Queen Camilla was just a teenager when she was groped by a man on a train to Paddington in the 1960s, but she fought back and had him arrested, a new book claims
Queen Camilla once fought off a sex pest on a train by smacking him in the groin with her high heel, a bombshell new book has claimed.
The shocking incident happened in the 1960s when Camilla, then a teenager, was travelling alone to Paddington. According to Power and the Palace by royal author Valentine Low, the future Queen was minding her own business when a pervert sat next to her and started groping her.
But young Camilla didn’t hesitate and whipped off her shoe to wallop the man straight in the crown jewels with the heel. Once the train pulled into Paddington, Camilla leapt off, found a uniformed officer, and calmly reported the man. He was arrested shortly after, according to the book which is serialised in The Times and Sunday Times.
The Queen, now 78, reportedly recalled the ordeal decades later during a conversation with then-London Mayor Boris Johnson in 2012, as he prepared to open new rape crisis centres. According to The Sun, Boris’s former communications director Guto Harri recalled: “She was on a train going to Paddington – she was about 16, 17 – and some guy was moving his hand further and further …
“At that point Johnson had asked what happened next. She replied: ‘I did what my mother taught me to. I took off my shoe and whacked him in the nuts with the heel.'”
He continued: “She was self-possessed enough when they arrived at Paddington to jump off the train, find a guy in uniform and say, ‘That man just attacked me’, and he was arrested.'”
She later opened up two of the three rape centres Boris opened.
Despite the terrifying experience, Camilla has rarely spoken about the incident publicly, choosing instead to focus attention on survivors of abuse.
Over the years, the Queen has become a leading voice in the fight against sexual and domestic violence. As Duchess of Cornwall, she hosted a historic reception at Clarence House in 2012, bringing together organisations tackling rape and abuse, reportedly the first time such a meeting had been held by a royal.
She has since visited Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across the UK and met with victims and staff. Her campaigning has also taken her overseas, including to the US, India, and the Balkans.
Camilla’s commitment was highlighted in last year’s ITV documentary ‘Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors’, which followed her work and private meetings with survivors.
Sources say she rarely references her own experience, preferring to keep the spotlight on others and because it’s the right thing to do.
The Daily Star has reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.
If you or somebody you know has been affected by this story, contact Victim Support for free, confidential advice on 08 08 16 89 111 or visit their website, Home – Victim Support.
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