Queen Camilla opens up on having to 'fight off' attack on train in moving broadcast with John Hunt family
Queen Camilla opened up about the harrowing experience in an interview on BBC Radio 4
In an emotional interview broadcast on BBC Radio 4, Queen Camilla publicly shared for the first time her own experience of a sexual assault, revealing that she was attacked on a train as a teenager and had to physically fight off the perpetrator.
The queen opened up during a powerful discussion on violence against women.
She joined BBC racing commentator John Hunt and his daughter Amy Hunt. John’s wife and two daughters, Carol, Hannah, and Louise Hunt, were brutally murdered by Louise’s ex-partner in July 2024.
The conversation was recorded in the Garden Room at Clarence House and broadcast on December 30.
Queen Camilla opens up about having to ‘fight off’ attack in interview with John Hunt
Queen Camilla recalled a traumatic moment from her teenage years, a memory she said had “been lurking in the back of [her] brain for a very long time.”
“When I was a teenager, I was attacked on a train. I remember at the time being so angry,” she told John and Amy Hunt, as reported by the BBC.
“I was reading my book, and this boy, man, attacked me, and I did fight back.”
The queen described getting off the train to meet her mother, who immediately noticed something was wrong.
“My mother [looked] at me and [said], ‘Why is your hair standing on end? Why is a button missing from your coat?’ I remember anger, and I was so furious about it.”
Her Majesty said that she had “sort of forgotten” the incident over the years. However, the courage of the Hunt family prompted her to speak up.
“When the subject of domestic abuse came up, and suddenly you hear a story like John and Amy’s, it’s something I feel very strongly about.”
After hearing the queen’s story, Amy Hunt responded with gratitude.
“Thank you for sharing that, Your Majesty. It takes a lot to share these things because every woman has a story.”
Queen Camilla’s assault was first revealed in Valentine Low’s 2024 book Power and the Palace. However, this is the first time that the queen has spoken publicly and in her own words.
According to the book, Camilla was 16 or 17 when the incident occurred en route to Paddington Station. She reportedly hit the man with her shoe and reported him to staff, resulting in his arrest.
Queen Camilla sits down with John and Amy Hunt
Meanwhile, the Hunt family has become a symbol of strength and grace in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
John Hunt’s wife, Carol, and daughters Louise and Hannah were murdered in their home by Kyle Clifford, Louise’s former partner, on July 9, 2024, in Bushey, Hertfordshire.
Their determination led to the creation of The Hunt Family Fund. The fund supports domestic abuse prevention efforts, animal charities, and causes connected to the interests of Carol, Louise, and Hannah.
Queen Camilla was visibly moved by the family’s resilience.
Wherever your family is now, they’d be so proud of you both,” she said. “They must be from above, smiling down on you.”
“Wherever your family is now, they’d be so proud of you both,” she said. “They must be from above, smiling down on you.”
Although this may be the first time Queen Camilla has shared her personal experience in such detail, her work supporting survivors of sexual and domestic abuse stretches back over a decade.
She is a patron of SafeLives and has worked with Refuge and other UK-based charities. She’s also hosted summits and receptions, met with survivors around the world, and used her platform to elevate the voices of those who often go unheard.
In 2022, Camilla held a reception at Buckingham Palace. She brought together leading figures tackling violence against women globally. Her work was also spotlighted in the 2024 ITV documentary Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors.
Read more: Prediction made over Queen Camilla in 2026 as she’s set to take ‘step back from duties’
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