Lady Pamela Hicks, one of the closest lifelong companions of the late Queen Elizabeth II and a bridesmaid at her 1947 royal wedding, has died peacefully at the age of 97, bringing to a close a remarkable chapter in modern royal history. Her daughter, India Hicks, announced her death on June 5, describing her mother as a woman of “impeccable style, sharp mind and effortless charm” who remained graceful until the very end.
Born Pamela Carmen Louise Mountbatten in 1929, Lady Pamela was the daughter of Louis Mountbatten and Edwina Mountbatten. A first cousin of Prince Philip and a great-great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria, she was deeply woven into the fabric of the British royal family from birth.
Lady Pamela became widely known when she served as one of the eight bridesmaids at the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in November 1947. She later acted as a lady-in-waiting to the future queen and accompanied the royal couple on several important overseas tours. She was also present in Kenya in 1952 when news arrived that King George VI had died, a moment that marked Elizabeth’s accession to the throne.
Throughout her life, Lady Pamela witnessed some of the most significant events of the 20th century. She spent time in India during the final years of British rule while her father served as the last Viceroy, and she later chronicled many of her experiences in memoirs that offered a rare insider’s perspective on royalty and history.
In a heartfelt tribute, India Hicks said her mother had lived “a full life” and remained a cherished figure known for her humor, loyalty and wisdom. She described Lady Pamela as “truly the last of her kind,” a sentiment echoed by many who admired her decades of service and friendship to the royal family.
Following news of her passing, Buckingham Palace said King Charles III and Queen Camilla were deeply saddened by her death, praising her long-standing loyalty, warmth and dedication to the Crown. Lady Pamela’s funeral is scheduled to take place in Oxfordshire on June 13.
Lady Pamela Hicks is survived by her three children and twelve grandchildren. Her death marks the loss of one of the last living links to the early reign of Queen Elizabeth II and a generation that witnessed the transformation of Britain’s monarchy across nearly a century.
