A new book about the British monarchy, Power and the Palace, sheds light on a little-known episode in the life of Queen Camilla. According to author Valentine Low, Camilla has confessed that as a teenager she was the victim of an attempted sexual assault on a train, but managed to defend herself using the heel of her shoe.
The incident was made public through a conversation Camilla had with Boris Johnson, during his time as Mayor of London (2008–2016). Johnson's former communications director, Guto Harri, recalled the meeting at Clarence House, around 2008, saying that the Queen confessed:
“I was about 16–17 years old, on the train to Paddington, when a boy approached me with his hand… I did what my mother had taught me: I took off my shoe and kicked him in the testicles with my heel.”
After the incident, Camilla managed to report the incident to a guard at the station, leading to the arrest of the aggressor.
Today, at 78, Queen Camilla is a strong voice against domestic violence and sexual abuse. She has supported many initiatives for victims, including the creation of assistance packages for abused women, an initiative that has recently been revived.
