Queen Camilla has thanked a group of people who work and volunteer with survivors of domestic abuse, telling them the work they do is “more important than ever”.
She started the final day of her three-day visit with the King to Northern Ireland meeting the workers and volunteers, and the women and children they support, at a venue in Newtownards, Co Down.
Camilla arrived on Thursday wearing a blue and white wool crepe dress, which she teamed with a blue scallop-edge jacket by Bruce Oldfield, accessorising with a turquoise three-leaf clover brooch.
She was greeted by Emalyn Turkington, chief executive of Women’s Aid in North Down and Ards, before speaking to people from agencies and organisations including the Police Service of Northern Ireland, food banks and Community NI.
The Queen then moved into a separate room for meetings with survivors of domestic abuse, and their children.
Making an impromptu speech to those she met, she said their work is “more important than ever because domestic abuse is coming to the fore more and more, it’s not hidden any longer, it’s talked about, and it’s only through people like all of you that we hopefully can do a lot to put an end to it all with everyone working together”.
She added: “It’s lovely to see here all the agencies coming together, I think that’s what is needed all over the country. Thank you very much.”
