Britain’s Queen Camilla met Monday with Gisèle Pelicot, a French rape survivor and author whose memoir has drawn international attention during a tour of the United Kingdom. The two women spoke for about 30 minutes over tea at Clarence House in London.
Camilla, who has long campaigned against domestic violence and sexual abuse, told Pelicot she had read her newly published memoir in just two days. “I couldn’t put it down,” the queen said. “I’ve met so many survivors of rape and sexual abuse I never thought I could be shocked by anything any more, but I was shocked at your case. It left me speechless.”
The meeting comes as the British royal family confronts renewed scrutiny over the Andrew-Epstein scandal and broader questions about how institutions respond to sexual abuse allegations.
A Decade of Abuse Made Public
Pelicot, 73, became an international symbol of resilience after waiving anonymity to publicly disclose years of abuse spanning nearly a decade. Her ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, was jailed for 20 years for drugging and raping her while allowing other men to assault her while she was unconscious. Fifty men were found guilty of rape or sexual offenses following a trial in Avignon that ended in December 2024.
The Monarchy’s Stance
Camilla’s embrace of Pelicot carries particular weight at a moment when the royal family faces renewed scrutiny in recent months over its handling of abuse allegations and questions about institutional accountability. The meeting reflects the monarchy’s effort to demonstrate its commitment to addressing violence against women.
The Memoir’s Journey
Pelicot is in Britain at the end of a tour for her memoir “A Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides.” The book was launched Friday at London’s Royal Festival Hall, drawing a sellout crowd of more than 2,000 people. Actors Kate Winslet, Kristin Scott Thomas and Juliet Stevenson provided readings at the event.
During Monday’s conversation at Clarence House, Pelicot spoke of receiving “incredible strength” from supporters, and Camilla replied: “you have so much support.” Camilla had written to Pelicot last year praising her “extraordinary dignity and courage” — a letter Pelicot said she now keeps framed in her office.