she said, adding firmly, "I did fight back."
Her decision to speak out decades later highlights the lasting impact of such assaults and aims to show solidarity with other victims. By linking her own experience to the campaign against domestic abuse, Camilla uses her platform to bring attention to a critical issue affecting countless individuals.
