Lady Pamela Hicks, former lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth II, dies aged 97

Lady Pamela Hicks, who was a bridesmaid for Queen Elizabeth II, has died at the age of 97, her daughter has said.

Describing her mother as a "cherished institution, but truly the last of her kind," India Hicks wrote on Instagram: "Whilst there is no tragedy in the death of a 97-year-old who has lived a full life I know grief will be unavoidable."

A spokesperson for King Charles III said he was "greatly saddened to learn of the death of Lady Pamela Hicks, a sorrow tempered by the fondest memories and deepest gratitude for her long life and loyal service to Queen Elizabeth".

Lady Pamela, a lady-in-waiting to the late Queen, was the daughter of Louis Mountbatten and a cousin of Prince Phillip.

Married to the British interior designer David Hicks, who died 1998, Lady Pamela was with Princess Elizabeth on her and Prince Phillip's trip to Kenya in 1952, where she learned of her father's death and that she would ascend to the throne.

Recounting the story on her daughter India's podcast in 2019, Lady Pamela said: "As she (Elizabeth) comes into the room. I think 'Oh, poor girl, her father's died'. So I go over to her, give her a hug and think 'Oh my god, it's the Queen' so I go into a deep curtsy.

"And she says 'I'm so sorry. It means we've all got to go back'… She was only thinking of all of us."

A tiny portion of her life was portrayed in The Crown. Her daughter India asked her mother about watching the hit Netflix drama on the Royal Family, and then wrote about her memories in Town and Country magazine in 2016.

India Hicks wrote her mother thought the programme was "rather good".

Lady Pamela Hicks was born in Barcelona in Spain in 1929, and spent her life in Royal circles.

"Through the prism of a crowded and remarkable past, she made incomparable company, carrying her memories lightly, and always with humour," India also wrote in her statement on Instagram.

"My mother maintained right up to the end, the impeccable style, sharp mind, and effortless charm."

Speaking about being a bridesmaid to the late Queen to the Telegraph in 2017, Lady Pamela described the experience as a "tremendous rush", as she had to return to the UK from India.

"All the other bridesmaids had endless rehearsals," she said. "But I was thrown in the deep end, because by the time we arrived in London, there was less than a week to go. I only had time for two dress fittings."

She attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 at Westminster Abbey, but did not attend the coronation of King Charles III the following year, due to the lesser number of people invited than in to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

"My mother was not offended at all," daughter India wrote on Instagram.

Lady Pamela Hicks is survived by her three children Edwina, Ashley and India.