Gisele Pelicot ‘overwhelmed’ after personal letter of support from Queen
French rape survivor Gisele Pelicot said she was “overwhelmed” after receiving a personal letter of support from Queen Camilla following her ex-husband’s conviction. The Queen, who has long campaigned against domestic violence and sexual abuse, praised Ms Pelicot’s “extraordinary dignity and courage” in the correspondence.
Ms Pelicot’s ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for drugging and raping her and allowing other men to attack her while she was unconscious. This horrific abuse continued for almost a decade.
He had recruited other men in an online chat room to rape her while she was unconscious; Of these, 47 were found guilty of rape, two of attempted rape, and two of sexual assault. They were sentenced to a total of 428 years in prison.
Quotations from his book, Hymn to Life: Shame Must Switch SidesIt was written together with journalist Judith Perrignon and published by the French newspaper. Le MondeExplain how her then-husband was summoned by the police after a supermarket security guard caught him secretly filming up women’s skirts.
The 73-year-old bravely waived his right to anonymity, arguing that the shame should fall on his abusers, not himself. A trial in Avignon that concluded in December 2024 saw 50 men convicted of rape or sexual crimes.
In her letter, Queen Camilla told Mrs Pelicot: “I have longed to write to express my sincere admiration for the courage, grace and dignity you have shown in confronting the terrible crimes that have been committed against you.”
To talk BBC News NightMs Pelicot described the letter as an “honor” and added: “I was touched that the Queen could send me this letter. Although my words touched the world, I was not expecting a letter from the British Court. I was touched and very honored that she was aware of what had happened to me. I am grateful to her.”
Queen Camilla has dedicated her royal charity efforts to supporting victims of sexual assault. Last year he praised the “fantastic” efforts of healthcare workers and staff at the specialist center in Exeter, which he officially opened.
He previously supported the idea of laundry bags for those who were attacked, and the initiative has recently been revived. In an ITV documentary, he vowed to “keep trying” to end domestic violence “until I can do no more”.
