Lady Pamela Hicks, Lady-in-Waiting to Queen Elizabeth and Cousin of Prince Philip, Dies at 97

Meredith KileFri, June 5, 2026 at 3:59 PM UTC

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Lady Pamela HicksCredit: Hazel Thompson/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty -

Lady Pamela Hicks, a former lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, has died at 97

Born into the Mountbatten family, Hicks was also first cousin to Prince Philip, and, at the time of her death, the oldest living descendant of Queen Victoria

Ladies-in-waiting were aristocratic assistants to the Queen, by her side at royal functions for support and "a giggle," Lady Pamela's daughter previously told PEOPLE

Lady Pamela Hicks, a former lady-in-waiting to the late Queen Elizabeth who also had her own royal roots, has died at 97.

Lady Pamela's daughter, fashion designer India Hicks, announced the news on social media.

"My mother died peacefully today," she captioned her June 5 post, which included a black-and-white photograph of Pamela.

"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," India continued. "And through the prism of a crowded and remarkable past, she made incomparable company, carrying her memories lightly, and always with humour.""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," India said.

India and Pamela Hicks attend an service celebrating Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's diamond wedding anniversary at Westminster Abbey on Nov. 19, 2007Credit: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

Born on April 19, 1929, Pamela 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 third 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 the perfect candidate to be a lady-in-waiting to the future Queen Elizabeth after serving as a bridesmaid in her 1947 wedding to Prince Philip.

The term has since been modernized to "companion," which essentially explains the role of a lady-in-waiting to her monarch. As India detailed to PEOPLE in an exclusive 2024 interview, "They're there to represent the Queen before she comes down for dinner, at a reception to know exactly who the most senior person in the room is or to receive a bouquet. And, as my mum used to say, 'We don't want a crumpled Queen.' "

However, she also said that Lady Pamela emphasized the importance of companionship as well, recalling, "My mother would say, 'You're there to have a giggle.' "

The Queen's trusted lady-in-waiting was there for the solemn moments as well. Pamela frequently accompanied Elizabeth on royal tours abroad and was by her side in Kenya in 1952 when she got the news that her father, King George VI, was dead, meaning she was to accede to the throne at just 25 years old.

The families remained intertwined throughout the years. The then-future King Charles and Princess Anne were in Pamela's 1960 wedding to interior decorator and designer David Nightingale Hicks, and Charles is India's godfather.

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Prince Charles (second from left) and Princess Anne (far right) toast at the wedding of Pamela Mountbatten and David Hicks on Jan. 13, 1960Credit: Freddie Reed/Mirrorpix/Getty

India assembled a visual biography of her mother, Lady Pamela, in 2024, which features rare photographs and memorabilia from her time as a lady-in-waiting. She told PEOPLE she was motivated to tell the story of her mother and the late Queen's "remarkable generation" of trailblazing women and the support systems they relied upon.

"It is a disappearing world of people who do put duty and service above family, who are incredibly loyal and have a quiet introspection and think that curiosity leads to a broader mind, and who believe that manners are important, but also have a sense of fun and sense of adventure," she said.

"I know how much I struggled when I sat at a board table [to] be respected. Can you imagine as a young Queen? It must have been quite difficult as women to find their voice in those times. They're a remarkable generation of women."

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Lady Pamela Hicks (fourth from left in pink hat) joins the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace for Trooping the Colour on June 14, 1993Credit: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

Lady Pamela spoke with PEOPLE in March 2022 at age 92, following the death of Prince Philip. India joined her mother for the interview and recalled that, after the former lady-in-waiting sent her note of condolences to the Queen, she received a "moving" message in return.

"She wrote back to you, saying, 'Of course, you have known him longer than I,' " India shared.

Just a few months later, the Queen would also be dead. Looking ahead to the inevitable, Lady Pamela told PEOPLE she believed the record-breaking monarch would be remembered for her commitment to "duty, steadfastness and interest in people."

"Kate and William have got it too," she added.

Lady Pamela is survived by India, 58, and her siblings — older sister Edwina, 65, and older brother Ashley, 62 — as well as 12 grandchildren.

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