Queen Camilla met with Gisèle Pelicot, the French survivor of decades of sexual violence, at Clarence House in London on Monday, February 23, 2026, and described herself as “speechless” after reading Pelicot’s memoir, A Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides.
The meeting, confirmed by both Buckingham Palace and Pelicot’s team, took place as Pelicot promotes the UK edition of her book, which details years of abuse at the hands of her former husband and the subsequent legal battle that saw him and dozens of accomplices convicted of rape and sexual assault. Queen Camilla reportedly finished the 320-page memoir in just two days, telling Pelicot she “couldn’t put it down,” according to reports in The Times.
“I’ve met so many survivors of rape and sexual assault that I thought I couldn’t be shocked by anything anymore, but your story overwhelmed me—it left me speechless,” Queen Camilla said, according to the BBC. The Queen initially addressed Pelicot in French, joking about her language skills after studying the language “60 years ago,” before continuing the conversation with the aid of an interpreter.
Pelicot’s case gained international attention after she waived her right to anonymity to publicly confront her husband and his network of enablers. In December 2024, Dominique Pelicot was found guilty of aggravated rape, and a court subsequently convicted 46 accomplices of rape, two of attempted rape, and two of sexual assault. The trial, held in France, was described as landmark in its scope and the number of individuals held accountable.
During the meeting, Queen Camilla acknowledged the “incredible support” Pelicot has received since coming forward with her story. Pelicot, accompanied by her partner, Jean-Loup Agopian, and her legal team, has been in London for several days, including participating in a launch event for the book at the Royal Festival Hall, where excerpts were read by actresses Kate Winslet, Dame Kristin Scott Thomas, and Juliet Stevenson.
Queen Camilla previously sent Pelicot a letter last year praising her “extraordinary dignity and courage,” stating that Pelicot had “inspired women across the globe” and “created a powerful legacy that will change the narrative around shame, forever.” Pelicot has said the letter is now framed in her office.
The fight against sexual and domestic violence has been a long-standing commitment for Queen Camilla, with nearly two decades dedicated to supporting related causes.
