Queen Camilla has written a personal letter to rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot, expressing her "heartfelt admiration for the courage, grace and dignity" with which the 73-year-old faced the crimes committed against her.
Ms Pelicot revealed: "It was an honour for me to receive this letter, I wasn't expecting it at all."
She described feeling "overwhelmed that the Queen could send me this letter".
The correspondence came as a complete surprise to Ms Pelicot, who said: "Although my words touched the whole world, I wasn't expecting a letter from the Court of England."
Gisèle Pelicot revealed she 'wasn't expecting' to receive a letter from Queen Camilla
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The letter's contents were revealed with permission from both the Queen and Ms Pelicot during an interview ahead of the survivor's forthcoming memoir, A Hymn To Life.
Ms Pelicot endured nearly a decade of abuse at the hands of her former husband, who repeatedly drugged her and subjected her to rape. He also recruited men through the internet to assault her.
During the 15-week trial held in Avignon in 2024, Ms Pelicot made the remarkable decision to give up her legal right to remain anonymous.
Her aim was to ensure that "shame swap sides" from the victim to the rapist.
The trial transformed her into an international symbol of resilience and strength. Throughout the proceedings, crowds of supporters gathered daily outside the courthouse, holding placards expressing gratitude for her bravery and demanding justice.
Gisèle Pelicot made the choice to waive her anonymity during her trial to make the 'shame swap sides'
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Ms Pelicot said she felt "moved and very honoured" on BBC Newsnight that Her Majesty had learned of her ordeal.
The Queen has long championed the cause of survivors of domestic and sexual violence, having collaborated with support organisations for many years.
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In her letter, she told Ms Pelicot that she 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," the Queen wrote.
The Queen has long been an advocate against sexual and domestic violence
| PAShe added: "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."
Ms Pelicot expressed her gratitude for the recognition, saying: "I felt moved and very honoured that she had become aware of what had happened to me. I am grateful to her."
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