Queen Camilla Reportedly Fought Off Sexual Assault Attempt as Teenager, New Book Reveals
London, UK – Queen Camilla was the victim of a disturbing attempted sexual assault during her teenage years, and bravely fought off her attacker using her shoe, according to a new biography of the British monarchy.
The account, detailed in Power and the Palace by former Times royal correspondent Valentine Low, reveals the Queen shared the harrowing experience with then-London Mayor Boris Johnson during a private meeting at Clarence house around 2008.
Guto Harri, Johnson’s former communications director, recounted the conversation to Low, describing a surprisingly candid exchange between the two. While noting an immediate rapport – with Johnson reportedly expressing excited admiration for the Queen – Harri revealed the discussion turned to the assault.
According to Harri, the Queen described being approximately 16 or 17 years old and travelling by train to Paddington Station when a man began to make unwanted advances. When asked by Johnson what she did, she recounted, “I did what my mother taught me to. I took off my shoe and whacked him in the nuts with the heel.”
The Queen’s quick thinking and self-possession didn’t end there. Harri’s account details how she immediately disembarked the train upon arrival at Paddington, located a uniformed official, and reported the attack, leading to the assailant’s arrest.
This revelation adds another layer to the Queen’s long-standing advocacy for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. She has consistently championed initiatives to support survivors, including a recent revival of a program providing essential washbags to those who have been attacked.
The details from power and the Palace offer a powerful insight into the Queen’s resilience and commitment to supporting others who have experienced
