India Hicks is the goddaughter to King Charles and the socialite opened up about her ‘sweetest memory’ of her godfather and it was all to do with a ‘confusing’ gift each year
The goddaughter of King Charles has given an insight into how considerate the monarch is by sharing her “sweetest memory” of him — despite saying it initially confused her.
Model and philanthropist India Hicks, the granddaughter of Lord Mountbatten who was assassinated by an IRA bomb, describes Charles as an “extraordinary” man.
The 58-year-old glamorous socialite, who has five children of her own, said: “He is also an exceptional godfather and very considerate, very involved, I have boxes of letters that he would have written.
“He never forgot a birthday or Christmas and I imagine he has quite a herd of godchildren — so he is very very considerate and I think you can see that as the King.”
India, who was just 13 when she was a bridesmaid for Princess Diana, was then asked by Gyles Brandreth on his Rosebud podcast about her sweetest memory of Charles as a godfather.
She then explained that every year she would receive a cardboard box and inside would be something like a saucer, gravy dish or a cup.
India, who was 11-years-old when her grandfather was killed in 1979, then explained why it was so thoughtful of Charles.
She said it was “very confusing to have a gravy dish for Christmas” as a seven-year-old — but she added that having a complete dining set when she was 27 or 37 was something “extraordinary” and a “useful brilliant present”.
India, who once modelled for Ralph Lauren before becoming a fashion and homeware designer, said it was much more useful than a plastic toy and she believes it showed Charles’ true colours.
She explained: “I’ve always thought, again, the idea of thinking forward, something that would mean something later in life.
“And I am a godparent to many godchildren and I take it as a great privilege as well — and I often think can I live up to that brilliant thinking ahead of what someone would like later in life?”
India meanwhile resides with her family in Oxfordshire including her husband David Flint Wood who is a former advertising executive.
Last year, India, whose mother is Lady Pemela Hicks, suffered a health scare after skin cancer was found on her calf during a check-up.
India, who is an ambassador for The King’s Trust, had spent several years enjoying sunshine and she opened up to Hello! about how she had the cancer cut out immediately.
She told the publication: “I didn’t tell the kids until afterwards; the words ‘deep’ and ‘aggressive’ made me nervous, so I wanted to have the procedure before worrying anyone but David.
“This wasn’t anywhere near the experience of someone going through a long-term illness, but it was a short, sharp reminder of the damage I had done to myself, and that for someone fair-skinned like myself, living in a tropical climate, getting checked once a year is not enough. I will be much more vigilant about it.”
