Queen Camilla speaks for the first time about being assaulted on a train
Queen Camilla has spoken publicly for the first time about her experience of indecent assault, saying the incident left her “furious” and “angry”.
The attack reported for the first time in the book Power and Palace It happened on a train to Paddington Station earlier this year, when Camilla was 16 or 17.
It described how the future Queen hit him with the heel of her shoe after he touched her, only to report her and see her arrested when the train arrived.
The Queen’s statement came as part of a conversation on BBC Radio 4 with racing commentator John Hunt and his daughter Amy about domestic violence and sexual abuse. Today program.
He praised the strength and courage of Mr Hunt and his family after his wife Carol and two daughters Louise and Hannah were killed in a crossbow attack carried out by Louise’s ex-boyfriend.
He said he “kind of forgot” what happened to him but was encouraged to share his story after hearing about the attack.
“I remember something that’s been lurking in the back of my brain for a very long time,” the Queen told John, Amy Hunt and the BBC’s Emma Barnett in an interview at Clarence House. “I was attacked on a train when I was young.
“I was reading my book and this boy – the man – attacked me and I fought back,” he added.
He recalled getting off the train and “my mother looking at me and saying: ‘Why are your hair standing on end and why is your jacket missing a button?’ I was attacked.
“I was physically attacked, but I remember my anger and I was furious about it.”
The Queen said the Hunt family’s bravery had encouraged her to speak out, telling the programme: “When the subject of domestic violence comes up and suddenly you hear a story like John and Amy’s, it’s an issue I feel very strongly about.”
In response, Amy Hunt said: “Thank you for sharing this, Your Majesty. It takes a lot to share these things because every woman has a story.”
Carol, Hannah and Louise Hunt were murdered at their Hertfordshire home in July 2024 by Louise’s ex-boyfriend Kyle Clifford. Speaking of the family’s pain, Mr Hunt said it “continues to be really difficult on a minute by minute basis”.
“You should try to find the strength in our position to arm yourself with as many tools as possible to help you get through the next hour,” he added.
In the programme, edited by Theresa May, the radicalization of young men on the internet was also discussed. The Queen advocated for education and focus on young men to ensure they do not become perpetrators of abuse.
“They might have parents or relatives who were abusive to them or did terrible things to them. So they were almost raised to believe that this was a natural thing,” he said.
“But if you can catch them early enough and teach them respect for women, I think that’s very important to get into schools… and the more I look into it, the more important thing I see that we can do right now.”
Queen Camilla has long worked with victims of domestic violence, including visiting rape centers in the UK and abroad, holding receptions for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, and speaking on the issue.
Hunt praised his family, telling them: “I just want to say that wherever your family is now, they would be so proud of you both.
“And they must be smiling at you from above and thinking: Oh my God, what a wonderful, wonderful father, husband, sister. They would be so proud of you both.”
