Farewell to Lady Pamela Hicks marked by royal absences due to ceremony

Lady Pamela Hicks, who once served as a lady-in-waiting to the late Queen Elizabeth II, has been laid to rest following a funeral service held at St Bartholomew’s Church in Brightwell Baldwin.

The service took place nine days after her death on June 5, at the age of 97, marking a quiet farewell to a woman who spent much of her life closely connected to the Royal Family.

A cousin of the late Prince Philip, Lady Pamela maintained longstanding ties with the monarchy, having known both the Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Elizabeth II personally. 

Her decades-long association placed her within the inner circle of royal life, spanning multiple generations of the family.

Mourners gathered to pay their respects, including her daughter India and son-in-law David Flint Wood. 

Also present was Lady Helen Taylor, daughter of the Duke of Kent, who attended dressed in a navy ensemble with a matching veiled hat, reflecting the sombre tone of the occasion.

Maddison Brudenell, a cousin of the Prince of Wales, was also among those in attendance, underscoring Lady Pamela’s extended connections within aristocratic and royal circles.

However, senior members of the Royal Family were notably absent from the service. 

The funeral coincided with Trooping the Colour, the annual celebration of the monarch’s official birthday held at Buckingham Palace.

On the same day, King Charles and Queen Camilla, alongside the Prince William and Princess Kate, were attending the ceremonial parade, joined by their children as the Royal Family took part in one of its most significant annual events.

Despite Lady Pamela’s deep and historic ties to the monarchy, the scheduling overlap meant many senior royals were unable to attend her funeral in person, as the focus remained on the national celebration in central London.