In a deeply personal and unprecedented disclosure, Queen Camilla has spoken publicly for the first time about a terrifying sexual assault she endured as a teenager in the 1960s. The 78-year-old monarch shared the harrowing details during a special BBC Radio 4 programme, revealing how she physically fought back against her attacker.
A Traumatic Journey to Paddington
The incident occurred when Camilla was approximately 16 or 17 years old and travelling on a train to London's Paddington station. She recalled that a man attacked her during the journey. Demonstrating remarkable presence of mind and courage, the future Queen defended herself by striking her assailant in the groin with her shoe.
Upon disembarking and meeting her mother, Camilla's dishevelled state raised immediate questions. "Why is your hair standing on end and why is the button missing from your coat?" her mother asked. Camilla's stark reply was: "I had been attacked." She later reflected on the lasting anger the event provoked, stating she remembered "being so angry" at the time.
Inspired by a Family's Bravery
The Queen's decision to break her decades-long silence on the attack was prompted by a meeting with BBC racing commentator John Hunt and his surviving daughter, Amy. John's wife, Carol, and two daughters, Louise and Hannah, were murdered in July 2024 by Louise's ex-partner, Kyle Clifford, who later received a whole life order for his crimes.
Camilla explained that hearing the Hunt family's story moved her to share her own experience. "I was so furious about it and... 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 said. Amy Hunt responded to the Queen's revelation with gratitude, acknowledging that "every woman has a story."
Historical Account and Aftermath
This disturbing episode was first documented in journalist Valentine Low's book, 'Power and the Palace'. The account alleges that after the assault, a young Camilla found a uniformed police constable at the railway station and reported the crime, leading to the perpetrator's subsequent detention. While Buckingham Palace offered no formal comment when the book's claims were published, the Queen has now addressed them directly.
The special broadcast, which also featured former Prime Minister Baroness Theresa May and presenter Emma Barnett, was recorded at Clarence House. It focused on supporting victims of violence, with John Hunt poignantly describing the ongoing impact of his family's tragedy: "It remains really difficult on a minute-by-minute basis." Queen Camilla's powerful testimony underscores the pervasive nature of assault and the strength found in speaking out.
