Camilla meets families at domestic violence refuge

The Queen has toured a domestic violence refuge to celebrate the service’s 50th anniversary.

Camilla met staff, volunteers and families at Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service (SDASS) on Monday.

Her visit comes as the King prepares to be admitted to hospital at some stage this week to undergo treatment for an enlarged prostate.

The Queen has been carrying on with engagements, including visiting an art gallery in Aberdeen last week, while her husband has been urged to rest ahead of his corrective procedure for the benign condition.

SDASS, which was founded in 1974 as Swindon Women’s Aid, offers one of the few purpose-built refuges in the UK offering fully self-contained accommodation.

Camilla was introduced to Nicky Alberry, the charity’s chair of trustees, and Joanna Eamey, its chief executive.

She was also greeted by her close friend Sarah Troughton, the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire.

Mrs Troughton was one of six trusted confidantes appointed as Queen’s companions in 2022, in place of traditional ladies-in-waiting.

Camilla visited one of the flats and met current residents and their children, before joining staff, partner agencies, residents and trustees at a short reception to unveil a plaque.

The refuge can host 22 families at a time, with 20 flats that have between one and three bedrooms, as well as an emergency bedsit.

Women and children up to the age of 18 are offered a safe place to live at SDASS and tend to stay for around four months.

Every year it supports around 62 families, including 78 children.

Camilla has long campaigned on ending domestic violence, working with charities to raise awareness and support survivors.

As the Duchess of Cornwall after the first national lockdown, she became patron of the UK charity SaveLives, and highlighted its Reach In campaign which encouraged communities to “reach in” to victims of abuse.

She has also visited Refuge, hosting a reception at Clarence House to mark Refuge’s 50th anniversary, and Women’s Aid.