Queen Camilla sends letter to Gisèle Pelicot

Queen Camilla sent a personal letter to rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot.

She commended Gisèle Pelicot for her “courage” and “grace”, writing, “I very much wanted to write to express my heartfelt admiration for the courage, grace and dignity with which you have faced the horrific crimes committed against you.”

She added that Gisèle Pelicot had “inspired women across the globe” and “created a powerful legacy that will change the narrative around shame, forever. Thank you for all that you have done. You are very much in my thoughts and prayers, and I hope that you will now be able to rest and recover from this devastating ordeal.”

Gisèle Pelicot was repeatedly drugged and raped by her then-husband over nearly a decade. He also invited dozens of men he met online to assault her as well. She waived her right to anonymity during the trial, saying that shame should swap sides. During the 15-week trial, she became a global figure of strength. Every day, she was met by supporters outside the court.

Gisèle Pelicot commented that she felt “overwhelmed” and “very honoured” to receive a personal letter of support from the Queen. “It was an honour for me to receive this letter, I wasn’t expecting it at all,” she told BBC Newsnight.