NEED TO KNOW
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Lady Pamela Hicks, a former lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, has died aged 97.
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Hicks, born into the Mountbatten family, was also a cousin of Prince Philip and, at the time of her death, was the oldest living descendant of Queen Victoria.
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As Lady Pamela's daughter previously told PEOPLE, the ladies-in-waiting were the Queen's aristocratic attendants who accompanied her to royal events, providing support and "cheering.".
Lady Pamela Hicks, a former lady-in-waiting to the late Queen Elizabeth who also had royal roots, has died aged 97.
Lady Pamela's daughter, fashion designer India Hicks, announced the news on social media.
«"Today my mother passed away peacefully," she captioned her June 5 post, along with a black-and-white photo of Pamela.
«"While there is nothing tragic about the death of a 97-year-old woman who lived a rich life, I know grief will be inevitable, and it will haunt me, but today I am simply grateful that she was my mother," India continued. "And through the lens of her rich and remarkable past, she was incomparable company, cherishing memories with ease and always with humor." "My mother, until the very end, maintained an impeccable style, a keen wit, and an effortless charm that made her not only a revered figure but truly the last of her kind," India said.
India and Pamela Hicks attend a service at Westminster Abbey on November 19, 2007, to mark the Diamond Wedding Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. Photo: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty.
Pamela, born April 19, 1929, was the daughter of the 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, who was born Prince Louis of Battenberg, and his wife Edwina, known as Lady Mountbatten. She was a first cousin of Prince Philip, a second cousin of Queen Elizabeth, and, at the time of her death, the oldest living descendant of Queen Victoria.
Pamela's aristocratic connections to the royal family made her ideally suited to be a lady-in-waiting to the future Queen Elizabeth, having served as a bridesmaid at her wedding to Prince Philip in 1947.
Since then, the term has been modernized to "companion," which essentially explains the role of a lady-in-waiting to the monarch. As India detailed in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE magazine in 2024: "They introduce the Queen before she arrives for dinner, at a reception, to make sure she knows who the most senior person in the room is, or to accept her bouquet. And, as my mother used to say, 'We don't want a rumpled queen.'".
However, she also said Lady Pamela stressed the importance of communication, recalling: "My mother would say, 'You're here to laugh.'".
The Queen's trusted lady-in-waiting was also present at ceremonial moments. Pamela often accompanied Elizabeth on royal trips abroad and was by her side in Kenya in 1952 when she learned of the death of her father, King George VI, meaning she would ascend the throne at just 25 years of age.
The families remained closely connected over the years. The future King Charles and Princess Anne attended Pamela's 1960 wedding to interior designer David Nightingale Hicks, and Charles is India's godfather.
Prince Charles (second from left) and Princess Anne (far right) raise a toast at the wedding of Pamela Mountbatten and David Hicks on January 13, 1960. Photo: Freddie Reed/Mirrorpix/Getty
In 2024, India created a visual biography of her mother, Lady Pamela , which features rare photographs and memorabilia from her time as a lady-in-waiting. In an interview with PEOPLE magazine, she explained how she was inspired to tell the story of her mother and the late Queen's "remarkable generation" of trailblazing women, as well as the support system they relied on.
«"It's a vanishing world of people who put duty and service above family, who are incredibly loyal, introspective, and believe that curiosity leads to broader horizons, who believe in the importance of good manners, but also have a sense of humor and a thirst for adventure," she said.
«"I know how hard it was for me to gain respect when I was sitting at the boardroom table. Can you imagine what it was like to be the young queen? It must have been very difficult for women to assert themselves back then. This is a remarkable generation of women.".
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Lady Pamela Hicks (fourth from left, wearing a pink hat) joins the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour on June 14, 1993. Photo: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty.
In March 2022, Lady Pamela gave an interview to PEOPLE magazine at the age of 92, following the death of Prince Philip. India joined her mother in the interview and recalled that after the former lady-in-waiting sent the Queen a letter of condolence, she received a touching message in return.
«"She told you, 'Of course, you've known him longer than I have,'" India shared.
Just a few months later, the Queen also died. Anticipating the inevitable, Lady Pamela told PEOPLE that she believed the record-breaking monarch would be remembered for her dedication to duty, steadfastness, and caring for others.
«"Kate and William have caught it too," she added.
Lady Pamela is survived by her wife India, 58, and her siblings - elder sister Edwina, 65, and elder brother Ashley, 62 - as well as 12 grandchildren.
Read the original article on People.