Duchess Camilla named the patron of a Nigerian charity working on assault, abuse

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, meets young women who have been supported by The Prince’s Trust, ahead of the charity’s ‘Brilliant Breakfast’ campaign, at Clarence House, London.

The Duchess of Cornwall just wants to be left alone with her booze and her horses. As the years go on, the whole “Queen Consort” thing must feel like an albatross around her neck. But it’s been so long, I guess she feels like eh, what else is there, really. So Camilla ends up working more than the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (which isn’t hard, but still) and actually does some impactful work. For years, Camilla has done a lot of work with rape crisis centers and women’s shelters for survivors of domestic violence. Now Camilla is getting a new patronage, and it’s an international one:

Over the last five years, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has established herself as one of Britain’s most outspoken advocates for charities that address domestic violence. On Monday, she announced her intention to expand her work worldwide by becoming the patron of the Mirabel Centre, a Nigerian charity that supports survivors of sexual assault and intimate partner violence.

“I am delighted to become patron of The Mirabel Centre in Lagos,” Camilla said in a statement. “It is a truly trailblazing organization, supporting survivors of rape and sexual assault as they seek healing and justice. Their vital work means that women need no longer suffer in silence and I am deeply grateful to all Mirabel’s wonderful staff and volunteers.”

Mirabel, Nigeria’s first sexual assault referral organization, was founded in 2013 by Itoro Eze-Anaba, who was honored by the Nigerian government for her work defending women and children in August. Eze-Anaba told the Daily Mail that she was looking forward to working with Camilla on the issue.

“It is an honor to welcome HRH The Duchess of Cornwall as our first Patron. We have followed her work with charities working in the sexual and gender-based violence space and have seen how passionate and committed The Duchess is towards providing support for survivors,” she said. “The current COVID-19 pandemic has further revealed the endemic nature of sexual violence. We have seen a huge number of children and women coming forward to report cases of sexual assault and rape. We are confident that the support of The Duchess will make a difference. We hope that together we can enable more survivors to seek and achieve justice.”

[From Vanity Fair]

This sounds like something Angelina Jolie would be involved with. Camilla and Angelina have met on the issue of sexual assault before, and their work genuinely overlaps. Anyway, I wish this was why Camilla made news all the time, for her good works and her ability to work on these “sensitive” issues which we rarely see royals working on. That being said, the Daily Mail got the advance story and they turned this patronage announcement into a suspiciously sugary story about Camilla “stepping up” at a vital time. Interesting.

A Starry Night In The Nilgiri Hills charity event

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

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64 Responses to “Duchess Camilla named the patron of a Nigerian charity working on assault, abuse”

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  1. Cessily says:

    Of course she is.. and I’m sure she will be applauded for her original initiative. They are all pathetic, is there anything this family does not steal from others?

    • Becks1 says:

      What? Camilla has been doing this kind of work for years. We can debate how genuine it is, but this is not something new that is just because of Meghan. If I think of Camilla’s work, the things that come to mind are osteoporosis, literacy, and domestic violence and rape survivors.

      • Haylie says:

        Be that as it may, the idea of the worlds most famous gaslighter of a princess in an abusive marriage as an advocate for other abused women is laughable at best, sinister at worst.

      • Becks1 says:

        That’s why I said “we can debate how genuine it is” but acting like this is something that is just happening because of Meghan is just not accurate.

      • Merricat says:

        It’s weird that you have to argue for the facts. You’re right, Becks. If you come at someone from a position of bias rather than facts, you’re perpetuating the behavior you’re protesting.

      • Eurydice says:

        Yes, whatever Camilla’s secret motivations, this is a respected charity that chose her to be their patron. And I wish that people would not compare the RF’s incredibly messy infidelity issues with this charity’s mission to combat rape and sexual assault – they are not the same thing.

      • Tessa says:

        I don’t think the charity necessarily “chose” Camilla. Charles IMO”suggested” it. It was not just “infidelity” it was Camilla being in there undermining Diana. In a letter that came into the public domain, Camilla wrote to Charles to “ignore that ridiculous creature” meaning Diana. So she was in effect urging Charles to treat Diana not so well to say the least.

      • Eurydice says:

        @Tessa – “Ignore that ridiculous creature” is rude, but it’s not rape.

