The upcoming film, Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors, will explore her efforts to raise awareness about domestic violence.
At 76, Camilla has been followed by film crews for a year to capture her work in highlighting domestic abuse. ITV has announced that the documentary will air later in 2024, offering exclusive access to Camilla as she engages in private meetings with survivors and advocates for change.
Sue Murphy, ITV’s Director of Factual Entertainment, expressed pride in producing the documentary, stating, “ITV is proud to be making this documentary with Her Majesty the Queen about this crucial issue. We hope the film will raise awareness and inspire societal change.”
The 90-minute program will feature interviews with survivors, bereaved relatives, and those working to combat domestic violence. It will show the Queen hosting round-table discussions with teenagers, celebrating International Women’s Day at Buckingham Palace, and meeting survivors whose lives were at risk without access to refuges.
Among those appearing in the documentary is Diana Parkes, whose daughter Joanna Simpson was murdered by her estranged husband in 2010. Camilla has previously cited Parkes as a key inspiration for her advocacy work. In February 2022, shortly before becoming Queen Consort, Camilla pledged to continue supporting these causes, stating, “I’m going to keep up with these causes… I hope I should be doing it for a lifetime.”
Diana Parkes co-founded the Joanna Simpson Foundation in her daughter’s memory and was honored with a CBE for her work with vulnerable children affected by domestic abuse. The Queen first met Parkes in 2016 during an engagement with the charity SafeLives and was deeply moved by her story, becoming the charity’s patron in 2020.
In 2021, Camilla praised SafeLives’ Ask for Ani scheme, which allows domestic abuse victims to discreetly request help in pharmacies and Jobcentres. In 2022, she viewed the I AM project in Manchester, which features portraits of domestic abuse survivors.
The documentary will also delve into the motivations behind abuse and strategies for breaking the cycle. With one in five adults experiencing domestic abuse in their lifetime and approximately three women dying by suicide weekly due to domestic abuse, the film aims to shed light on this critical issue.
