India Hicks, King Charles's goddaughter, has given a rare interview reflecting on significant moments in the royals' lives and what it was like to be present at the time. Hicks, who is not a member of the Royal Family but has always been around members of The Firm, spoke to The Telegraph about her new book and some royal moments that stood out to her.
Memories of the Queen's Funeral
Reflecting on Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, Hicks recalled the sensory experience of the day. "As my mother and I descended the coach that took us from the Westminster Abbey service to Windsor, we were both hit by the most extraordinary smell of the floral tributes," she told the publication. "It's something I will never forget."
Hicks also spoke about her mother, Lady Pamela Hicks, who was one of Queen Elizabeth's ladies-in-waiting and who died in June. She said, "I do feel we are saying goodbye to an amazing generation," referring to her mother and the late Queen.
A Generation of Resilience
She added: "They lived through a war and were so much tougher than us and much less spoilt. There's so much to admire in them," reports Marie Claire.
Queen Elizabeth's death marked the first lying-in-state tribute to take place in the UK since the death of Winston Churchill in 1965. As Britain's longest-reigning monarch, the late Queen was laid to rest on September 19, 2022.
The Historic Funeral
The enormous ceremony brought hundreds of thousands of people to London to bid her farewell. A total of 2,000 guests travelled to Westminster Abbey, including 100 presidents and heads of government, such as former US President Joe Biden, Emperor Naruhito of Japan, and then New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Around 800 guests were present for the Queen's more private committal service in St George's Church, at Windsor Castle. The service was followed by a private burial, attended by the monarch's family. It is estimated that four billion people tuned in to watch the event on television.
