Camilla thanks people working and volunteering with domestic abuse survivors

The Queen meets staff and volunteers at Women’s Aid Newtownards (Aaron Chown/PA) - (PA Wire)

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.

Camilla speaks to workers and volunteers at Women’s Aid Newtownards (Aaron Chown/PA) (PA Wire)

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”.

Queen Camilla (centre) meets staff and volunteers at Women’s Aid Newtownards, on day three of the royal visit to Northern Ireland (Aaron Chown/PA) (PA Wire)

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.”

Ms Turkington thanked the Queen for coming and meeting those gathered, particularly the survivors of domestic abuse, adding said it was “important you heard their voice today, thank you very much”.

Speaking to Press Association later, Ms Turkington said it had been an amazing experience, particularly the recognition of the work of Women’s Aid.

Camilla speaks to a representative from the Police Service of Northern Ireland as she meets staff and volunteers at Women’s Aid Newtownards (Aaron Chown/PA) (PA Wire)

“For me as CEO, my team but especially the women that we work with feel so valued and listened to and heard, it was a lovely opportunity,” she said.

“Her speech was a bonus, but also when she was in with the women speaking to the women about how she has heard many stories and how it’s such an amazing experience for them to come along and link in with other women and know that they are not on their own, because that’s a big thing when you’re going through domestic abuse, you feel you’re very much isolated,” she said.

“For her to recognise that, and be able to speak to the women in there was amazing.”