Lady Pamela Hicks, one of Queen Elizabeth II's closest lifelong companions and bridesmaids, has died at the age of 97. She shared intimate memories of the moment the monarch learned of her father King George VI's death, revealing the Queen's selfless character.
Lady Pamela's Life and Legacy
Lady Pamela, a cousin of Prince Philip and a figure within the Royal Family's inner circle for decades, was alongside Elizabeth when she unexpectedly acceded to the throne in February 1952. Her passing on Friday, June 5, was confirmed by her daughter, India Hicks, who praised her mother's "impeccable style, sharp mind and effortless charm."
A spokesperson for King Charles III said the monarch was profoundly saddened by the announcement. They stated: "His Majesty 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. The King and Queen's thoughts are with Lady Pamela's family, as they mourn a woman whose warmth, wit and perspicacity always made such an impression, and who will be so dearly missed by all those who knew and loved her."
The Moment Elizabeth Became Queen
Lady Pamela was among Princess Elizabeth's bridesmaids at her 1947 wedding to Prince Philip and subsequently served as a lady-in-waiting. She was also present during one of the most pivotal moments in contemporary royal history. According to the Daily Mail, she accompanied Elizabeth and Philip on their tour of Kenya when King George VI died. The royal couple were residing at the secluded Treetops Hotel when news arrived that the King had passed away.
Reflecting on the occasion years later, Lady Pamela said Elizabeth and Philip were "the last people in the world to hear" of the King's death. She memorably recalled: "She goes up as a princess. The King dies that night. She comes down the ladder as a Queen."
Speaking on her daughter India's podcast in 2019, Lady Pamela described the reaction when Philip was informed of the news. She said: "Philip just takes the newspaper and covers his face with it, hides behind it and says, 'This will be such a shock.'"
Elizabeth's Selfless Response
Yet it was Elizabeth's response that made an enduring impression on her companion and embodied the sense of duty that would characterise her reign. When Elizabeth came into the room, Lady Pamela recalled: "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."
Lady Pamela remained devoted to the Queen throughout her lifetime and attended her Coronation in 1953. Recalling the event during an ITV interview in 2021, she remembered being struck by the sheer magnitude of the responsibility confronting the young monarch. "Seeing her, this young woman of 27, utterly alone, I wondered how she'd have the strength to undertake this duty all her life. I think one knew she would, because there's such inner strength there."
Family and Background
Born in Barcelona, Lady Pamela was the daughter of Lord Mountbatten of Burma and a great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria. She wed renowned interior designer David Hicks in 1960 and is survived by her three children: India, Ashley Hicks and Edwina Brudenell.
Her passing represents the loss of one of the last surviving individuals with a direct personal connection to some of the most pivotal moments of Queen Elizabeth II's early reign.