      • aftershocks says:

        @Becks1 said:
        “That’s why I said ‘we can debate how genuine it is,’ but acting like this is something that is just happening because of Meghan is just not accurate.”

        I think it’s important to realize that several things can be true at the same time. Camilla is genuinely interested in her work with literacy and with her patronage advocacy surrounding osteoporosis, domestic violence, rape crisis, service dogs, and with furthering her late brother’s elephant project.

        At the same time, Meghan’s impact and influence on the royal firm, especially in terms of her advocacy for women and her unique approaches to conducting and promoting her purpose-driven work, has had and will continue to have a long-lasting impact on the British royals. We should be able to accept and voice this reality, while also being supportive, hopeful, and praiseworthy of the attention and funding that Camilla’s patronage can do for the Nigerian charity.

        Still, let’s not ignore or forget that the royals didn’t speak out against the racist abuse toward a pregnant woman in their midst, whom many of them never fully accepted. They failed to speak out once M&H’s son was born and was compared to a chimp when he was two days old. Their failure to embrace, support, and to protect Meghan, along with their failure to listen to Harry and to be a champion for him and his family when he needed it most, can never be undone.

        What’s worse is that the royals still allow the rota dogs to gaslight, slime and marginalize the Sussexes, all the while still copying their successful approaches toward their charity work. Right after Sussexit in March 2020, Charles met with a woman’s group at BP, and talked loudly about supporting women’s advocacy. Good for him, and I hope he’s continuing to be involved in such advocacy work rather than simply using it as p.r. and a photo-op.

        In Camilla’s case, the work she’s involved with predates Meghan joining the firm. And Camilla does put in significant work, unlike Kate. However, Camilla’s work became more high profile and increasingly promoted in the media when the firm saw how the effectiveness of Meghan’s initiatives and approaches resonated. The royals would love to garner the huge following and fund-raising support that M&H have received. Plus, the firm knows what an asset they have lost in the Sussexes in connection with the Commonwealth.

        At the same time, the fact that Charles and Camilla acted with disregard and dismissive harm toward a vulnerable and impressionable young woman many years ago, can never be erased. It happened. But right, there’s no need to use C&C’s past actions to negate the important benefits that Camilla can bring to the Nigerian charity.

        It’s a win-win for the Nigerian charity, and for Camilla’s image, as well as serving to help distract from the current negative stories surrounding Charles and his staff over the pay-for-access stories and subsequent ‘investigation.’

    • Cessily says:

      I do not support the mistress ever.. I never mentioned Meghan, but was referring to the press and firm applauding her for similar initiatives they vilified others for. My comment about her has nothing to do with Meghan really but is does have everything to do with the tabloids and Firms hypocrisy and racism.

      • XoXo says:

        Since when does one resort to judgement of others based on accusation by someone who never substantiated it with evidence? Is it because she is WOC? And suddenly now she stands on the moral high ground?
        If it’s tablids, then it’s tabloids. Don’t conflate things to present some narrative out of your own prejudices (“I do not support the mistress”).

      • Cessily says:

        Xoxo noted.

    • goofpuff says:

      Yeah, glad she’s helping an organization that deserves it. But they chose poorly someone who has never been sorry for assisting Charles in the daily abuse of teenager Diana during their marriage. And then never bothering to stand up for Meghan when she was being abused by the royal family….Camilla has no respect for me that she cares at all about women being abused.

      • Kfg says:

        My issue is that less than 1% of what is raised will go to this needed charity

      • Eurydice says:

        @Kfg – Camilla is just a patron, not the accountant. If only 1% of donations go to the mission of the charity, then there’s something wrong with the charity itself.

  2. Amy Bee says:

    I hope Camilla knows that taking up this patronage means that she will have to interact with black people. And I don’t buy that Camilla is not interested in being Queen Consort. She wouldn’t have married Charles if that was the case. She would be the Princess of Wales if she knew she wouldn’t get backlash from the public.

    • Kalana says:

      Yeah, there’s something really suspect and performative about this.

      • Linda says:

        I am Nigerian and the Mirabel center is an incredibly important organization here. I believe they did their homework before coming into this arrangement with Camila.

      • goofpuff says:

        @Linda I’m sure they did their work, but it does make me wonder why they thought a most famous abuser (her and Charles against a teenage Diana during the marriage) would be the best spokesperson to campaign against domestic violence. Especially since Camilla has never apologized or even admitted guilt for what she did (and neither did Charles and she married him).

