Prince Charles’ goddaughter Lady India Hicks, 54, reveals behind-the-scenes glimpses before wedding

Prince Charles’ goddaughter Lady India Hicks has revealed several behind-the-scenes snaps as she prepares to marry David Flint Wood, her partner of 26 years,  this weekend.

The granddaughter of Earl Mountbatten, 54, who was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, offered excited royal fans a glimpse at her enormous seating plan as she posted on Instagram ahead of the big day.

Meanwhile she also shared several images of a series of six tents which were being decorated with swaths of greenery. 

The philanthropist had long insisted she had no plans to marry the former advertising executive, even after five children together, but revealed her change of heart on Instagram on 28th November. 

Prince Charles ‘ goddaughter Lady India Hicks, 54, has revealed several behind-the-scenes snaps as she prepares to marry David Flint Wood, her partner of 26 years, this weekend 

The granddaughter of Earl Mountbatten, who was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, offered excited royal fans a glimpse at her enormous seating plan as she posted on Instagram ahead of the big day

The granddaughter of Earl Mountbatten, who was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, offered excited royal fans a glimpse at her enormous seating plan as she posted on Instagram ahead of the big day 

Lady India had earlier announced the news the wedding was this week by sharing a sweet throwback image of her and her fiance to her Instagram page. 

She revealed the photos were taken by David Loftus, who will also be snapping her wedding.    

‘This time next week I will be married. MARRIED!’ she wrote.

‘Neither of us have ever been married before so we are both quite excited’. 

Meanwhile she also shared several images of a series of six tents  which were being decorated with swaths of greenery

Meanwhile she also shared several images of a series of six tents which were being decorated with swaths of greenery

Meanwhile she also shared several images of a series of six tents (left) which were being decorated with swaths of greenery (right) 

India went on to share a video as she walked close to a small church while preparing for her wedding this weekend

India went on to share a video as she walked close to a small church while preparing for her wedding this weekend  

She also shared how her youngest child Domino, 13, excitedly told her teacher of the upcoming nuptials.

‘”My Mother is getting married” Domino was telling her teacher. “How lovely, who is she marrying?'”the teacher asked. “My father'”came the reply,’ she added on Instagram.

She also shared a snap of her wedding invitations, revealing the pair’s ceremony will be at the Brightwell Baldwin Parish Church in Oxfordshire followed by a reception at the Lord Nelson pub.

In December she revealed that pair were meant to have a winter wedding but put plans on hold after revealing the romance  ‘dipped’ while trying to plan the big day in-line with Covid-19 restrictions.

The philanthropist had long insisted she had no plans to marry the former advertising executive, even after five children together, but revealed her change of heart on Instagram on 28th November. Couple are pictured together in 2004

The philanthropist had long insisted she had no plans to marry the former advertising executive, even after five children together, but revealed her change of heart on Instagram on 28th November. Couple are pictured together in 2004

‘Today I should be David’s wife. Yesterday we were meant to get married,’ Miss Hicks explained at the time.

‘Way back in early September we set the date for our tiny wedding. We sent out invitations, designed dresses, and debated vows (to obey or not to obey?) But as the weeks past the romance did slightly slip away. 

‘I think the crunch came when our priest told us we could not have hymns that might be hummable – hummable hymns are not Covid protocol. And so we will wait a little while longer, which is OK because we’ve already waited 25 years.’ 

It came just weeks after the pair announced their engagement.

Miss Hicks was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. She is pictured  second left at the wedding with the Queen and Diana

Miss Hicks was a bridesmaid at the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer. She is pictured  second left at the wedding with the Queen and Diana 

In a photo of the two of them together, she wrote: ‘David and I are getting married. 

‘Five children and 25 years later! We quietly decided a few months ago. A celebration of unflinching love. Until death do us part.’

She told the Daily Mail: ‘After months and months of lockdown, many people were ready to kill each other – we were ready to get married.’ 

Miss Hicks and her fiance, 60, a former Saatchi & Saatchi executive, moved to the Bahamas in 1996 and have built and restored four houses and a hotel there. 

