For the first time, Queen Camilla has publicly revealed the harrowing details of a sexual assault she endured as a teenager, sharing her story in a moving broadcast on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. The Queen, now 78, recounted the ordeal that took place in the 1960s when she was just 16 or 17, during a train journey to Paddington. Her account, delivered with candor and courage, has brought renewed attention to the enduring issue of violence against women and the importance of speaking out.
During the special programme, which aired on December 31, 2025, Queen Camilla explained that she had been traveling to meet her mother when the attack occurred. "I remember something that had been lurking in the back of my brain for a very long time," she said, according to the BBC. "That, when I was a teenager, I was attacked on a train… I remember at the time being so angry." She described how the assailant, a stranger, attempted to grope her while she was reading a book. Acting quickly, she struck him in the groin with her shoe and escaped.
Reflecting on the immediate aftermath, the Queen recalled: "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?'" When asked by her mother what had happened, Camilla replied simply, "I had been attacked." She reported the assault to a uniformed officer at the station, and the perpetrator was subsequently arrested, as detailed in Valentine Low’s book Power and the Palace.
The Queen’s decision to speak publicly about her experience was prompted by her participation in a panel discussion about women, violence, and misogyny, guest-edited by former Prime Minister Baroness Teresa May. The conversation was recorded in November 2025 at Clarence House and included BBC racing commentator John Hunt and his daughter Amy, whose family suffered an unimaginable tragedy in July 2024. John’s wife Carol and daughters Hannah and Louise were murdered by Louise’s ex-partner, Kyle Clifford, in their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire. Clifford, who also raped Louise, was sentenced to a whole life order in March 2025 after admitting to the crimes.
As Camilla listened to John and Amy Hunt recount their loss and resilience, she was moved to share her own story. "I was so furious about it, and it's sort of lurked for many years," she said, according to the Mirror. "When all 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." Amy Hunt responded with gratitude, telling the Queen, "Thank you for sharing that, Your Majesty. It takes a lot to share these things because every woman has a story."
Throughout her public life, Queen Camilla has made advocacy for the victims of sexual violence and domestic abuse a cornerstone of her work. For over a decade, she has campaigned to raise awareness, support survivors, and highlight the organizations dedicated to these causes. In 2014, she met with actress Angelina Jolie to discuss efforts to end sexual violence in conflict zones, and in 2016, she spoke with women who had survived rape during the Kosovo conflict. More recently, in November 2022, Camilla hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace, bringing together individuals and organizations working to combat violence against women. Her efforts were also highlighted in a 2024 ITV documentary, Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors.
Despite her longstanding commitment to these issues, Queen Camilla had previously chosen not to discuss her own experience publicly. According to a senior royal aide cited by the Daily Mail, "While it is not a situation of her choosing, now that it has been put in the public domain she decided to talk about it with John and Amy in the particular context of misogyny and the patterns of behaviour that lead to it." The aide emphasized that the Queen’s advocacy was not inspired by her personal ordeal, but her perspective has given her a deeper understanding of the issues involved.
The Queen’s story first came to light earlier in 2025 through Valentine Low’s book, which reported that she had confided in former London Mayor Boris Johnson about the incident during a private meeting at Clarence House in 2008. At the time, she was discussing the opening of a new women’s refuge. While Camilla would have been guaranteed lifetime anonymity as a victim of a sex crime, she ultimately felt that sharing her experience could help destigmatize the topic and empower other women and girls to seek help and speak out.
The panel discussion on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme was not only a platform for Camilla’s revelation, but also a testament to the resilience of the Hunt family. John and Amy Hunt have since launched The Hunt Family Fund in memory of Carol, Louise, and Hannah, aiming to support causes that help and inspire young women. A fundraising gala for the fund was scheduled for January 2, 2026, underscoring the family’s commitment to turning personal tragedy into positive action.
During the broadcast, Queen Camilla praised the courage of John and Amy. "I'd just like to say, wherever your family is now, they'd be so proud of you both," she said. "And they must be from above smiling down on you and thinking, my goodness me, what a wonderful, wonderful father, husband, sister. They'd just be so proud of you both."
Camilla’s willingness to share her own story in such a public forum has resonated with many, highlighting the importance of breaking the silence around sexual violence. Her experience, though deeply personal and painful, has become part of a broader conversation about the societal patterns that enable abuse and the collective responsibility to address them. As the Queen herself noted, "If some good comes of this publication, which is that the wider issues are discussed, it de-stigmatises the whole topic and empowers girls today to take action and seek help, and to talk about it, then that's a good outcome."
The broadcast, recorded in the Garden Room at Clarence House, also included Today host Emma Barnett and was marked by calls for more education in schools to counter misogyny—a cause the Queen is particularly keen to support. As the stories of both Queen Camilla and the Hunt family have shown, speaking out can be a powerful force for change, helping to inspire others and foster a culture where survivors are heard, believed, and supported.
With her candid account, Queen Camilla has underscored the enduring need for understanding, action, and solidarity in the face of violence against women. Her words, and those of the Hunt family, serve as a reminder that behind every statistic is a story—and that sharing those stories can pave the way for healing and hope.
