She also spoke of her realisation of how little she knew about abuse and how “terrible it was and how deep it was” when she first met with Refuge chair Hetti Barkworth-Nanton eight years ago.
“I can’t believe it was eight years ago I sat and listened to you telling this terrible story about your friend, and I was so horrified by it,” the Queen told Ms Barkworth-Nanton.
“I think like a lot of people in this country, and all over the world, I certainly didn’t know very much about this abuse. I’d literally scratched the surface.”
She added: “It’s only when I sat down and listened to these really heartbreaking stories that I realised how terrible it was and how deep it was.”
Buckingham Palace said Camilla met privately with survivors of domestic abuse, who shared their personal stories and their experience of being supported by Refuge.
The Queen also visited a children’s playroom and heard from Refuge’s specialist staff about how children who have experienced domestic abuse, and other forms of gender-based violence, including child sexual exploitation, are supported by the centre.
She spoke at the Gaia Centre about her efforts to raise awareness.
“I do remember saying at the time that I’d like to do anything I could to help and I’m not sure I’ve done a lot,” the Queen said.
“But I’ve been trying to get out there and talk about it and make it a normal subject that people can talk about and stop it being a taboo subject, which it’s been for years.”
The Gaia Centre, which opened in 2012, was one of the first services in the UK to offer a single point of access for those experiencing violence and abuse.
It provides confidential, non-judgmental support to more than 1,500 adults and 2,000 children each year in Lambeth.
