Camilla visits hospital in first solo engagement as Queen Consort
Camilla met domestic abuse workers and survivors at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on Thursday.
The Queen Consort used her first solo engagement in her new royal title to meet domestic abuse workers and survivors.
Camilla met people who had used the domestic abuse service at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, as well as independent domestic violence advisers and other staff in the field at the hospital on Thursday.
During the visit, Camilla met Shana Begum and her three-week-old son Jeremy.
Camilla told Ms Begum she was “doing a wonderful job” and it was “very important” to have people with experience of abuse involved in support services.
Ms Begum, who previously met Camilla at another domestic abuse campaign, said: “We met in Manchester when I was expecting the baby and it’s really lovely for the Queen to see the baby three weeks in.
“She’s always been really down to earth and an amazing patron for SafeLives.”
Ms Al-Shariff said it was “an honour” that Camilla had chosen to make this her first solo engagement as Queen Consort, adding: “It’s inspirational to know that someone from the royal family has taken a real interest in domestic abuse.”
Suzanne Jacob, chief executive of SafeLives, said the visit would mean “a huge amount to survivors of domestic abuse and people who are still in abusive relationships up and down the country and around the world”.
Isabel Boyer, chair of SafeLives, said Camilla had always spoken with “an acknowledgement of how widespread domestic abuse is in society” and that her involvement with the charity had made “a huge difference in terms of publicity”.
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital has a domestic abuse model which involves close partnership with specialist agencies Standing Together, Victim Support and Galop to provide a coordinated community response.
