"It was humiliating" — Patrick Stewart opens up about how he and his brother would have to deal with violence at home

Sir Patrick Stewart has opened up about his traumatic childhood and growing up in a violent household as part of ITV's Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors. The documentary, which aired on November 11, 2024, features Stewart recounting the physical and emotional abuse his mother endured at the hands of his father.

His testimony aims to raise awareness about domestic violence, aligning with Queen Camilla's advocacy work on the issue. On November 25, in an interview with The Times for the documentary, Patrick Stewart, 84, reflected on the silence surrounding domestic violence during his upbringing.

"Domestic violence was something that people never spoke about, and so I never told anyone. I kept it all to myself. It was locked inside me, and I felt shame," he said, according to The Times.

Patrick Stewart recalled a traumatic memory where a neighbor intervened once, saying,

"He didn't touch her, he stepped away. But it was humiliating to have come from such a background."

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Patrick Stewart shares his experience in an ITV documentary highlighting domestic abuse

The Star Trek and X-Men star detailed how the violence began after his father returned from World War II. He vividly described the fear and chaos at home, how the shouting was so loud because his father had a "huge voice," adding that he would scream for him to stop hitting his mother.

Patrick Stewart recounted how he and his older brother, Trevor, tried to intervene during violent episodes. The brothers became adept at recognizing when the shouting would escalate into violence.

"We always knew the moment that the violence was going to begin. So with that, we would push open the door and burst into the room," Stewart explained.

Trevor, being taller, would stand between their father and mother, attempting to shield her. Despite their efforts, their mother would insist they didn't need to protect her, repeatedly shouting. One incident Patrick Stewart highlighted involved a courageous intervention by a female neighbor.

"I'll never forget our very next-door neighbor coming into the house, bursting the door open when my father was yelling," he said.

Stewart recalled,

"She walked over to my father, pushed her sleeves up, put up her fists, and said, 'Come on, Al Stewart, try it on me. Try it on me.' And, of course, he didn't. He didn't touch her."

The documentary, part of Queen Camilla's ongoing efforts to address domestic violence, sheds light on survivors' experiences. Queen Camilla has made domestic abuse advocacy a cornerstone of her royal duties. The film features interviews with survivors and their families, showcasing the support systems needed to help those affected.

For over a decade, Patrick Stewart has been a vocal advocate for domestic abuse victims. He has supported campaigns such as The Independent's Brick by Brick appeal, launched in September 2024, which raised funds to build safe homes for women fleeing violence.

"I never told anyone. It was something people never spoke about," he reiterated.

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Her Majesty The Queen: Behind Closed Doors is available for viewing on ITV1 and ITVX in the UK. It provides a platform for domestic abuse survivors, offering insights into their struggles and resilience.