LONDON – A revealing new book about the royal family discloses that Queen Camilla once defended herself from an inappropriate assault as a teenager by using her shoe to hit the attacker in the groin.

The incident took place in the mid-1960s when Camilla was on a train headed to London’s Paddington Station. A man attempted to inappropriately touch her, as recounted in “Power and the Palace” by Valentine Low, a former royal correspondent for the Times of London. Camilla later shared this experience with Boris Johnson when he served as mayor of London.

Low told the BBC, “Camilla mentioned, ‘Following my mother’s advice, I removed my shoe and struck him in the groin with the heel.’ Upon arriving at Paddington, she informed a man in uniform about the incident, resulting in the man’s arrest. … She acted responsibly.”

The British media widely reported the tale on Monday, with headlines like the Daily Telegraph’s straightforward “Queen fought off sex attacker” to the Sun’s more sensational “Camilla whacked groper in goolies.” Regardless of the presentation, this story enhances Camilla’s image as a practical woman bringing resilience to the royal family.

Low shared that one of Johnson’s ex-aides recounted the story, suggesting it may drive Camilla’s passionate advocacy for charities supporting domestic violence survivors. Though hesitant to speak out, Camilla views her ordeal as less grave compared to what many women and girls endure, Low added.

“She didn’t want to draw attention to her at the expense of their experiences,” he said.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the report.

“Power and the Palace” is slated for release later this month. However, the book—offering insights into the ties between the monarchy and Britain’s leaders—has already stirred interest with excerpts in the Times of London, including claims that the late Queen Elizabeth II disapproved of the U.K.’s Brexit decision.