Queen Camilla Says Gisèle Pelicot Memoir Left Her ‘Speechless’ at London Meeting

Published: 24 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

Gisèle Pelicot, the 73‑year‑old French woman whose memoir recounts decades of extreme abuse and her extraordinary path to justice, was personally welcomed at Clarence House in London on 23 February 2026 by Queen Camilla, who told her the book left her “speechless” after reading it. The meeting marked the culmination of Pelicot’s UK book‑tour promotion for A Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides, a memoir detailing her survival after being drugged and raped for nearly a decade by her ex‑husband and others.

Camilla, who has long campaigned against domestic violence and sexual abuse, spent about 30 minutes with Pelicot and her partner over tea, during which she recounted that she had finished the memoir in just two days and found the account profoundly affecting. “I’ve met so many survivors of rape and sexual abuse I never thought I could be shocked by anything anymore, but I was shocked at your case — it left me speechless,” the Queen said, according to official statements from the Palace.

Pelicot gained international attention by waiving her right to anonymity during France’s 2024 trial, where her ex‑husband Dominique Pelicot and 50 other men were convicted of rape or sexual offences — a case that shocked legal observers because of its duration and circumstances. Pelicot’s decision to speak openly and publish her memoir in 22 languages has made her a global symbol of resilience and advocacy for survivors of sexual violence.

The Queen praised Pelicot’s “extraordinary dignity and courage” and highlighted the support she has received from audiences during her book launch events. Camilla had previously sent a personal letter of admiration when Pelicot’s memoir was released, a gesture Pelicot said left her “overwhelmed”.

The encounter at Clarence House reinforces ongoing Royal engagement with issues of abuse, survivors’ rights and social stigma, and brings further international focus to Pelicot’s campaign to shift narratives about shame and accountability surrounding sexual violence.

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