Goddaughter of King Charles shares insider’s experience of the new monarch

The UK and the Commonwealth are preparing to welcome a new king, Charles III, who its citizens have watched since his birth. The trials and tribulations of his life have played out in the public eye, but still, there’s a side only the family knows.

India Hicks has been connected to Charles for her entire life. As a descendant of the Mountbatten family, her grandfather Lord Mountbatten was the uncle of the Prince Phillip, last Viceroy in India, and was involved in the upbringing of King Charles.

Earl Louis Mountbatten, great uncle of Prince Charles, who was especially close and confided in him. Here they are in conversation about their common passion for polo. THE CANADIAN PRESS

King Charles was also her godfather. The 55-year-old is now an entrepreneur, author and designer. Hicks sat down with Lisa LaFlamme to reflect on what he was truly like behind the spotlight.

“He’s always been there. The day I was christened, he was there holding me, through to confirmation through to messages when I got married last year,” shared Hicks.

Hicks also described Charles as an “incredibly considerate godfather.”

“When I was confirmed, he designed a piece of jewelry for me … and I have that obviously still. Again, just the thought and consideration of something that was so personal that was designed by him for me just shows the considerate man we have privately but also the considerate man that we are going to have publicly,” she added.

Her close relationship was on display when she was asked to be a bridesmaid in Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding in 1981.

The Royal couple, the Prince and Princess of Wales with their young attendants. Sitting, left to right, Catherine Cameron and Clementine Hambro. Standing, left to right, Lord Nicholas Windsor, Edward Van Cutsem, Sarah Jane Gaselee (in front of India Hicks), Prince Edward, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince Andrew and Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones. THE CANADIAN PRESS

“Now I look back, and I think a billion people watch that. And it was such an extraordinary moment in history. For all of the wonderful reasons of everybody believing this is a fairy tale wedding to the heartbreak of what follows. That moment in history is so significant. And now I look back and think goodness, I was part of that.”

Princess Diana, who died in a car accident in 1997, has been looming large over the coronation of Charles. Hicks told CityNews she believes as the mother of the future king, Diana will always be a part of the conversation.

However, Hicks said she thinks the world is in a place where Camilla, the Queen Consort, has been accepted.

“I think that the balance between Diana and Camilla has calmed down and Camilla has certainly earned her right to be much admired. She’s a remarkable woman who has dedicated her life to service and duty since becoming the wife of future monarch,” said Hicks.

“I think we see her as a very strong woman who takes on some very interesting causes,” she added. “Of course, the difference between is her and Diana is obvious, they were two completely different women, but I don’t think Camilla has been underestimated.”

The Royal Family has faced turmoil in recent years with the departure of Prince Harry and his wife, Megan, which came to ahead with the release of his memoir, Spare, earlier this year.

“I think it’s a very difficult subject. And I think that we should focus on what’s happening right now, which is the history of the coronation and not the bubbles and the bumps of trouble that have been coming along the way so I think that the moment that we’re seeing right now is a historical moment, and that the world’s conversation should be around Charles,” said Hicks.

Hicks added she has been involved with the Prince’s Trust, which was started in 1976 by Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales.

“A million young people have been helped and I work a lot with them, and I hear them, and I hear the conversations and I can see first-hand the impact of this trust.

“Now I think it reflects enormously on a man and his vision, and they are always talking to Prince’s trust about inclusivity, diversity and equality. And I think these are the key themes that we will see in this new reign,” explained Hicks.

“Obviously, the conversation a lot is about the modernization of monarchy, and I think that that’s key as well.”

There will also be a slimmed down number of guests at Westminster Abbey for the King’s coronation, including Hick’s mother Lady Pamela who has witnessed two coronations in her lifetime.

“My mother is 94, unbelievably wise, and she immediately understood that if if giving her seat up, meant that somebody who had done an enormous amount of good could benefit, then that was the right thing to do.

“Of course, she saw the Queen’s father as well … and I think my mother remarked at the Queen’s coronation how young and alone the Queen looked. She was this young, fresh princess.”

The coronation in 1953 will be quite a difference to what we will see on Saturday.

“We’re going to see a king and his wife of a certain age with all of this experience, and I think he will have a very good understanding of what kind of monarch he wants to be.

“So, we’re in such a different time, such a different place and it feels really right. I think we have William and Catherine coming up behind … and I think that we’ve got a lot of strength in that in those four,” she shared.

And Hicks’ prediction for how the coronation will go: “I think we’re going to see something extraordinary on Saturday that will fulfill us all in what we want to see from a monarchy and yet have the significance of being mindful of the time and the climate that we’re living in.”