Queen Camilla Shares Her Teen Experience of Assault: “I Stood Up for Myself”

Queen Camilla.
Credit:

Samir Hussein/WireImage

NEED TO KNOW

• Queen Camilla recounted her experience of indecent assault during an appearance on BBC Radio 4’s Today program on December 31.
• The Queen described the incident as occurring when she was “attacked on a train” as a teenager, recalling how she “fought back” against the assailant.
• “I was so furious about it, and it sort of lurked for many years,” she stated.

Queen Camilla has publicly shared for the first time her experience with indecent assault as a teenager. This revelation was made during a special edition of BBC Radio 4’s Today program, aired on December 31. In her discussion with BBC racing commentator John Hunt, whose family members were tragically killed in a violent attack in England in July 2024, the Queen provided insights into her own traumatic experience.

Camilla, 78, recalled, “When I was a teenager, I was attacked on a train. I’d sort of forgotten about it. But I remember at the time being so angry.” She shared that the assailant was someone unknown to her, and she was able to fight back during the encounter.

Her recollection continued, stating, “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?’” The Queen emphasized that her feelings of anger about the incident lingered for many years. “When the subject about domestic abuse came up, and suddenly you hear a story like John and Amy’s, it’s something that I feel very strongly about,” she added.

Queen Camilla has made supporting victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse a hallmark of her public service, inviting Hunt and his surviving daughter, Amy, to Clarence House during the UN’s International 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence to record the episode.

Queen Camilla is pictured in 1989.

Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

This revelation adds depth to Camilla’s ongoing advocacy work. Previously, her story of assault was detailed in Valentine Low’s book, Power and the Palace, released in September 2023.

In discussions with then-London Mayor Boris Johnson about his plans to open rape crisis centers in the city, Camilla shared the details of her teenage assault. Low’s account reveals the intensity of their conversation, highlighting how the Queen described her own experience and her response to the attack, which involved defending herself effectively.

Throughout her public life, Queen Camilla has voiced unwavering support for victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence. In March, she reached out to Gisèle Pelicot, commending her for her “extraordinary dignity and courage” following a highly publicized trial in France. The trial resulted in the conviction of Pelicot’s husband for drugging and sexually assaulting her over many years.

According to royal aides, it was Camilla’s initiative to reach out personally to Pelicot as part of her commitment to support survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.