Queen Camilla met with women leaders from across the Commonwealth at an event dedicated to addressing domestic violence on Wednesday.
Camilla, 76, said it was ‘so important’ for her to attend the event at Marlborough House, London – which was focused on safeguarding women and children from domestic violence.
The royal, who looked typically sophisticated in an dark green dress with heeled boots, was greeted by the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Baroness Scotland, as she arrived at the headquarters of the Commonwealth in central London.
Baroness Scotland said one in three women in the world will be affected by domestic violence at some stage in their lives, adding that women were ‘disproportionately affected’ in every form of crisis.
She said that having the support of Camilla was ‘wonderful’, adding that the Queen had a ‘great care for people’.
Baroness Scotland, the first woman to serve as attorney general for England and Wales, said: ‘So many people would like to be silent, and it’s not necessarily a comfortable thing to talk about.
‘But Her Majesty has been absolutely adamant that she would be a spokesperson for all those women who think they have no voice.’
Camilla attended a reception of dignitaries which included the British-Ghanaian entrepreneur and actress Lady Dentaa Amoateng.
She also met the leaders of the Mirabel Centre, Nigeria’s first referral centre to provide free medical and psychosocial support to survivors of rape and sexual assault.
Itoro Eze-Anaba, the founder of the centre, said having the patronage of Camilla had ‘helped people to speak up’ as it brought ‘credibility’ to the centre.
She added that the centre had helped more than 8,200 survivors of rape and sexual assault – with the youngest of the centre’s clients being just three months old and the oldest 82 years old.
Ayotola Jagun, director at the Mirabel Centre, said having the backing of Camilla as patron had ‘done wonders’ for the confidence of the centre’s staff.
Camilla also met Maya Kirti Nanan, the winner of the Commonwealth’s young person of the year award for 2023.
The 20-year-old from Trinidad and Tobago established an autism centre called Rahul’s Clubhouse, named after her brother Rahul who was diagnosed with autism.
The Commonwealth Secretariat said the event at Marlborough House would help form an alliance ‘engaging all sectors and professions’ to work to protect women and children from domestic violence.
It added that it would also help inform the Commonwealth’s strategy at Cop28 to ‘advocate for the needs and interests of women and girls, including calling for an inclusive loss and damage fund’.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
