The Queen has told rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot that she was left “speechless” after reading the account of her ordeal in a newly published memoir. A long-standing advocate against domestic violence and sexual abuse, Her Majesty invited Ms Pelicot to Clarence House after reading the book in just two days, according to aides. The Queen reportedly described the case as shocking, despite having met many survivors over the years.
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Ms Pelicot’s former husband was sentenced in 2024 to 20 years in prison for drugging and raping her, as well as enabling other men to assault her while she was unconscious. The abuse spanned almost a decade, with courts in Avignon convicting 50 men of rape or related sexual offences. After waiving her right to anonymity, Ms Pelicot said she wanted shame to rest with the perpetrators rather than the victim.
Her memoir, A Hymn to Life, was released last week in 22 languages and launched in London with a public event at the Royal Festival Hall. The launch included readings by actors Kate Winslet, Dame Kristin Scott Thomas and Juliet Stevenson. Ms Pelicot met the Queen privately for around 30 minutes, accompanied by her partner and members of her literary and legal teams, with the conversation conducted partly through an interpreter.
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The Queen has previously written to Ms Pelicot to commend her “extraordinary dignity and courage”, a message the author described as deeply moving. Ms Pelicot is due to receive an international award later this year recognising her decision to speak publicly about her experiences. Supporting survivors of sexual violence has been a central focus of the Queen’s charitable work, with a continued emphasis on tackling domestic abuse and sexual assault.
