Queen Camilla vows to make ending domestic abuse her life’s work

The Queen has said she will keep on trying to end all domestic abuse until ”I am able to no more”.

Queen Camilla spoke in a new programme following her work to support those living in violent relationships.

Her Majesty said there is no quick solution, adding ”let’s not kid ourselves, it’s going to take a long, long time because it’s been going forever.”

But she vowed to keep on working to stop sexual and domestic abuse, saying ”if you look at the steps we’ve taken, since the bad old days, we have made a huge amount of progress. And I shall keep on trying until I am able to no more.”

It was only in 1976, just under fifty years ago, that the Domestic Violence and Matrimonial Proceedings Act allowed woment o obtain court orders to give them legal protection from a violent husband or partner. In 1991, it became illegal for a husband to rape his wife under English law. It’s a decade since Claire’s Law allowed people to ask the police if their partner or ex has a record of violence or abuse.

The promise to keep on came as Her Majesty talked about her work in Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors. The programme, made by an all female team, follows Queen Camilla for a year as she continues her focus on ending domestic violence.

Those who have suffered domestic abuse speak about their experience in the documentary. One woman told the programme about the moment her estranged husband tried to kill her, saying ”I can see him reaching into a bag and I can see him pulling this sawn off shotgun out of the bag. He hit me with the butt of the gun…he pointed the gun at my chest, told me he loved me and pulled the trigger.”

The scale of domestic abuse is also explored in the programme. Over 2.1 million people in England and Wales experienced some form of domestic abuse in the year between March 2022 and March 2023. The police recorded 1.5 million domestic abuse related incidents and crimes in the same period.

Queen Camilla is seen in the programme at official engagements. The documentary also shows never before seen private meetings with survivors as well as those working to bring about further change in the support available to domestic abuse victims.

Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors is on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player on November 11th 2024 at 9pm.