      • Kalana says:

        It’s not the charity and I hope they’ll get some large donations from this, it’s how Camilla benefits from being associated with this charity that I find suspect.

    • Becks1 says:

      I would be surprised if she actually visits the charity to be honest. She doesn’t like to fly and I think she will continue to avoid international trips as much as possible.

      I do think Camilla cares about being Queen Consort but not as much as Charles cares, so she doesn’t have to exert herself over it, bc Charles will do it.

      • BayTampaBay says:

        @Becks1 – My belief goes further than yours. I do not believe that Camilla cares (cared) about being Princess of Wales, Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Consort and/or Queen. I believe and will continue to believe that Camilla never wanted to divorce Andrew Parker-Bowles. Parker-Bowels wanted the divorce in order to marry his long term mistress, Rosemary Pittman.

        I think it is all Charles who is concerned about all this title nonsense. No matter what titled and style she is addressed by and/or rather or not she is crowned at a coronation, Camilla will be the Queen of England the day QEII dies.

      • goofpuff says:

        @BayTampaBay I agree with you. I really think Camilla 100% prefers Parker-Bowles over Charles (in fact she choose to marry Parker-Bowles instead of Charles).

      • Tessa says:

        Maybe Camilla and APB did not like the way their divorce was “forced” by Charles admitting he was involved with her. But if she preferred APB over Charles she would not have become Charles’ mistress. I do think Camilla liked the perks of being the PRince of Wales mistress.

      • aftershocks says:

        @Tessa said:
        “But if [Camilla] preferred APB over Charles she would not have become Charles’ mistress. I do think Camilla liked the perks …”

        It’s really not a question of Camilla ‘preferring APB over Charles,’ or vice versa. Camilla clearly cared/ cares about both men. And if you read recent biographies, you will learn that Camilla was always known to enjoy flirting with and being around upperclass men generally. Men found her magnetic, earthy and attractive, despite her lacking conventional physical beauty. She had affairs with a number of men in her youth, which is the main reason why she was deemed unsuitable to become wife of the Prince of Wales in the 1970s era.

        Both Camilla and APB were promiscuous while dating each other, and after their marriage too, once their son and heir was born. That’s a norm of the English upperclass/ aristocracy. Of course, Camilla enjoyed the perks of dating Charles, while married to APB. She had likely accepted that she and Charles would never marry. Yet, Camilla was still unhappy on the day of Charles’s marriage to Diana. Likely because she was worried about Charles possibly falling in love with Diana, and thus losing increasing control over him and intimacy with him.

        Camilla has always seemed to be proud of carrying on her ancestral tradition of being mistress to the King of England. Obviously, she managed to go further, by marrying her lover, the future king.

  3. girl_ninja says:

    Please, please stop this. Why is the monarchy? Why?

  4. Noki says:

    I went to wikipedia to learn what career she had prior to doing Duchess work,because I had no clue what she was about,it seems that she was a secretary and receptionist but many years ago. I guess she became a lady who lunches when her connections were cemented.

    • Amy Bee says:

      She lived as an aristocratic woman all her life. She was sent to finishing school but she was expected to marry well and become the lady of the house which she did. Instead of going to finishing school, aristo girls now to go university to study Art History or fashion design.

      • Merricat says:

        And it’s a sad disservice to both fields.

      • Noki says:

        Art History? Isnt that what Kate studied,lol she really did her research. if William didnt choose her after Uni,i wonder if she would have ever put it to practical use.

      • BayTampaBay says:

        “i wonder if she would have ever put it to practical use.”

        I would guess “No” as Kate could NOT correctly identify Imperial Fabergé at a London art exhibition.

      • Amy Bee says:

        @Noki: She was following the game plan. But it’s interesting that she never asked William’s family to get her an internship at a museum or art gallery.

      • lanne says:

        Working at a gallery would have made the most sense for Kate. She would have had a proper job, which the queen would have approved of. She would have been able to move in the aristo circles that are so important to her, and she would have had an identity separate from William’s girlfriend. Even better, she would have met the kind of aristo man that would have likely been a better partner for her. Having once been the girlfriend of the future king would have meant a lot in those circles, and she could be a Marchioness or a Countess with ease. Better life for sure.

