Queen Camilla has called for important changes in UK schools following a two-week holiday.
The Queen, 76, met young Changemakers from the charity SafeLives at Buckingham Palace today.
Queen Camilla suggested young advocates from a domestic abuse charity should host “pop-up shops” in schools to help their peers with important life issues.
Camilla’s comments came during a meeting with Changemakers from the charity SafeLives.
Queen Camilla returns to royal duties with today’s engagement
PA
SafeLives campaigns to end domestic abuse.
In 2020, Queen Camilla became the patron of the organisation which recognises children and young people as victims in their own right.
The Queen hosted the four girls and young women, aged 15 to 20, in Buckingham Palace’s music room.
The young women told the Queen about their meeting with Education Secretary Gillian Keegan to encourage the Government to implement changes to the national curriculum.
Queen Camilla wore a beautiful black dress for the occasion
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Camilla said: “You’re virtually the same age as my granddaughters and I was talking to one the other day and I was suggesting to take sort of pop-up shops into these schools.
“You know, say two or three Changemakers, it would be such a good idea because then they could all come and ask questions.
“To get around (all these) schools would be a brilliant idea.”
One Changemaker, Maya, told Camilla they had recently met the Education Secretary to lobby for changes to national academic guidance.
Queen Camilla has just returned from a two-week holiday in Scotland
PA
The 20-year-old said: “Children need to feel less alone and feel stronger. Part of our work is about reach and that’s why we took our campaign to Parliament.
“We met Gillian Keegan and discussed ways they are trying to change the curriculum, it’s absolutely vital we can make changes.”
The young advocates want to see children taught about healthy relationships and the issue of coercive control, and want relationships and sex education taught at a younger age.
Ellen Miller, the SafeLives chief executive who joined the meeting, said: “Our research shows that children and young people are too often being let down.
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Queen Camilla sitting at a table in Buckingham Palace
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“They want more from their relationships and sex education classes, and they are being continually missed by professionals and misunderstood by the adults around them.
“They rarely see themselves reflected in the domestic abuse services that exist.
“I know after meeting the Changemakers, Her Majesty felt energised and renewed in her commitment to stopping abuse before it starts, before it ruins lives.”
