In a candid radio interview, Queen Camilla, aged 78, has publicly shared for the first time that she survived an attempted assault when she was a teenager. The monarch said the experience — which occurred during a train journey in her late teens — left her deeply affected, and she used the moment to call for increased awareness and prevention of violence against women.
A Harrowing Experience Recounted
Camilla described how, while reading a book on a train in her mid-teens, a stranger attacked her without warning. She fought back, an act she now views as a defining moment in her life, and later faced intense emotions in the years that followed. Despite never publicly speaking about the episode before, she confirmed it had a lasting impact and shaped her commitment to working with survivors of abuse.
How She Responded and What It Meant
The Queen recalled how her protective instincts kicked in and she resisted the assailant during the incident, a detail also noted in earlier reports. Although she did not go into all specifics in the interview, she acknowledged the profound anger and frustration she carried afterward. Her account included personal memories — from disheveled clothing to her mother’s reaction when she returned home — illustrating just how traumatic the event was.
Turning Pain into Advocacy
Camilla used the moment to highlight the broader issue of violence against women. The interview, conducted during a special broadcast, was part of a larger conversation that also included survivors of violent attacks. Through her remarks, she emphasized the need to break long-held taboos, support victims, and prevent similar acts in the future. Her decades of advocacy work with domestic and sexual violence charities reflect a deep-rooted commitment to helping those affected by abuse.
