Queen Camilla has told survivors of sexual abuse that they are not alone, and had the victims of Jeffrey Epstein’s multiple crimes at the forefront of her mind during her speech, it is understood.
Camilla had gathered influential female leaders at St James’ Palace on Tuesday in her role as President of the Women of the World organisation.
“To every survivor of every kind of violence”, she said, “many of whom have not been able to tell their stories or who have not been believed, please know that you are not alone.”
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s accuser, Virginia Giuffre, was not believed for many years after she claimed she was abused by Jeffrey Epstein and those inside his inner circle.
Andrew is Queen Camilla’s brother-in-law.
He claimed he had cut off all contact with Epstein after meeting him in 2010.
Last year, his older brother King Charles removed Andrew’s prince title, dukedom and his home in Windsor following the allegations about his behaviour and his ongoing friendship with Epstein.
In her message to survivors today, the Queen said: “We stand with you and alongside you, today and every day, in solidarity, sorrow and sympathy.”
Those in the room at the time are understood to have exchanged glances as the Queen spoke, according to one of the attendees with whom ITV News spoke today.
The Queen was wearing a badge given to her by Gisèle Pelicot, who bravely waived her right to anonymity to prosecute her husband, who was among 51 men convicted of raping and assaulting her at her home in France.
The message on the badge read: “Shame Must Change Sides”.
Madame Pelicot and the Queen met at Clarence House last week.
Camilla said her guest had shared her story with “grace, strength and, above all, determination that the world’s view of violence against women and girls must shift dramatically.”
The Queen also spoke directly to one of member of the audience, Amy Hunt, whose mother and sisters were murdered in their own home.
The ex-boyfriend of Amy’s sister Louise killed them in their own home.
Amy and her father, John, met Camilla at the end of last year.
For many years, the Queen Consort has campaigned for those victims and survivors of domestic abuse and other forms of violence.
She took on a cause, which she says is not spoken about enough, which gives abusers the cover to continue their attacks on victims in their own homes.
Today, those gathered at the palace heard how a woman is murdered by a man every three days in the UK and that 62% of them are killed by partners or ex-partners.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was forced to move out of his home at Royal Lodge in Windsor earlier this year and now lives on the King’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
He was arrested and released by police investigating misconduct in public office last month.
In closing her speech on Tuesday, the Queen quoted Gisèle Pelicot’s words and said we all needed to bring about “a collective awakening.”
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