London University Honoured with Royal Award for Four Decades of Research on Violence Against Women

A London university has received a prestigious royal honour in recognition of four decades of research dedicated to tackling violence against women and girls.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla presented the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Education to London Metropolitan University during a ceremony at St James’s Palace. The award recognises the work of the university’s Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit, widely known as CWASU, for its sustained contribution to research, policy reform and survivor support in the UK and internationally.

Established more than 40 years ago, the unit has focused on interdisciplinary research into domestic abuse, sexual violence and coercive control. Its work has influenced police practice, shaped criminal justice reforms and improved frontline responses for survivors. CWASU researchers have also played a key role in advising governments and public bodies on strategies aimed at reducing violence against women and girls.

Queen Camilla, who has long campaigned on issues related to domestic abuse and sexual violence, met Professor Fiona Vera Gray and senior research fellow Jo Lovett during the event. Both academics have been closely involved in advocacy and research within the sector for many years.

Professor Vera Gray reflected on the significance of royal support for such causes, noting that public backing from senior members of the Royal Family has helped bring attention to issues that were once rarely discussed openly. She said that visible endorsement has been meaningful both for those working in the field and for survivors seeking recognition and justice.

Jo Lovett added that it was significant for a research unit from a university outside the traditional elite institutions to receive national recognition. She said the acknowledgment demonstrated that impactful work can come from across the higher education sector.

The Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education are awarded every two years and form part of the UK honours system. Institutions are judged on excellence, innovation and measurable social impact. The award to London Metropolitan University highlights the growing recognition of research addressing social harms and systemic inequalities.

Other institutions honoured at the ceremony included the Institute of Cancer Research in London for advances in radiotherapy, the University of Edinburgh for its Centre for Fire Safety Engineering and the University of Oxford for its OpenSAFELY data analysis platform supporting NHS research.

The recognition comes amid heightened national focus on violence against women and girls, with policymakers, charities and academic institutions working to strengthen prevention strategies and survivor support services. The royal endorsement underscores the importance of sustained research and collaboration in addressing one of society’s most pressing challenges.