      • XoXo says:

        @lanne, she was quite lazy. Or maybe she knew she wasn’t quite up to the standard of a museum research fellow, even if she studied art history in university. At the end, she half-arse worked in a shop and called it a day. Even the queen subtly made the point of her lacking work by asking “What does she do? A bit of work?” But I guess somebody got a bit of a thicc skin.

      • Kalana says:

        There was an article back when Kate was photographed going to galleries trying to get a job, that she asked for the conditions she was given at her other job years later. Basically being allowed to drop everything when William came calling.

    • BayTampaBay says:

      Prior to her marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles, Camilla worked for Colefax & Fowler as a secretary-receptionist-customer service agent.

    • Tessa says:

      THe job she had did not last very long. It was short term not a career. She also was a debutante and expected to marry well. She was avid to marry APB since 1966.

  5. Southern Fried says:

    Noxious trick.

  6. MsDiMeanOur says:

    In 2021
    An abuser is a patron for domestic abuse? 😑

    • Haylie says:

      Exactly. It’s sickening. Especially since I suspect Camilla’s hands aren’t clean re: abusing Meghan.

    • Tessa says:

      Camilla was smirking at Meghan and Harry’s wedding. She was not nice to Meghan.

    • Christine says:

      It’s worse, I think. An abuser is being propped up to cover for the bigger abuser, Andrew.

      “It is a truly trailblazing organization, supporting survivors of rape and sexual assault as they seek healing and justice. Their vital work means that women need no longer suffer in silence and I am deeply grateful to all Mirabel’s wonderful staff and volunteers.”

      Truly, the hypocrisy is never ending. Do you mean survivors of your brother in law, too, or just Nigerian victims? Maybe stop showing up anywhere Andrew will be, as a jumping off point?

  7. Jaded says:

    Wasn’t what she and Charles did to Diana abuse?

  8. Athena says:

    I don’t think Camilla sees what she did to Diana as abuse. From what I’m reading affairs are the norm amongst aristocrats and mistresses are the norm for royal men.
    Camilla has also supported helping women in prison learn skills to better their lives when released.
    This could be the new strategy to be more inclusive and with Charles as the next head of the Commonwealth to show that they are engaging with causes in the commonwealth.
    And if your name is creeping up as the possible royal racist who questioned how dark a baby will be, this could be a PR move.

    • BayTampaBay says:

      “I don’t think Camilla sees what she did to Diana as abuse.”

      Have we accused Rose Hanbury of abusing Kate Middleton?

      • goofpuff says:

        How exactly has Rose abused Kate? Was Kate a naive teenager? Do we know about Rose actively targeting Kate in malicious “pranks”? Did Rose gaslight Kate about her fears?

        Kate never cared about William’s affairs. He has cheated on her during their entire relationship both before and after marriage. The only reason why she cared about Rose was because Kate wanted to BE Rose (an aristocrat).

      • BayTampaBay says:

        @goofpuff – As I reread my comment, I realize that It did not come out as I intended. My comment was more towards the way the British aristocracy views marriage and side-pieces.

        As the commenter said, “I don’t think Camilla sees what she did to Diana as abuse.” I also do not think Camilla believes she abused Diana because she did not tell Charles to “go back to your wife”. I also do not believe that Rose Hanbury told William to “go back to your wife”. If cheating with another woman’s husband is domestic abuse then both Camilla & Rose are guilty of abuse. If cheating with another woman’s husband is not domestic abuse then both Camilla and Rose are innocent.

        In another chapter doing a 180 turn, it is clear from the tv series “The Crown” and a zillion books written on the subject that Charles was 100% incapable of dealing with, handling and emotionally supporting his wife. Camilla bears some responsibility but in the case of Camilla, Charles would have cheated with someone long term even if Camilla never existed. I think this also true for Rose and Baldemort.

        Footnote: I think Kate cares greatly that Baldemort cheated and cheats on her.

      • XoXo says:

        @BayTampaBay, well, at the end of the day, Kate is middle class. Middle class people have always been prude in the marriage compartment. It has been the case since the 19c.

