The Queen Consort and violence against women

[IamSarah]

Just seen her on BBC Breakfast and I must say I'm very impressed. Of all the causes she could have chosen, she picked VAWG.

I don't think this is a cynical pre coronation publicity stunt, she has been supporting domestic violence and sexual violence survivors for ages.

Link to her work www.royal.uk/queen-consorts-work-violence-against-women

The fact that she has supported an osteoporosis charity for ages - which is not a ‘sexy’ charity by any means, but is mainly about women, suggests to me that she is sincere in caring about women. I reckon the timing is probably about IWD coming up.

Yes, absolutely not a stunt.
I have always suspected that if she doesn’t have first hand experience of domestic violence she has been close to someone who has. She seems to be a very straightforward person and has chosen her causes carefully.

Her ex husband was a notorious womaniser which is in itself a form of emotional abuse.

She's been open n the fact that she's supported close friends who have been victims of VAWG in the past. It's a great step towards breaking the taboo that violence can't happen to "people like us"

I agree, she is most definitely sincere and committed about this. And I also suspect a personal connection.

It’s good to hear

I agree that despite making some questionable choices, she comes across as a straight forward person

Countess of Wessex's work on VAWG, rape as a tool of war and FGM usually goes unreported too.

It's a great step towards breaking the taboo that violence can't happen to "people like us"

I didn't think of that. It's an excellent point.

There was an episode on the Crime Analyst podcast which focused on the murder of Joanna Simpson by her ex-husband, just after they'd divorced. The episdoe started off explaining how Camilla met Joanna's mother (Diana Parkes) and became very involved in speaking out about domestic violence.

It's a very powerful episode and Diana Parkes is a very impressive woman. If anyone wants to list the episdoe is here:

105: The Crime Analyst | Ep 105 | Joanna Simpson: A Miscarriage of Justice, Part 1

I think Joanna falls under the it can't happen to "people like us" bracket. She came from a financially secure family, was independently wealthy and married a British Airways captain. All "perfect". Then when he started abusing her she did get away and divorced him. I seem to remember the family were even able to pay some sort of bodyguard (could be misremembering) to protect her. She had the money and support, she did everything "right" to get away and he still was able to very brutally murder Joanna with her children in the house.

I believe Camilla has also long supported another "unsexy" charitable cause- adult literacy.

Camilla and Sophie Wessex have both been brilliant on this. I agree with a PP that Camilla talks as though she knows soemone well who has suffered and it seems a cause very close to heart.

Camilla has been supporting DV charities for years.

If you believe reports in the media, she was asked not to be too public about it once she was officially acknowledged by the Royal Family.

It is said that when eventually all the pr people said okay go ahead have a big publicity day about your work with DV, she was then upstaged by some sparkly public appearance by Megan and Harry although they had been asked to not detract from her.

So please dont say it is just a stunt or about IWD. She has been active for years.

Blame the media for not reporting it.

Love Camilla.

Here she is last year on Woman's Hour
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0014pfw

Good for her. Very well done Camilla

This si something she's done for years so absolutely think she's genuine. I'm going to the garden party this year so I hope to get to meet her and tell her how great she is

As a domestic violence survivor, I am glad of any publicity that helps the cause.

However, Camilla decided to embark upon an affair with a married man who had very young children.

Having been in the situation of finding out your husband is cheating when you have young dependent children, I know how absolutely devastating this is.

Camilla is prepared to support women when it suits her own agenda. Otherwise, not so much.

Oh, how lovely Clymene!

FFS

Oh give it a rest. It was 40 years ago, and the man in question's wife was also a serial cheat (not to mention violent herself towards her step mother and, by all accounts, extremely emotionally manipulative). If you want to go down the purity spiral route on DV survivors, you'll be in a very small group. If you want DV to have a high profile, stop attacking a woman who may well have experienced it herself (and is a survivor, no matter what her misdeeds may have been), and who is doing a good job of promoting women's groups supporting survivors.

Maybe 10 years ago or so, I accompanied a friend who had been raped to a specialist sexual violence clinic/haven, and after they'd completed all the swabs/medical/evidence checks, they gave her a little care kit which was courtesy of Camilla. I remember how touched my friend was, and how much a little thing like meant at that time. I've had a soft spot for her ever since & was hoping she'd continue to use whatever influence she has to help abused women. Good on her.

This is lovely. Things like that can make such a difference when self worth is low.

What a Queen.

I know! I'm no royalist but I have a lot of time for Camilla. I'm hoping she'll want to talk to the punters as it will be her first time doing the garden party thing

I was unlucky enough to see her support in person, my daughter was raped last month and when she had to go to the rape clinic with the police she was given one of the lots donated by Queen consort afterwards to allow her to have a shower, it had everything that they needed and was so essential afterwards

kits… auto correct not lots, it was a really helpful kit