The UK Queen consort, Camilla has said it is ‘terrible’ that after 50 years, violence against women ‘has not been eradicated.’
Attending a charity event at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in Westminster, London, Camilla, the wife of King Charles met with survivors of domestic abuse at a reception marking the 50th anniversary of Women’s Aid.
The Queen spoke with guests and survivors of violence, including presenter and acid attack survivor Katie Piper, DJ Ashley James and Kéllé Bryan of Loose Women.
After cutting the cake presented to her by Women’s Aid’s director of services Nikki Bradley, the Queen said:
“I cannot believe it was 50 years ago when you started. You would think what is happening now compared to what was happening 50 years ago. You should all be so incredibly proud of yourself. I think so many people hadn’t realised what domestic abuse was especially then.
‘It is terrible that after 50 years, it still has not been eradicated but we are making progress. I’ve talked to many many women, and men, all around the world and you hear the same devastating stories time and time again.’
The 77-year-old mentioned her film, the ITV documentary called ‘Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors’ which follows her work to raise awareness of domestic and sexual violence.
‘As Katie was saying, it is behind closed doors but I have no intention now I started to stop now,’ the Queen consort said.
‘We all need to pool together. Hearing the voices is so important because every time another survivor hears a voice it spurs them perhaps to get up.
‘We’re putting an end to it – probably not in my lifetime maybe during some of yours, but we will see an end to it.’ Queen Camilla said while holding flowers gifted to her by Women’s Aid.