    • Tessa says:

      Affairs are just that affairs. However, Camilla was in the Wales marriage one way or another the entire time. She also took up with Charles as his mistress when her second child was very young (ca. 1979). Camilla also had ambitions. Traditional mistresses did not badmouth the royal wife nor try to usurp their territory. Camilla did both (a letter in the public domain reveals Camilla calling DIana that ridiculous creature) and took Diana’s place at the table as Hostess at Highgrove in Diana’s absence (this even before the separation). It was different than Camilla and Charles spending a night or two together, Camilla was undermining the wife–Stuart Higgins revealed when he was Sun Editor, he would get calls from Camilla each week in the eighties giving “her side.” It is different from Rose, who did not badmouth the royal wife (no evidence of it anyway) and Kate was pushing 30 when she married. Diana was inexperienced and not in Charles circle the way Kate was in William’s circle.

  9. Amy Too says:

    Has Camilla actually done a lot of work with sexual assault and domestic violence or has she just associated herself with it? Is she actually doing big projects around these issues or is she just “the patron” of these places that she may or may not visit regularly (and honestly, even if she visited everyday, her visits don’t draw attention, they don’t do anything)? Is it just that she tweets about these organizations every now and then? Allows her name to be used on letters from the charity? I just wouldn’t consider any of that true work in the area of eradicating sexual assault or domestic violence. It promotes her and makes her looks good as much as it promotes the charity—maybe even more than it promotes the charity. Lots of people can say “Camilla care about assault and domestic violence,” but they can actually name the charities shes patron of? Is anyone saying “Such and Such Charity is legit. Camilla is their patron!” and naming the charity by name?

    • goofpuff says:

      Either way, Camilla is still doing way more work than Kate does. She does more work in a year than Kate has done in 10 years.

      • Amy Too says:

        But how? She does more work because she’s patron of more charities? That sounds like she does more traditional royal style “work” to promote herself. But honestly, does she ever do projects? Raise money? Do those type of things that Meghan did like publish books or make capsule collections?

      • BayTampaBay says:

        I think Camilla is the type who would have no problem calling her rich friends (and friends with more rich friends) to ask for large donations to certain charities.

        As we have seen, Kate is not interested in lifting a finger to raise money for her patronages.

      • Tessa says:

        Camilla does more than Kate but she does the minimum. She cuts shorts tours with Charles (Diana was not even allowed to faint, Charles scolded her after she fainted in Canada). Camilla also does what she has to do, it was not just an option for her to do charity work but a requirement. And she’s higher up the ladder than Kate is. Though Kate should be doing much much more.

    • Same says:

      @ Amy. It’s pretty easy information to find if you are truly interested in what she’s been doing .

  10. A says:

    I hope for the charity’s sake this really is a good move. But, i’m not so sure, Camilla might be a hard worker, but I’m not sure about how much value added she really brings to the table. The thing that always sticks out to me whenever a member of the uk media talks about how great she is to work with, is what would happen if she wasnt? I mean she’s always listed as great to work with, but she barely generates any press or attention more than a few front pages a year and thats with sucking up to the media as much as possible. And, the latest idiot move by the palace and the press is to pin her against Meghan and Harry, because that seems to be the only way to get her some attention is not sustainble or really desisarble when trying to bring attention to abuse victims. Furthermore, with charles caught up in all this cash for honors saga how much aid and pr work is really possible?

    • XoXo says:

      She’s a royal. Royal patronage brings name recognition and therefore prestige. I know it’s kinda strange to people growing up in a well indoctrinated republic society, but due to the not so distant imperial past, Commonwealth countries are never fully grown out of British royalties, even if most of them are republics. It’s all imperial legacy.

      • Tessa says:

        Camilla is controversial IMO, and married in not a born in royal. Some may not like her enough to contribute. She does have PR on her side, because there are glowing reports of her charity work put in the media by Charles’ spin doctors. This began in 1997 when Charles hired Bolland to work with her.

  11. Heidi says:

    So it is possible to live in one country and have a patronage in another – unless you are Meghan and Harry, of course.

  12. equality says:

    The Mirabel Centre seems to be only based in Nigeria so how is this Camilla going “worldwide”?

  13. Catherine says:

    How this woman dares to work with abused women after the psychological warfare she waged against Diana truly defies belief. Oh and they’re black women so she can kill two birds with one stone. What a despicable fraud.

  14. clairej says:

    Pleased for Camilla. She does a good job.