In a show of solidarity and strength, Queen Camilla delivered a powerful message of support for Princess Kate Middleton amidst a backdrop of online harassment during a reception held at Buckingham Palace to commemorate International Women’s Day.
Joined by Queen Mathilde of Belgium, the 76-year-old monarch used her platform to condemn the recent surge of social media attacks directed at Middleton, following a controversy surrounding the editing of a family photo earlier in the week.
As the President of the foundation Women of the World (WOW), Queen Camilla seized the opportunity to advocate for gender equality and to call for an end to cyberbullying targeting women. Drawing from historical precedent, she invoked the suffragette protest of 1914, where stones were hurled at Buckingham Palace as a symbolic gesture of defiance against the systemic oppression faced by women.
“These stones represented hope to the women who threw them – hope that, in the future, they would not be victims of their history, nor of the social and economic forces that were ranged against gender equality,” Queen Camilla passionately declared, holding up the historic artifacts. “Above all, they represented the hope that it was possible.”
In a poignant acknowledgment of the present, Queen Camilla underscored the significance of the distinguished guests assembled at Buckingham Palace, affirming that they embody hope for women in the present and future generations.
Read More: Kate Middleton and Prince William Criticized for Handling of Kensington Palace Controversy
Amid the gravity of her speech, a moment of levity ensued when Queen Camilla was presented with a Barbie doll fashioned in her likeness. Expressing her delight, she exclaimed, “Thank you very, very much indeed. It’s brilliant,” injecting a touch of humor by adding, “You’ve taken about 50 years off my life.” In a playful sign-off, she concluded, “We should all have a Barbie!”
Queen Camilla’s unwavering support for Princess Kate Middleton serves as a beacon of strength and resilience in the face of online harassment, highlighting the importance of standing up against cyberbullying and advocating for the empowerment of women everywhere.
