Buckingham Palace has confirmed that Queen Camilla sent a personal letter of support to French rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot. The Queen was deeply moved by Ms Pelicot’s harrowing experience at the hands of her ex-husband, who not only drugged and raped her but also enlisted numerous men to abuse her over a period of almost ten years. Newsweek reported that Queen Camilla, a staunch advocate for domestic and sexual violence victims, wanted to acknowledge Ms Pelicot’s remarkable strength and bravery.
Despite the palace’s refusal to disclose the letter’s contents, it is customary for private correspondence from the Queen and other members of the royal family to remain confidential. A royal aide revealed to Newsweek that the Queen was inspired to reach out to Ms Pelicot at the highest level in a gesture of support, recognizing her courageous efforts to shed light on a significant societal issue amid her personal struggles. In December, Dominique Pelicot, the perpetrator, was sentenced to 20 years in prison by judges in Avignon, France.
Within the walls of the courtroom in France’s largest rape trial, Ms Pelicot chose to waive her anonymity to bring global attention to her case. She aimed to shift the “shame” from the victim to the perpetrator, effectively transforming into a symbol of feminism. The moving display of solidarity from women outside the court, lining up to express admiration and offer flowers, underscored the impact of Ms Pelicot’s bravery. Her ex-husband’s monstrous acts were uncovered when he was caught photographing women in a supermarket, leading to his trial alongside 50 other men.
The trial culminated in 46 of the defendants being convicted of rape, two of attempted rape, and two of sexual assault. Shockingly, Pelicot was found to have taken indecent images of his own daughter, Caroline, as well as his daughters-in-law, Aurore and Celine. Caroline Darian, the daughter of Dominique and Gisèle, has step
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