Aristocrat India Hicks has paid tribute to her adopted son’s mother, who passed away in 2010 away after losing her battle with cancer.
India, 51, who was a bridesmaid at Prince Charles’ wedding to Diana and is 678th in line to the throne, posted a picture as she visited the late waitress’ grave with Wesley, 25, alongside her sons Felix, 21, Amory, 19, Conrad, 16, and daughter Domino, 11, who she shares with husband David Flint Wood.
Wesley’s mother Lynne first met India when they were both pregnant and she was working in a restaurant in the Bahamas, where the socialite has lived since 1996, and the pair became friends until her tragic death when Wesley was just 12.
Lynne spent her life raising Wesley, whose father was absent and her other children on a low waitressing wage, and lost both her younger and older sister to breast cancer, before she too passed away from the disease.
India, 51, who was a bridesmaid at the Prince’s wedding to Diana and is 678th in line to the throne, shared a picture as she visited the late waitress’ grave with Wesley, 25, alongside her sons Felix, 21, Amory, 19, Conrad, 16, and daughter Domino, 11, who she shares with husband David Flint Wood
India is seen on Wesley’s graduation day alongside Amory, the brothers are close
Sharing a snap of the family supporting Wesley as they paid tribute to his late mother, India wrote: ‘Every Christmas Day we go and see Wesley’s Mum. I don’t think it ever gets easier for Wes. How could it?’
She added: ‘But it’s a stark, stark reminder to make sure a mammogram happens in 2022.’
India, who was born in Lambeth, London, but moved to the Caribbean 23 years ago with long term partner David Flint Wood in 1996, lives in a sprawling white-washed villa – which boasts a pool and sea views – with the five children.
She adopted Wesley when he was 12, after his mother Lynne- a Bahamian waitress- sadly died of breast cancer.
Wesley was adopted when he was 12, after his mother Lynne- a Bahamian waitress- sadly died of breast cancer (seen as a baby)
India and husband David live with children Wesley, 25, alongside her sons Felix, 21, Amory, 19, Conrad, 16, and daughter Domino, 11, in the Bahamas
India first befriended Lynne during pregnancy, and when the children were born, India offered to help look after both of them.
‘Lynne had other children and many different jobs,’ she previously told MailOnline. ‘I was lucky enough to have the space for an extra child. I had care in the home. It was easy for Wes to be dropped off at our home, which was better than him going to childcare.’
She remembered Wesley as a spirited child, climbing on roofs with her own son, Felix, becoming close friends from a young age.
India remembered Wesley as a spirited child, climbing on roofs with her own son, Felix, becoming close friends from a young age (seen)
In 2008, Wesley’s mother moved the family some 50 miles away from Harbour Island over the water to Nassau.
It meant India didn’t see much of him until 2010 when, by chance, she found herself sitting beside him on a tiny inter-island plane. His mother was ill and he was shuttled between family members – two days later, Lynne died.
India took Wesley in and often shares happy family pictures of the whole family enjoying time together.
India is the granddaughter of Earl Mountbatten of Burma, the last Viceroy of India who was killed in 1979 by an IRA bomb.
Her mother, Lady Pamela Hicks, 88, served as a bridesmaid at the then-Princess Elizabeth’s wedding to Prince Philip, and then as her lady-in-waiting.
India took Wesley in and often shares happy family pictures of the whole family enjoying time together (seen at Christmas)
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