Child Abuse Inquiry May Demand Access to Royal Archives

By Sean O’Neil
The Times
March 11, 2017

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/child-abuse-inquiry-may-demand-access-to-royal-archives-jkc3gs9c5

Children at a Fairbridge farm school in Western Australia in 1934. Thousands of children suffered physical mistreatment and sexual assaults at the schools after migrating from Britain. It is not suggested that anyone pictured suffered abuse

Britain’s largest public inquiry could seek access to the royal archives after hearing evidence that they hold material relevant to investigations into child abuse cover-ups.

The independent inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA) — which has declared that “no one, no matter how apparently powerful, will be allowed to obstruct our inquiries” — believes that the archives contain evidence about Fairbridge, a charity with high-level royal connections which was heavily involved in child migration schemes.

Thousands of children suffered harsh physical punishment and sexual assaults at remote farm schools run by Fairbridge in Western Australia, which were visited by members of the royal family.

Documents disclosed at the inquiry show that Queen Elizabeth, mother of the present Queen, intervened in 1951 in the case of a woman seeking the return of her foster daughter from Fairbridge. Missing links in the chain of correspondence are believed to be in the royal archives at Windsor.