Queen Camilla Has Tea With Sexual Violence Survivor Gisèle Pelicot
PARIS (AP) — Britain’s Queen Camilla I said it in French Rape victim Gisèle Pelicot On Monday, he said he was “spoiled” by Pelicot’s memories when the two met over tea at Clarence House in a private meeting rich with symbolism.
Pelicot, 73, is in England at the end of a UK tour to support his memoir, “Hymn to Life: Shame Must Switch Sides”, which was launched at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Friday.
The event drew a sold-out crowd of over 2,000 people with readings from actors Kate WinsletKristin Scott Thomas and Juliet Stevenson.
Camilla welcomed Pelicot and her partner, Jean-Loup Agopian, and the two women spoke through an interpreter for about 30 minutes.
The Queen gave her opening speech in French and joked that she had learned the language 60 years ago but had forgotten it.
Camilla, who has long campaigned against domestic violence and sexual abuse, told Pelicot she read the memoirs in just two days.
“I couldn’t put this down,” Camilla said.
“I have met so many survivors of rape and sexual abuse that I never thought anything could shock me anymore, but I am shocked by your situation. It left me speechless,” she added.
The meeting came at a worrying time for the monarchy; the royal family faces renewed scrutiny over the fallout from the Andrew-Epstein scandal; This crisis has renewed questions about accountability, privilege, and how institutions respond to sexual misconduct.
Against this backdrop, observers said Camilla’s embrace of Pelicot had additional resonance for a royal family trying to demonstrate moral clarity on violence against women.
It was pelikot International symbol of resilience after relinquishing his privacy and declaring that the shame belongs to her abusers, not her.
Her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drugging and raping her while she was unconscious for almost a decade and allowing other men to rape her.
Fifty men were found guilty of rape or sexual offenses after the trial in Avignon, which ended in December 2024.
At Monday’s meeting, Pelicot spoke of receiving “incredible strength” from the fans.
Camilla replied: “You have so much support.”
Camilla wrote to Pelicot last year praising his “extraordinary dignity and courage”; Pelicot said he now keeps this letter framed in his office.
