Delivering SHAME right to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s home

Last Wedsnesday (17th June) I delivered SHAME to Andrew Moutbatten’s House in Sandringham, North Norfolk.

Ten years ago today (24th June) I moved to Norfolk with my partner, namely to look after her parents who lived in Norfolk. I had never visited North Norfolk in all that time, so took the opportunity to sightsee last Wednesday, and North Norfolk is beautiful. I had another aim too and that was to return SHAME to sender.

Giselle Pelicot, the amazing rape survivor and campaigner, has said “Shame needs to change sides.” As a survivor of rape myself, it has taken a long time to jettison shame from my life. We live in awful times where misogyny is a rising tide and we give women and girls no rescue or lifeboat from it. I wanted to do something symbolic to say ‘fuck you’ to this. In the end I created ‘SHAME’, cutting the word out of wood, painting it and then covering it in facts and figures about rape in this country, and quotes from survivors. By returning the shame, I am – and women are – refusing to be silent, reframing the conversation, and forcing society to confront the manufacturers of shame that allow sexual violence to persist.  This is about our right to justice and dignity. We do not get it from the police, the media, or the court system. I am – we are -done carrying shame. 

Some say Andrew hasn’t been convicted as a sexual predator/abuser, it is all alleged. This is the problem. It will always be alleged. 1200 women were abused under Epstein and not a single person has been charged, less be seen the inside of a court room. I believe Victoria Giuffre. I also believe he will never go to trial because of his status.  He is a symbol of entrenched privilege and lack of accountability.There is a special gravity for certain bodies – they fall upwards, buoyed by privilege, cushioned by silence. Elsewhere, we are pinned down. The Epstein file case has become a stark symbol of systemic failure, where survivors’ voices are dismissed and influential abusers evade accountability: the shame belongs not to those who survived abuse. We are reclaiming our voices, our power, and returning the shame where it belongs—to abusers and the institutions that enable and protect them.  My body is no longer the site of shame or apology. It is a site of truth and resistance.

This is what women and girls have to face:

• 1 in 4 women in the England and Wales have been raped or sexual assaulted (Office for National Statistics). 
• Fewer than 3 in 100 rapes in 2024 recorded by police result in some one being charged, let alone convicted. (Office for National Statistics). 
• 10,000 women are sexually assaulted and 2,000 are raped every week in England and Wales this week. (Office for National Statistics; Crime Survey for England and Wales)

I would love for there to be:

• Transparent investigations and accountability for all perpetrators, regardless of wealth or status. 
• Stronger legal protections and support for survivors. 
• Greater investment in survivor services, including counselling and legal aid. 
• Education campaigns challenging systemic gender inequality and toxic cultures that normalise abuse. 

I took the SHAME sign and propped it against the fence in front of his property and then returned to Norwich. A black cars drove up and down, watching what I was doing, but nobody stopped us there.

It wasn’t until I got back to Norwich that the police stopped the car I was in, with sirens blaring, and asked us strange questions on the roadside.

“What’s your interest in the Royal Family?”

“I am quite indifferent to them,” I answered truthfully. My interest is in fighting for survivors and justice and returning shame to bastards. After more strange questions, I was let go.” I was also wearing my t-shirt with Giselle’s quote “Shame must change sides.” One of the coppers said he liked my t-shirt.

It was a bit scary but I am so glad I did it. I did this for Victoria Guiffre, for Giselle, for myself, and for the 2000 women who be raped this week and the vast majority will have no justice.” 

Here is a short video about it.

The fact I have had women thank me online and in person showed me I did the right thing.