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Duchess of Cornwall hails The Archers in helping to lift 'shroud of silence' about domestic abuse

The Duchess of Cornwall at the Commonwealth Women's Forum - AP POOL
The Duchess of Cornwall at the Commonwealth Women's Forum - AP POOL

It brought the issue of coercive control into the nation’s sitting rooms, with the slow-burning story of Helen and Rob unfolding day by chilling day.

Radio 4 drama The Archers has been praised by the Duchess of Cornwall for helping to lift a corrosive “shroud of silence” about domestic violence, as she used a Commonwealth forum to speak out against the abuse of women.

The Duchess, a long-term campaigner against domestic violence, delivered a speech ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting to call for women suffering abuse to speak out, saying she hoped to see them become victors not victims” as the “corrosive” shame surrounding abuse begins to fall away.

Using the example of the “hugely popular radio show” the Archers, as well as a similar programme in India, she hailed the “new ways and valuable ways of breaking the silence”.

The Duchess joined the Commonwealth Women’s Forum on a day of activity for the Royal Family, which saw her husband the Prince of Wales call for an end to the “pernicious disease” of malaria and visit the Science Museum for a celebration of Anglo-Indian ties with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall listens during a roundtable discussion with (L-R) Cressida Dick, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Rachel Williams, a domestic abuse victim and Jude Kelly - Credit: WPA Pool
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall listens during a roundtable discussion with (L-R) Cressida Dick, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Rachel Williams, a domestic abuse victim and Jude Kelly Credit: WPA Pool

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle met youth activists, vowing to put gay rights at the forefront of their future campaign work.

The Queen, meanwhile, received Mr Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Buckingham Palace ahead of the official opening of CHOGM today.

The Duchess of Cornwall, who has dedicated time on each of her overseas tours in recent years to meeting victims of domestic violence in the host nation, joined Commonwealth Women’s Forum delegates to hear their stories.

The story of Helen and Rob captivated Archers listeners - Credit: BBC
The story of Helen and Rob captivated Archers listeners Credit: BBC

Appearing visibly moved by the words of survivors, she told 300 women from the Commonwealth’s  53 member countries: “In the past year I have visited Australia, India, Singapore, Malaysia and Canada – countries that are so different in myriad ways, but which share the scourge of domestic abuse which takes the lives of women and damages the lives of children all around the world.

“But new conversations are starting – sometimes in places where many might not have expected it.

“In the UK, thanks to hugely popular radio show, The Archers, millions of people now have some understanding of what living with relentless coercive behaviour is really like.  

Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, , with the Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and her partner Clarke Gayford - Credit: AP Pool
Prince Charles and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, , with the Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and her partner Clarke Gayford Credit: AP Pool

“Similarly, the Indian soap opera 'Main Kuch Bhi Kar Sakti Hoon'– "I, a woman, can achieve anything" – dealt with issues of domestic violence and had over 400 million viewers.  

“These are new ways and valuable ways of breaking the silence.” She added: “I hope we can talk about what is happening behind closed doors across the world and I hope that these brave people have the courage to speak out - to be, in the words of one of those women, ‘victors not victims’.   

“I hope very much that today might mark a moment when we start to pull back that shroud of silence.”

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry speak to young activists - Credit: Yui Mok
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry speak to young activists Credit: Yui Mok

Jude Kelly, founder of the Women of World movement, told an audience how, during a recent trip to Australia, the Duchess had told one young woman: “I believe my purpose is to listen to other people’s stories and knowing I have some power I can take those stories and make other people listen to them too.”

The Duchess will be the subject of an ITV documentary to be broadcast on Monday, which sees the Prince of Wales describe his “darling wife”: “She’s the best listener in town. She can get anything out of anybody.”

The Prince of Wales with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi - Credit: WPA Pool
The Prince of Wales with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Credit: WPA Pool

In a separate youth forum also held yesterday, Prince Harry and Ms Markle met activists including Jacob Thomas, who won a Queen’s Young Leaders award for reducing the rate suicide in the LBGTI community in Australia, said: “Mss Markle said, and these were her exact words, that this is a basic human rights issue, not one about sexuality.

“Prince Harry said that what was so amazing was that five or ten years ago we wouldn’t have been having this conversation and how incredible it was that we now were.

“He said he would put the issue at the forefront of his work.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Commonwealth Youth Forum - Credit: Yui Mok
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the Commonwealth Youth Forum Credit: Yui Mok

Ms Markle told the young delegates: “You’re so energised. “You’ve got this [Commonwealth] umbrella to hold you together. It’s incredible. So stay in touch, maximise it.”

On Thursday, the Queen and Prince of Wales will formally open CHOGM at Buckingham Palace, joined for dinner in the evening by all the Commonwealth Heads of Government and members of the Royal Family including the Duchess of Cornwall, Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry, the Duke of York, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.