Queen left ‘speechless’ by novel: French rape survivor Gisele Pelicot visits Camilla at Clarence House

The story of rape survivor Gisele Pelicot - who was drugged and raped by her husband as well as other men - left The Queen “speechless” it has been revealed. Ms Pelicot, 73, hit the headlines after the crimes against her were revealed in a high-profile French trial, which ended in her husband being jailed for 20 years, alongside dozens of other men found to have raped her.

Ms Pelicot became an iconic symbol for survivors after waiving her right to anonymity during the proceedings, saying shame of such crimes should fall on offenders, not victims.

Following the case, Ms Pelicot released a memoir telling the story of her life - and her ordeal at the hands of her husband and others - and has been in London speaking about the book, Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides.

During the tour, Camilla invited the abuse survivor to her official London residence and revealed she read the memoir in just two days, unable to put it down.

Last year, The Queen wrote to Ms Pelicot and praised her “extraordinary dignity and courage”, with the letter leaving the survivor “overwhelmed”. It is now framed in her office.

And when the two women sat down over tea at Clarence House for a 30-minute meeting, Camilla said about the memoir: “I read it in the last two days, I couldn’t put it down. I’ve met so many survivors of rape and sexual abuse I never thought I could be shocked by anything any more, but I was shocked at your case – it left me speechless.”

The launch of Hymn to Life: Shame Has to Change Sides was held at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Friday (February 20), with readings by Hollywood actresses Kate Winslet, Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and Juliet Stevenson.

Ms Pelicot’s ex-husband, Dominique Pelicot, was jailed for 20 years for drugging and raping her and allowing other men to rape her while she was unconscious in offences spanning almost a decade.

A total of 50 men were found guilty of rape or sexual offences after a three-and-a-half-month trial in Avignon, which ended in December 2024. Ms Pelicot was joined by her partner, Jean-Loup Agopian, as well as her literary and legal team and she talked to the Queen through an interpreter.

Camilla’s opening words after greeting her guest and her partner were in French and she joked how she studied the language “60 years ago” but had “forgotten” it all.

During the informal chat, Ms Pelicot talked about receiving “incredible strength” from people and in response the Queen told her she had “so much support”.

Camilla, who has long campaigned against domestic violence and sexual abuse, was aware of the book launch and mentioned the standing ovations the survivor received from the sell-out audience of more than 2,000 people in London.