Lady Pamela Hicks, one of the late Queen Elizabeth II's closest friends and a bridesmaid at her wedding, has died at the age of 97, her daughter India Hicks announced on social media. Lady Pamela, the daughter of Lord Mountbatten and a cousin of Prince Philip, served as a lady-in-waiting to the Queen and was with her in Kenya when she learned of her father's death and ascended to the throne.
In a tribute, India Hicks wrote: '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... but today I am simply grateful that she was my Mother.' She described her mother as having 'impeccable style, sharp mind, and effortless charm' and called her 'truly the last of her kind.'
A spokesperson for King Charles III said he was 'greatly saddened' by the news, adding that Lady Pamela's 'warmth, wit and perspicacity always made such an impression.' The King and Queen sent their thoughts to her family.
Born in April 1929, Lady Pamela was one of eight bridesmaids at the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 1947. She later recalled the moment the Queen learned of her father's death in 1952, saying she showed 'great control.' Lady Pamela married David Hicks in 1960, and they had three children. She remained a lifelong friend of the Queen and published several memoirs about royal life.
