Queen Camilla expressed being left utterly speechless by both the immense bravery of French rape survivor Gisele Pelicot and the shocking extent of the abuse she suffered, as the two women met for a private discussion on Monday. Her Majesty, a longstanding and vocal campaigner against violence targeting women, personally invited Mme Pelicot for tea at her official London residence, Clarence House. The purpose was to discuss the survivor's powerful new memoir, which details her horrific ordeal.
A Catalogue of Abuse and a Landmark Trial
Mme Pelicot's former husband, Dominique Pelicot, was sentenced to twenty years in prison for drugging and raping her, as well as permitting other men to assault her while she was unconscious. This appalling catalogue of abuse persisted for nearly a decade. In a remarkable act of courage, the 73-year-old survivor waived her legal right to anonymity, asserting that shame should rightfully belong to her abusers, not to herself as a victim.
The scale of the crimes is staggering. Following an exhaustive three-and-a-half-month trial in Avignon that concluded in December 2024, a total of fifty men were convicted of rape or various sexual offences connected to the case.
A Moving Royal Encounter
The meeting occurred as Mme Pelicot's United Kingdom book promotion tour was drawing to a close. Queen Camilla, 77, revealed to her guest that she had read the memoir in just two days, finding it impossible to put down. During their thirty-minute conversation, the royal stated: 'I read it in the last two days, I couldn't put it down. I've met so many survivors of rape and sexual abuse I never thought I could be shocked by anything any more, but I was shocked at your case – it left me speechless.'
This was not the first instance of royal support. The Queen had also written a private letter to Mme Pelicot the previous year, expressing her 'heartfelt admiration' for the survivor's 'extraordinary dignity and courage.' Mme Pelicot recently shared details of this letter for the first time, describing how it left her feeling completely overwhelmed. She noted that the letter is now proudly framed and displayed in her office.
High-Profile Book Launch
The launch event for the memoir, titled Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides, was held with significant fanfare at London's prestigious Royal Festival Hall on Friday. The occasion featured poignant readings delivered by acclaimed Hollywood actresses Kate Winslet, Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, and Juliet Stevenson, drawing further public attention to Mme Pelicot's story and her message of resilience.
