Queen's letter of support left Pelicot 'overwhelmed'

The Queen is a long-standing campaigner on domestic and sexual violence

Rape survivor Gisèle Pelicot has said she felt "overwhelmed" and "very honoured" to receive a personal letter of support from Queen Camilla.

The Queen had commended Ms Pelicot for her "courage" and "grace", writing: "I very much wanted to write to express my heartfelt admiration for the courage, grace and dignity with which you have faced the horrific crimes committed against you."

Over the course of nearly a decade, Ms Pelicot was repeatedly drugged and raped by her then-husband, who also invited men he met online to abuse her as well.

The Queen told Ms Pelicot that she had "inspired women across the globe" and "created a powerful legacy that will change the narrative around shame, forever".

Gisèle Pelicot waived her right to anonymity during the 2024 trial to make the "shame swap sides" from the victim to the rapist.

She became a global figurehead of strength and feminism, and during the 15-week trial in Avignon, supporters stood outside the court every day with signs thanking Ms Pelicot for her courage, and calling for justice.

"It was an honour for me to receive this letter, I wasn't expecting it at all," Ms Pelicot, 73, told Victoria Derbyshire for BBC Newsnight.

"I was overwhelmed that the Queen could send me this letter."

Crowds of supporters greeted Pelicot outside the Avignon courthouse every day of the trial

The Queen is a long-standing campaigner on domestic and sexual violence and has worked with organisations that support survivors for years.

"Thank you for all that you have done," she wrote to Ms Pelicot.

"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."

It is the first time the contents of the letter have been revealed. But with the Queen and Ms Pelicot's permission, it was shared with the BBC during Ms Pelicot's interview with Newsnight ahead of the release of her memoir: A Hymn To Life.

Ms Pelicot said she was surprised and felt "very honoured" when she received the note, "because although my words touched the whole world, I wasn't expecting a letter from the Court of England".

"I felt moved and very honoured that she had become aware of what had happened to me. I am grateful to her."