Queen Camilla speaks to domestic abuse suvivors in new documentary
Queen Camilla leads a new documentary which will observe her work to help survivors of domestic abuse.
In her first feature film since ascending to the throne in 2022, the 77-year-old will share her work as a senior royal, where she speaks to survivors of, and campaigners against, domestic abuse.
The 90-minute film will also see Camilla explaining how she became a patron of SafeLives – a UK-based charity dedicated to ending domestic abuse – with which she has worked to raise awareness.
In the documentary, the Queen also discusses coercive control – a pattern of behaviours used to manipulate another person – and its impact. Coercive control was made illegal in England and Wales in 2015.
“Coercive control is almost the most frightening bit of domestic abuse,” the Queen says in a never-before-seen interview. “You meet somebody, you think they’re wonderful, attractive, and love you, and then bit by bit they start to undermine you.
“They take away your friends, they take away your family. They take control of your money. They start dressing you. And yet all the time I suppose people still believe they’re doing it because they love them.”
Elsewhere in the documentary, Camilla discuses the importance of refuges for women fleeing domestic abusers, and secretly visits one such place. She also listens to stories from women who have survived ordeals from their abusers.
“I think through getting some of the wonderfully brave survivors to actually get up and talk about it has made people sit up and listen,” the Queen says in the documentary. “And the more they talk about it, it’s going to encourage more and more people to come forward.”
At the end of the emotional programme, Camilla then reflects on the work of campaigners, the bravery of survivors, and her own work in highlighting this important issue. “I shall keep on trying until I’m able to no more,” she says.
Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors will be shown on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player on Monday 11 November at 9pm.
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