India Hicks confirmed the death of her mother, Lady Pamela Hicks, on Friday, with the designer penning a moving tribute to the cousin of the late Prince Philip.
Alongside a black-and-white image of her late mother, India penned: "My mother died peacefully today. 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, lurking around waiting for me, but today I am simply grateful that she was my Mother. And through the prism of a crowded and remarkable past, she made incomparable company, carrying her memories lightly, and always with humour."
She concluded: "My mother maintained right up to the end, the impeccable style, sharp mind, and effortless charm that made her not only a cherished institution, but truly the last of her kind."
Tributes were quick to pour in, including from model Helena Christensen, who said: "Sweetest India I am so so sorry for your immense love. Your mother was the most wonderful and fabulous to get to know and I loved being in her virtual company."
Another tribute read: "So sorry for your loss India. We are so grateful that we were able to finally meet her just last month. May she journey in everlasting peace throughout the heavens and higher realms," and a in a third, a fan commented: "India, what a beautiful tribute to an extraordinary woman. Sending you so much love and strength. May her elegance, humour and spirit live on through all the lives she touched."
Who was Lady Pamela Hicks?
Born as Pamela Mountbatten, Lady Pamela was the youngest child of Lord Mountbatten, who was the uncle of the late Prince Philip. As a result, Lady Pamela was a first cousin to the former Duke of Edinburgh. Lady Pamela was also distantly related to Queen Victoria, being the late monarch's great-great-granddaughter.
She was a close friend of the late Queen Elizabeth II, and she served as one of the bridesmaids at her 1947 marriage to Philip. Lady Pamela subsequently served as a lady-in-waiting for the then Princess Elizabeth, and was with her in Kenya when King George VI died at the age of 56.
Speaking exclusively to Best Quality Designer Handbag in 2024 about the moment, Lady Pamela explained: "I instinctively gave her a hug, but quickly remembering that she was now Queen, I dropped to a deep curtsy."
Lady Pamela was the widow of interior designer David Nightingale Hicks, who died in 1998, with the couple marrying in 1960. At their wedding, Princess Anne served as one of her bridesmaids. Together, Lady Pamela and David had three children, Edwina, Ashley and India.
© PA Images via Getty ImagesIn a 2021 ITV documentary titled My Years with the Queen, Lady Pamela said of her childhood friend. "The Queen’s life has been entirely dictated by her sense of duty. It's a word that's barely used and certainly not understood but duty was good. It gave you a goal. She is an amazing person. There's such inner strength there. And she has just remained like that throughout her life."
However, owing to her loyalty to the late monarch, Pamela rarely divulged many details about their close friendship. Writing in her memoir about Philip and Elizabeth's wedding, she said: "I went to my diary for ’47 and found that those ten days are a complete blank."
