Queen praises Hunt family for their bravery after triple murders

After his wife, Carol, and two children, Louise and Hannah, were killed by Louise's ex-partner, Queen Camilla has lauded the bravery of BBC racing commentator John Hunt and his family. The queen's experience of an indecent assault as a youth was also shared publicly for the first time. On BBC Radio 4's Today programme, the Queen appeared during a discussion on violence against women, a guest edited by former Prime Minister Baroness Theresa May. The queen said in a book earlier this year that she had been so angry and furious about the attack.

She said she had sort of forgotten what had happened to her, but that the Hunt family's friendship had prompted her to share about her experience. She recalled being on her way to see her mother when this boy - man - assaulted me, she said, adding, "I did fight back. At Clarence House, John and Amy Hunt consulted with the Queen - as well as Emma Barnett of the Today programme - at Clarence Hall. The discussion formed part of a larger discussion about sexual and domestic violence, as well as the benefits of sharing stories and experiences.

The Queen told them,

I remember something that had been lurking in the back of my mind for a long time.

I remember being terrified on a train as a youth and being so angry at the time.

she said. The queen described getting off the train and

my mother staring at meand asking:Why is your hair sticking up and why is the button missing from your coat? ' I had been attacked. "I was so worried about it and. And now you hear a tale like John and Amy's, it's something that I'm really worried about.

The indecent assault was first recorded in Power and the Palace, a book published earlier this year by former Times newspaper editor Valentine Low. According to the book, the Queen was 16 or 17 years old when it occurred on a train to Paddington Station. It detailed how the man approached the then-teen Camilla Shand and that she then struck him with the heel of her shoe. According to the book, she reported the incident to station workers and the man was arrested as she arrived in London. When the story was first revealed, Buckingham Palace made no official statement. Amy Hunt told her: Thank you for revealing it, Your Majesty. After hearing the Queen's tale, she said thank you. Since every woman has a tale to tell, it's difficult to post these things.

The interview explored the Hunt family's loss and tenacity as a result of Kyle Clifford's murder of Carol, Louise, and Hannah, who were all killed by Kyle Cliffard at their family home in Hertfordshire in July 2024. Mr Hunt told the BBC,

It's really difficult on a minute-by-minute basis. "You have to try and find the confidence in our situation so you can equip yourself with as many tools as possible that will help you get through the next hour.

Mr Hunt, his son, Baroness May, and Queen Camilla all agreed that education is the key to women's security. And they all expressed concern about young men's online radicalization.

Unfortunately, it's something that largely goes unchecked,

Amy Hunt said of social media,

it's actually allowed to run rampant. When men don't have

the best examples in life,

they often seek advice online, according to her, finding

easy answers" in people like self-proclaimed misogynist influencer Andrew Tate.

Mr Hunt said he had been

surrounded by amazing men and inspirational role models

throughout his life. I've had to educate myself to have this very dim world open up to me in the most possible fashion. Queen Camilla spoke about her work with domestic violence victims, saying that the primary concern was to ensure that young men do not become abusive partners as adults.

They may have had parents or relatives who have been violent or done horrible things to them. They're almost led to believe that it's a natural thing to do,

she explained.

I think it's so important to get them into schools and teach them respect for women,

the more I look at it. It's the most important thing we should do now.

In her role as guest editor of the Today show, Baroness May brought together the Hunt family and Queen Camilla. While home secretary Theresa May brought the charge of coercion and monitoring conduct as part of the Serious Crime Act in 2015, the court heard it was not a crime statute. Baroness May developed proposals for a Domestic Violence Bill during her tenure as Prime Minister, and after leaving office, she has supported campaigns against sexual and domestic violence. The former prime minister also expressed worry about the internet's clout.

What people are able to see online is so critical,

she said.

The legislation isn't going to stop someone who has just been inculcated with the sense of fear and violence that they want to go out and do something like this.

We can't do that by, but we can try to prevent that. They are less influenced by the negatives they see because of their positive male role models. Queen Camilla is the patron of the domestic violence charitySafeLivesand has worked with a variety of other organisations, including Refugee. This is an epidemic that does not discriminate, Refugee's chair Hettie Barkworth-Nanton said.

The more the Queen is able to share her own experience, not in a way that is 'poor me,' but in a manner that reminds people that so many people are affected by this, the better. she is helping give survivors a voice.

Mr Hunt's deep bond with his daughter, as well as their desire to create a lasting legacy out of what happened to their families, was evident throughout the Today interview.

I think it's really important to remember that they had a sad death but not a miserable one,

Ms Hunt said. Despite being tense about it, Mr Hunt told the Queen and Baroness May that his daughter's tenacity had been a welcome relief.

I'm shocked that we're as good as we are. Amy has been my best advocate from the beginning, even though it comes at the risk of embarrassing her. We talk all the time.

I used to say, 'I couldn't do it without you,' but now I say,

I can do it with you. They have founded The Hunt Family Fund to help charities and programs that will inspire young women. It will work with campaigns on domestic violence and violence, but it will also be involved with topics such as animal charities, which Ms Hunt said was Louise's

main passion in life. The Queen told Mr Hunt and Ms Hunt,

I'd just like to say that wherever your family is now, they'd be so proud of you both. Thank you.

And they must be from above smiling down on you and saying, oh my goodness, what a wonderful, loving father, husband, and sister. "They'd just be so proud of you both.