A newly published biography, Power and the Palace, offers a previously undisclosed glimpse into Queen Camilla’s resilience as a teenager. According to the account, when she was approximately sixteen or seventeen years old, she was the target of an attempted sexual assault while travelling on a train to London’s Paddington Station. Demonstrating remarkable self-possession, she removed her shoe and struck her assailant in the groin with its heel. Upon disembarking, she promptly approached a uniformed officer, reported the incident, and the man was arrested. The episode was recounted during a 2008 conversation with the then-Mayor of London, later recalled by his communications director.

Queen Camilla, now aged seventy-eight, has long been a leading figure in raising awareness of sexual violence and supporting survivors through both public and private initiatives. Her decades-long work includes opening rape crisis centres, patronages of charities like SafeLives, and participation in documentaries highlighting the hidden realities of abuse. The newly revealed incident aligns with her sustained commitment to these causes and adds a deeply personal layer to her advocacy, while Buckingham Palace has not disputed the account.

This anecdote conveys more than a singular moment of personal courage—it offers context for her long-standing dedication to supporting survivors of sexual and domestic abuse. Her lifelong work in this domain has grown from compassion into sustained leadership, reinforcing her reputation as a dignified and proactive advocate for vulnerable individuals.