Queen Camilla's 'terrible shock' over 'heinous crime' as she vows to fight for justice
Queen Camilla is a truly modern-day consort. Not only has her journey to the throne been unique, but her passions are also unusual for such a senior royal. The 76 year old is known for fiercely championing several important causes – chief amongst them being supporting the victims of domestic abuse.
It is the Queen’s work as a vocal advocate for those who suffer abuse, coercive control and sexual violence that is the inspiration for a new ITV documentary: Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors. And, having watched the documentary, it is plain to see that the Queen’s ambitions are simple: she wants to give a voice to the voiceless and bring an end to the silence and shame.
“I don’t know where you’d like to begin” comes the Queen’s familiar, warm tone as she takes a seat in front of the camera at her home, Clarence House. After praising the all-women documentary team, the audience gets their first glimmer of just how much time and effort Camilla has put into supporting this cause since she took up the mantle in 2010.
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Opening up on her mission, she soon brings things into focus, explaining: “By scratching the surface, you get a terrible shock. It's a heinous crime. If we could just get more people discussing it, talking about it, people are so shocked by what they hear that, rather like me, they want to say ‘oh, hang on a minute’ perhaps there's something we can do to put an end to it.”
And Camilla goes on to add: “One of the most difficult things about domestic abuse, to understand, it’s not the bruises and the black eyes, which, unfortunately you see, through violence, this is something that creeps up very slowly and, far too often, it ends up with women being killed.”
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The Royal Family’s involvement in difficult causes has come a long way as former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond exclusively tells OK!: “The women of the Royal family are increasingly taking on campaigns and issues which are challenging, messy and contentious.
"We saw Diana pave the way to ending the stigma of HIV and now we have The Duchess of Edinburgh being passionate about ending violence against women in war zones and The Queen championing the victims of domestic violence. These are not the sort of areas we would have seen senior royal women of the past getting involved with.”
Her Majesty’s drive to use her platform for the benefit of others is undeniable and is met by frequent astonishment from familiar faces throughout. “The Queen is pushing the door wider and wider”, Jess Phillips MP says in awe during a reception at Buckingham Palace, “having someone in the Queen’s position talking about rape is unimaginable.”
The documentary, which airs ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25, brings together a number of campaigners, politicians and celebrities including the likes of former Prime Minister Theresa May, Cherie Blair, Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Patrick Stewart – and they all share the view that Camilla’s work to tackle the subject is a force for good.
As would be expected from such an emotional subject, the documentary is full of heart-wrenching moments – including when we are introduced to 80-year-old Diana Parkes.
Having met several times before, the cameras follow the Queen as she greets Diana like a friend during a visit to the Isle of Man back in March. They joke about how Camilla’s wardrobe choices are more suited to “a Russian winter” than a balmy spring day, but the light-hearted moments are soon set aside when the horrors of what Diana has been through come into focus.
We hear about how her daughter, Joanna Simpson, was bludgeoned to death on her doorstep by her ex-husband as Diana explains, “Everybody loved Jo… except her husband”.
Camilla and Diana first met eight years ago and it is clear that the respect is mutual as the Queen says that their initial meeting is “engraved on my heart” and that “if there had been a spark, Diana ignited it”, before adding: “I think she’s so strong, because not many people would be able to survive the death of their daughter. I admire her more than I can say.” Diana, too, shares this affection as she reveals what Camilla tells her whenever they meet, “She always says to me, you are the one who made me want to get involved.”
And while the documentary offers the public a look at this vital cause, it also allows us to see the Queen at work. “The formality of royal life sometimes obscures the true character of the person, but TV can offer glimpses of the person beneath,” Jennie points out.
“And in Camilla we see someone who is down to earth, empathetic and a champion of women’s rights and safety. She has taken a lot of flak in the past but I’m glad to see that she is now widely admired and respected. I know that if her documentary helps just one woman to get out of a violent home, then Camilla will view it as a success.”
The episode ends with the all important question: “How do we eradicate domestic abuse?” And while there is still a way to go, it is clear the cause has a lifetime’s support in Queen Camilla as she says: “Let’s not kid ourselves, it’s going to take time but I shall keep on trying until I am able to no more.”
Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors airs at 9pm on 11 November on ITV1 and ITVX, STV and STV Player.
