Queen Camilla Breaks Silence on Teen Train Assault in First Public Account

LONDON — Britain’s Queen Camilla has publicly shared for the first time her own experience of being assaulted as a teenager, revealing in a BBC interview how the decades-old incident shaped her perspective on violence against women.

Speaking candidly on BBC Radio 4’s “Today” programme, Camilla, 78, recounted an episode from her youth when a stranger attacked her on a train to Paddington Station while she was around 16 or 17 years old. The Queen said the memory had “lurked” in her mind for years and that she felt “so angry” at the time.

Camilla said she was reading a book when the assailant approached her. Though she did not know him, she fought back against the attack, ultimately leaving the train shaken and distressed. Upon arrival, her mother immediately noticed her disheveled appearance and missing coat button — clear signs of the struggle she had endured.

While earlier written accounts suggested Camilla used her shoe to fend off the attacker and helped have him arrested, Camilla did not confirm those specific details in her interview.

The Queen framed her revelation within a wider discussion about violence against women and girls, citing her long-standing advocacy for survivors and support of charities focused on sexual and domestic abuse prevention.

Her comments came alongside reflections on the Hunt family tragedy, in which BBC commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters were murdered last year. Camilla expressed admiration for the family’s courage and emphasized the need to combat abuse and support victims.

Camilla’s public disclosure marks a rare and deeply personal moment in her royal duties, as she uses her platform to encourage greater awareness around gender-based violence and the importance of speaking out.