Queen Camilla’s Fight Against Domestic Abuse

In a forthcoming TV documentary, Queen Camilla shares her insights on the harrowing reality faced by women in violent relationships. She describes the constant fear experienced by victims:

“You can imagine how terrifying it is for a woman to be stuck with a very violent partner, feeling that fear every single day.”

Raising Awareness

For many years, the Queen has been an advocate for domestic and sexual violence awareness. In this ITV film, she speaks openly with survivors, emphasizing the need for more open discussions about these issues.

“By scratching the surface you get a terrible shock. It’s such a heinous crime,” she remarks, reinforcing that domestic violence should not be a taboo subject.

Understanding Coercive Control

Queen Camilla highlights an often-overlooked aspect of domestic abuse: coercive control. She explains:

“Coercive control is almost the most frightening bit of domestic abuse. You meet somebody, you think they’re wonderful… and then bit by bit they start to undermine you.”

This manipulation can manifest through taking away friends and family, controlling finances, and even dictating personal choices. Victims may feel that such actions are motivated by love.

One survivor shares her experience of feeling trapped by “invisible chains,” particularly when children are involved. The documentary also features accounts of violence and threats, showcasing the urgent need for safe spaces for those escaping abusive situations.

Changing Perspectives

The documentary includes former Prime Minister Theresa May discussing the evolving understanding of domestic abuse:

“Domestic abuse was something that happened behind closed doors… Police always used that phrase, ‘oh, it’s a domestic’, and wasn’t anything to do with them.”

Cherie Blair echoes this sentiment, stating that:

“Domestic abuse doesn’t have to be physical. It is actually all about power and control.”

The statistics presented in the film are startling: in England and Wales last year, more than two million people experienced some form of domestic abuse. Alarmingly, on average, every five days, a woman was killed by a current or former partner.

Queen Camilla meets Diana Parkes in the documentary, whose daughter was murdered by her estranged husband. The Queen expresses immense admiration for Parkes' strength in facing such tragedy.

Her Majesty continues to advocate for an end to domestic violence across the Commonwealth, emphasizing that both men and women must support this cause. As she aptly stated:

“It is this: to end domestic and sexual violence across the Commonwealth, now and for ever.”

The documentary airs on 11 November at 21:00 on ITV1.