The Queen expressed her solidarity and sympathy with female survivors of violence and sexual abuse in a major speech, being viewed as “a very thinly veiled reference to the ‘Epstein issue'”.
Camilla warned that a “culture of silence” can “empower violence against women and girls” in a speech to mark International Women’s Day, at St James’s Palace on Tuesday.
The Royal Family has been faced with numerous allegations about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s links with the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein that have continued with the release of the Epstein files. The former prince denies any wrongdoing in relation to Epstein.
The Queen, who is a long-time campaigner against domestic violence and sexual abuse, spoke on Tuesday about the her meetings with French abuse survivor Gisèle Pelicot and the family of Carol Hunt, who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in Hertfordshire in 2024.
She was wearing a badge, given to her by Ms Pelicot, which read “Shame Must Change Sides”.
“To every survivor of every kind of violence, many of whom have not been able to tell their stories or who have not been believed, please know that you are not alone,” Camilla said at the event organised by Women of the World, where she is president.
“We stand with you and alongside you, today and every day, in solidarity, sorrow and sympathy.
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“Every woman has a story. And these stories must be told. Because when we live in a culture of silence, we empower violence against women and girls,” she told guests at the event organised by Women of the World, of which Camilla is president.
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Rhiannon Mills, Sky News Royal correspondent said the Queen’s comments could be seen as “a very thinly veiled reference to the ‘Epstein issue'”.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “I think Her Majesty’s speech speaks for itself”.
On Tuesday the Queen spoke about the misconception that violence against women is “a woman problem”.
“Nor is it helpful to frame it as a ‘man problem’ in a way that casts all men as potential perpetrators,” she said. “It is ‘everyone’s problem’ and only by treating it as such can this scourge be eradicated for good.”
Royal correspondent
She wore her feelings in the most prominent way, her lapel badge reading “Shame Must Change Sides”, given to her by Gisele Pelicot.
But equally striking were the Queen’s comments, what can be seen to be a very thinly veiled reference to the ‘Epstein issue’.
Her brother-in-law, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has never been far from the headlines in recent months over his friendship with the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. The former prince has always denied any wrongdoing.
In the past, the royals have said very little about the allegations involving Andrew, exposed in the Epstein files; the amount of detail in the past year has meant they simply haven’t been able to ignore it.
But be in no doubt that the Queen would have made the decision to deliver such a powerful speech, knowing that whatever they say on this matter would be jumped on.
I get the sense that, while written statements from the palace have referred to their thoughts being with the victims, it was important to Camilla that she was seen to be articulating those sentiments in public. Albeit mindful of not doing or saying anything that may compromise ongoing police investigations.
Given the context of Camilla’s comments, and her first significant speech since the release of the files, the palace’s response is also telling: “I think Her Majesty’s speech speaks for itself”.
As someone who has long campaigned against domestic violence and sexual abuse, her speech revealed the deep impact of her recent meetings with survivors and victims’ families, meetings which have also encouraged her to talk about her own experience of being assaulted as a young woman. Only shared for the good of others, not to gain sympathy.
But while accepting that “every woman has a story” she also says “so, too, does every man”. Her reference to this being just as much about how we raise our boys felt like a new avenue to explore through her dedication to this problem.
Powerfully, she wants everyone to acknowledge that violence against women and girls is not exclusively a “man problem”, but is “everyone’s problem”.
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She said she had met with Gisele Pelicot in February to “hear her story in person, told with grace, strength and, above all, determination that the world’s view of violence against women and girls must shift dramatically”.
Ms Pelicot was drugged and raped by her ex-husband, who also allowed strangers to rape her while she was unconscious, for almost a decade.
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