Queen Camilla has personally commended the bravery of BBC racing commentator John Hunt and his daughter, Amy, in a poignant meeting held a year and a half after the horrific murders of his wife and two daughters.
A Family Shattered by Tragedy
The Queen sat down with John and Amy Hunt to discuss their experience and the ongoing issue of violence against women. The meeting came 18 months after the devastating events of July 2024, when John's wife, Carol, and their daughters, Louise and Hannah, were killed in their own home.
The attacker was Kyle Clifford, Louise's ex-boyfriend, who was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the abominable crimes.
Life After Unimaginable Loss
Speaking to the BBC about his life since the tragedy, John Hunt described the enduring difficulty of coping. "It remains really difficult on a minute-by-minute basis," he revealed. "You have to try and find the strength in our position to arm yourself with as many tools as possible that are going to help you get through that next hour."
During the conversation, Amy Hunt offered a powerful perspective on her family's memory. She stressed the importance of distinguishing between their deaths and their lives. "I think it's really important to remember they had a sad death but they did not have a sad life […] their life was full of so much love and joy and happiness and fun," she said.
Building a Legacy of Hope
In the wake of the murders, the Hunts have channelled their grief into positive action by establishing The Hunt Family Fund. This initiative aims to support charities and projects that inspire young women.
The fund focuses on two key areas:
- Initiatives tackling domestic violence and abuse.
- Supporting causes that reflect the passions of Carol, Louise, and Hannah, such as animal welfare charities, which Amy noted was Louise's "main passion in life."
In an emotional conclusion to their talk, Queen Camilla shared a heartfelt message with the father and daughter. "I'd just like to say wherever your family is now, they'd be so proud of you both," she said. "And they must be from above smiling down on you and thinking, my goodness me, what a wonderful, wonderful father, husband, sister. They'd just be so proud of you both."
