Her Majesty Queen Camilla greeted members of the Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service today as the charity celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The Queen met Ashlie, granddaughter of Jenni Manners who set up the charity. Ashlie told the Queen how her grandmother set up the charity because she was in an abusive relationship.

"She sounds like a very inspiring woman," said The Queen. "I think it's very brave to speak up, it's very necessary," she added to one trustee.

The Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire's Cadet, Flight Sergeant Emmy Jones, was the first to greet Her Majesty who also saluted her.

The Queen was then also greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Mrs Sarah Troughton as well as the High Sherriff of Wiltshire, Mr Pradeep Bhardwaj, the Deputy Mayor of Swindon, Cllr Imtiyaz Shaikh, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, Cllr Jim Robbins, Sir Robert Buckland, MP for South Swindon, Chief Constable, Catherine Roper and the PCC, Philip Wilkinson.

Nicky Alberry, chair of the trustees, said: "It's an incredible honour to have her here today highlighting and raising the profile of domestic abuse.

"In 50 years we hope that we don't have to be here, but unfortunately domestic abuse is still such an issue and services like this can change a victim's life so they're essential."

"I was high sheriff in 2019 and I had a lot of friends who had been victims of domestic abuse so it was something I wanted to highlight during my year. That's how I got involved with it all."


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Queen Camilla visiting Swindon today

Queen Camilla will also be visiting Deacon & Son jewellers on Wood Street, one of Swindon's oldest businesses.

The business is celebrating its 175th anniversary with six generations of the Deacon Family managing the business.

Richard Deacon, the managing director and his sister Sara will meet the monarch today before unveiling a plaque to commemorate the business's longevity.