Queen Camilla fought off attempted assault as a teenager, new book claims

September 1, 2025

London —
A new book has revealed that Britain’s Queen Camilla once fought off an attempted sexual assault while traveling on a train as a teenager.

According to Power and the Palace, written by former Times royal correspondent Valentine Low, Camilla recounted the incident during a conversation with Boris Johnson when he was Mayor of London. Guto Harri, Johnson’s former communications director, shared the story with Low.

At the time, Camilla — then around 16 or 17 years old — was on a train bound for Paddington when a man began making unwanted advances. When Johnson asked what happened next, Camilla reportedly said: “I did what my mother taught me to do. I took off my shoe and whacked him in the nuts with the heel.”

She then got off the train at Paddington Station, found a uniformed officer, and reported the man, who was subsequently arrested, Harri recalled.

The book notes that Johnson and Camilla, who was then the Duchess of Cornwall, bonded during their meeting at Clarence House but also had a serious discussion about her experience as a survivor of attempted assault.

Power and the Palace is scheduled for release on September 11. Buckingham Palace has not issued an official statement on the account, though it has not disputed the details.

Camilla became Queen in 2022 following the accession of her husband, King Charles III, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Over the years, she has been a vocal advocate against domestic and sexual violence, championing initiatives to support survivors. Among her efforts is the Wash Bag Project, which provides essential toiletries to victims of sexual assault following forensic examinations.

Source: CNN News

Source Video: Skynews Australia