Last year, Lady India Hicks has shared a touching family photograph after revealing she had postponed her wedding to long-term partner David Flint Wood. The image shows her and David's four of her children, Felix, 24, Amory, 22, Conrad, 18 and Domino, 13, and Wesley, 24, sitting on a beach in the Bahamas, which has been the couple's home for two decades

Last year, Lady India Hicks has shared a touching family photograph after revealing she had postponed her wedding to long-term partner David Flint Wood. The image shows her and David’s four of her children, Felix, 24, Amory, 22, Conrad, 18 and Domino, 13, and Wesley, 24, sitting on a beach in the Bahamas, which has been the couple’s home for two decades

They have five children: Felix, 24, Amory, 22, Conrad, 18, and Domino, 13. The couple also adopted a young Bahamian, Wesley, now 24, after his waitress mother died of cancer.

Miss Hicks has coupled her entrepreneurialism with philanthropy, including working with the Global Empowerment Mission, which provides disaster relief to those afflicted by hurricanes and other crises.

She is also a partner of the food bank on Harbour Island, where the family lives.

Last year she said: ‘People often ask us why we have never got married but we have just never felt the need. Being strangers in a strange land has bonded us more than any ceremony could.’

India Hicks previously revealed she's postponed her wedding to long-term partner David Flint Wood - a little over a week after announcing their engagement

India Hicks previously revealed she’s postponed her wedding to long-term partner David Flint Wood – a little over a week after announcing their engagement

In 2018 she said: ‘The children all carry his name, which is important to me. Our family unit is so strong but I have no ambition to be married at all.’

Miss Hicks is the daughter of Lady Pamela Mountbatten, who was herself a royal bridesmaid at the Queen’s 1947 wedding, and interior designer David Hicks.

She was educated at £40,000-a-year Gordonstoun, near Elgin, Scotland, until she was expelled for inviting boys to her room.

Despite her family and royal connections, Miss Hicks has worked to earn her keep. Originally a model, she became a designer and businesswoman, launching a luxury lifestyle business before closing it last year.

Miss Hicks and her fiance, 60, a former Saatchi & Saatchi executive, moved to the Bahamas in 1996 and have built and restored four houses and a hotel there

Miss Hicks and her fiance, 60, a former Saatchi & Saatchi executive, moved to the Bahamas in 1996 and have built and restored four houses and a hotel there

She said she enjoyed having more time for her children. Miss Hicks was one of the five bridesmaids at the 1981 wedding of Diana and Charles, who is her godfather and second cousin.

She had been on holiday in the Bahamas aged 13 when the prince phoned and personally asked her to take on the role.

‘I had to practise,’ Miss Hicks later recalled. ‘It was during these rehearsals I got to know Diana, whom I first met at a dress fitting. She always seemed more like a head girl than a princess-in-waiting, with never a shy moment in private.’

Miss Hicks has kept her bridesmaid’s wreath from the ceremony at St Paul’s in its original box.

Miss Hicks is the daughter of Lady Pamela Mountbatten, who was herself a royal bridesmaid at the Queen's 1947 wedding, and interior designer David Hicks

Miss Hicks is the daughter of Lady Pamela Mountbatten, who was herself a royal bridesmaid at the Queen’s 1947 wedding, and interior designer David Hicks

In November she posted a photograph of her dress – still in perfect condition – on social media. Remarkably it was on a hanger on her stairs alongside another royal bridesmaid dress, that worn by Lady Pamela, 91.

Miss Hicks wrote: ‘Lots of questions asking if my mother still has the dress she wore as a bridesmaid to the Queen. She does. See it here. Next to the one I wore to Charles and Diana’s wedding.

‘Both have travelled the world in exhibitions and been on display in museums before coming home to chill for a bit.’

When aged 11, Miss Hicks had been due to be on her grandfather Earl Mountbatten’s boat when it was blown up off Ireland by the IRA in 1979, killing him and three others. She escaped after staying in the family holiday home to watch a film. 



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