A new book has revealed that Queen Camilla was the victim of an attempted indecent assault as a teenager, an ordeal she fought off using the heel of her shoe. According to Power and the Palace by former Times royal editor Valentine Low, the Queen shared the story privately with Boris Johnson in 2008 when he was mayor of London, recounting how, at 16 or 17, she was assaulted on a train bound for Paddington Station.
The attacker is said to have touched the young Camilla Shand before she struck him with her shoe, following advice from her mother on how to defend herself. Upon arriving in London, Camilla reported the incident to station staff, leading to the man’s arrest. Buckingham Palace has not issued an official statement but is not disputing the details, with sources noting she chose not to make the story public earlier to avoid drawing attention away from victims of abuse she now supports.
Low described Camilla’s actions as both “resourceful and responsible,” emphasizing that she not only protected herself but ensured the perpetrator faced justice. Over the years, Queen Camilla has become a leading voice in the fight against domestic violence and abuse, serving as patron of SafeLives and supporting r@pe crisis centres and women’s refuges across the UK and abroad.
In recent speeches, she has urged society to end the stigma faced by survivors, highlighting the courage of women who share their experiences. At a 2020 engagement, she praised victims who had overcome coercive control and violence, describing them as “some of the bravest people” she has ever met. At another event in April, she reflected on how domestic abuse was once considered a taboo subject but said survivors now feel more empowered to tell their stories.
Royal sources stress that Camilla’s advocacy was not driven by her teenage experience but by listening to countless survivors over time. They add that if the revelation of her past helps destigmatise the reality many girls still face today, then some good will come from what was a painful episode. The account also underscores her deep commitment to supporting victims of violence, a cause that has become a defining part of her royal work.
