UK’s Queen Camilla recalls assault in 1960s as she campaigns against domestic violence

Britain’s Queen Camilla Shares Personal Assault Experience to Highlight Violence Against Women

Queen Camilla has publicly revealed a personal experience of indecent assault for the first time, describing how she fought off an attacker on a train in the 1960s when she was a teenager. The revelation came during a BBC interview where she discussed her commitment to combating violence against women.

“I was reading my book, and you know, this boy, man, attacked me, and I did fight back,” Camilla told the BBC. “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?'”

Despite the incident leaving her “furious,” the Queen kept silent about the attack for decades until hearing other women share similar experiences. Her decision to speak out now stems from her belief that domestic violence has long been a “taboo subject” with many people unaware of its prevalence.

“I thought, well, if I’ve got a tiny soapbox to stand on, I’d like to stand on it,” she explained. “And there’s not a lot I can do except talk to people and get people together.”

The Queen’s comments were made during a group interview with John Hunt and his daughter Amy, surviving family members of a tragic domestic violence case. Louise Hunt, 25, her sister Hannah, 28, and their mother Carol, 61, were murdered by Louise’s ex-partner at their home near London in July 2024. The family has since become advocates against domestic violence.

Praising their advocacy efforts, Camilla offered heartfelt words of support: “Wherever your family is now, they’d be so proud of you both. 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.”

While this marks the first time the Queen has spoken publicly about her assault, the incident was previously documented in “Power and the Palace,” a book published earlier this year by Valentine Low, former royal correspondent for The Times of London. According to Low’s account, which was based on what Camilla told former Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he was London’s mayor, the attack occurred on a train to London’s Paddington Station.

The book details how a man sitting next to her attempted to touch her inappropriately. Camilla reportedly defended herself by removing her shoe and striking him in the groin. Upon arriving at Paddington Station, she reported the incident to a uniformed official, resulting in the man’s arrest.

Domestic abuse has become one of Queen Camilla’s signature causes since joining the royal family. Her willingness to share her personal experience represents a significant moment in her advocacy work, potentially encouraging others to speak out about their experiences with violence and assault.

Violence against women remains a pressing issue in Britain and globally. According to recent data from the UK’s Office for National Statistics, approximately 1.6 million women experience domestic abuse each year in England and Wales alone. By leveraging her position as Queen, Camilla aims to bring greater awareness to this ongoing crisis.

Her decision to speak publicly about her experience aligns with a broader shift in how public figures approach discussions of trauma and abuse. Rather than remaining silent, many prominent individuals now recognize the power of their platforms to reduce stigma and encourage survivors to seek help.

Through her advocacy work and personal revelations, Queen Camilla is using her royal platform to challenge long-standing taboos surrounding violence against women, potentially creating safer spaces for victims to share their stories and seek support.