Queen Camilla comforts tearful domestic violence victim brought to Britain through forced marriage as she visits women’s shelter

The Queen today comforted a crying victim of domestic abuse who was brought to Britain through forced marriage.

Camilla, 76, listened intently as the woman in her early 20s, who cannot be identified, told the royal family her story, instinctively reaching out to reassure her as she hesitated and wiped her eyes.

The moving moment came during a visit to a home run by the Ashiana Network, which operates a number of refugee women in London and supports South Asian, Middle Eastern and Turkish women who have suffered domestic and sexual violence, forced marriages and honour-related violence. , financial abuse and coercive control.

The exact location of the building cannot be revealed due to the vulnerability of the women it houses.

The Queen called the women she met ‘amazing, brave ladies’ and told them: ‘I’m absolutely delighted that I was able to come here to meet you. It’s a matter of seeing is believing. It’s an inspiration to see how far you’ve come on your journey to becoming good, confident women.”

Her low-key visit to one of the network’s crisis shelters came after she heard about their work during a visit to London’s East End earlier this year and asked to see it in action for herself.

The engagement could not be announced in advance and the Queen’s car pulled up with minimal security details, the royal family stepped out in a business suit with pin strips and her team knocked on the carefully guarded door.

Inside, she was greeted by Shaminder Ubhi, director of Ashiana for 27 years.

She explained to the Queen, who has campaigned to prevent violence against women for more than a decade and is patron of the charity Safe Lives, how they helped traumatized women escape often complex circumstances – alone, the language non-speaking and vulnerable due to their immigration status – for six months to several years.

Camilla peppered their conversations with questions about their work and the comprehensive service they provide, which includes everything from housing to trauma specialists, for women aged 16 and up.

After a private look into a woman’s room upstairs, she sat down with four women – three current residents and one ex-resident – ​​to talk about their experiences. One lady was from Turkey, two from Pakistan and a third from India.

Camilla encouraged them to tell their stories, saying, “A lady told me that if it wasn’t for you [Ashiana] I don’t know where I would have been. Please tell me your stories, I want to hear them.”

One young woman told how she arrived at the center in extreme distress, sobbing constantly.

She had fled an abusive forced marriage and sought shelter with relatives for a week, but could not get help from the municipality, so she was referred to Ashiana.

‘I was very young when I came here, just 18. I had only been in Britain for two months and didn’t speak a word of English. I had nothing, just the one dress I wore.

‘I didn’t know how to put a card in the box. I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t do anything. I was scared, I had depression.

‘Now I’m living my best life, I have my own place. I’m studying, I want to become a social worker. I am a strong lady now,” she said.

‘They gave you the confidence to get on with life. It’s a wonderful story to hear, to hear about your success,” Camilla agreed.

One girl, who arrived at the center in January this year, explained how not only her husband, but also her in-laws treated her ‘very badly, very badly’.

“Your lives alone have been changed by this special place,” Camilla said. ‘The problem is that there probably aren’t enough of them. There must be so many young people like you in this country.

“You’re one of the lucky ones who found this place. There are many more people still looking for help.”

A lady from Turkey cried as she told the Queen that five years later she was still receiving help for her trauma, but was deprived because her young daughter remained in her home country.

Camilla gently touched her arm and said to her, “I think you are brave, I think you are all very brave to tell your stories.”

“I’m so sorry,” the lady said. Everyone here is very good to me, but I am a mother, my daughter…’

‘You have to be strong, you are very strong. That’s why you’ve gotten as far as you have. You are so strong. You have to keep going. You all. You are wonderful girls who support each other,” the queen said.

“I can never explain to you how these people helped me, how this house helped me,” the woman replied.

“I think it’s so great that you’re here, but there’s clearly a huge need for more places,” Camilla added.

‘You can now help other young people who need help and show them how to change their lives.’

Another young lady cried as she spoke about her experience through an interpreter, saying, “The police told me about this place. When I came here in March, I was completely heartbroken. I couldn’t talk to anyone, my self-confidence was so low. I had been in Britain since January. ‘

Smiling and laughing through her tears, she added, “Now I feel so much more confident. This place is like home. Everyone is so supportive. I couldn’t speak a word of English and was all alone, now I can and I have family.

“These women are my family. I used to not be allowed to leave the house anywhere and now I am so much more independent. ‘

Camilla said: ‘That makes us all so happy to hear that. You’ve been through such a terrible time, but things are getting better and you have a bright future. Thank you very much for telling your story.’

Before leaving, the queen posed with the survivors and staff.

She told them: ‘I see many sides of domestic violence, but to see such young girls here, I have never visited such a beautiful place. It is remarkable.

“Coming here with nothing but a knapsack on their back and changing their lives. Thank you for everything you do.

‘I’m so glad I went to Brick Lane and heard about it. Here I am saying to all of you, what an amazing job you are doing and to all these brilliant ladies who have been through such trauma but have come out the other side. Unfortunately, there will be more stories to come. They are very moving.’

“We have to clone you.”

She received a mosaic mirror as a gift, made by a number of women in the trash.

Ashiana Network was founded in 1989 and became an independent charity in 1994. Ends

The Queen has been an advocate of preventing violence against women for more than a decade, including being patron of the British charity SafeLives. Duchess of Cornwall in February 2021.