Prince Charles’ goddaughter India Hicks shares unseen photographs of her English countryside wedding ceremony

Prince Charles’ goddaughter India Hicks has mentioned it’s ‘been actually pretty saying, “my husband”‘ after wedding ceremony her beau of 26 years David Flint Wooden final yr – as she reveals a surprising number of photographs from her ‘very English countryside’ nuptials.

The granddaughter of Earl Mountbatten, 54, who was a bridesmaid on the wedding ceremony of Charles and Girl Diana Spencer, shared an unseen picture album of her large day – which came about on September 10 2021 at Brightwell Baldwin Parish Church in Oxfordshire – with American bridal journal Brides. 

Reflecting on her wedding ceremony day, mother-of-five India mentioned: ‘For 26 years I had mentioned, “No, I did not, I did not must be married. I did not must be someone’s spouse. I did not have to say his vows. And, really, I found that I did want it. I did wish to be someone, his spouse. And it was significant, to be at a church collectively. It has been actually pretty saying, my husband, and for him to say, his spouse.’

The bride shared a number of spectacular pictures from her ceremony, by which India’s bridesmaids have been led by her daughter Domino, who like her mom wore an Emilia Wickstead robe. The others included Christian Louboutin’s six-year-old twin daughters, Paloma and Eloise.

India and David have been additionally seen chopping their three-tier wedding ceremony cake adorned with white roses at their lavish reception, which came about in an out of doors marquee the night time earlier than the marriage. 

The bride was walked down the aisle by her eldest son, whereas her different three sons walked in entrance of her. She donned a borrowed brooch from her mom Girl Pamela Hicks, who she may be seen with in a touching picture forward of the bride’s nuptials. 

The couple loved a celebration the night time earlier than with 100 friends – and mentioned they have been ‘proud’ none of these invited ‘had Covid or left with it’ – earlier than heading to a pub lunch with their family members after their conventional nuptials.

A studying by considered one of their sons was included within the ceremony, in addition to loads of hymns.

‘We needed it to really feel very English countryside, and completely unpretentious,’ mentioned India. ‘I am a planner, so I deliberate my very own wedding ceremony from the occasion the night time earlier than to the pub lunch to what the bridesmaids have been going to put on to the place my mom would draw up in a automobile to the stamps that went on the invites to the color of the flowers – each half, each second, each element of a marriage, I deliberate. And I liked it.

‘Was I, maybe, over-invested? Definitely, however I believe most brides can be, aren’t we?’ she added. ‘I used to be very conscious of Covid! We requested everyone to do a take a look at earlier than as a result of my mom was 92. We have been extremely fortunate that nobody got here with it; nobody left with it; nobody had it. I am very pleased with that.’

The night time of the occasion, India wore a protracted white mermaid costume with lace detailing and ribbon sleeves from Naeem Khan. On her wedding ceremony day, she donned a customized ivory lace robe designed by Emilia Wickstead, which had taken 17 months to design. 

‘Emilia Wickstead created a costume that felt completely at residence in a church deep within the English countryside,’ India mirrored. The bride accomplished her look with sneakers from Christian Louboutin.

She added that the diamond brooch ‘with a contact of blue’ that she borrowed, which had belonged to her grandmother, was pinned to the again of her costume.

‘Emilia Wickstead did not need something on the entrance as a result of she thought it could spoil the look- the very clear look that we have spent 17 months designing.’

‘My daughter Domino, as all the time, was my shadow,” India added. ‘We spent the night time earlier than the marriage curled in mattress collectively at my mom’s home, while David was along with his brothers, sons, and finest man.’

Describing the second she walked down the aisle, India mentioned: ‘I used to be overcome with the feeling of being in precisely the correct place at precisely the correct time – there by the altar was the person I’d lastly name my husband with all 5 of our youngsters witnessing the ceremony about to occur.’

After they exchanged vows, India slipped on her wedding ceremony wing, designed by Charlotte Chenais and chosen by David whereas in Paris final spring. Engraved inside are the phrases ‘amor vincit omnia’, which implies ‘Love conquers all’ in Latin.

Following the nuptials, the newlyweds took their friends to family-run Lord Nelson Pub, the place all of them celebrated with Bloody Mary’s, Pimm’s, and lunch exterior.

And as a substitute of speeding off to their honeymoon, the newlyweds spent the weekend with their youngsters of their residence collectively.

‘Wanting again, that was essentially the most particular second, reliving each great reminiscence of the marriage, simply absorbing it and feeling the heat from it and never having to hurry off or pack or get on an aeroplane or go wherever,’ mentioned the bride.

Reflecting on her choice to get married, India mentioned: ‘David was surprised, all the way in which as much as the final minute. He’d say, “I nonetheless have not accepted your supply.” So it was shocking to seek out him ready for me on the altar.

I believe we have been all a little bit surprised proper up until the final second. I gained’t ever neglect driving to the church with my two eldest youngsters. Wesley on the wheel, Felix tucked up behind me. “Mum,” Felix mentioned, “this feels so unusual, so in contrast to you.” “I do know what you imply,” I replied from behind my veil, “like we must be getting a tattoo or a drink or one thing.”

She continued: ‘I didn’t actually count on being married to really feel any totally different than not being married. We had been locked in a loving relationship for 26 years already.

‘However it took my breath away to seek out how religious it felt to stroll into the church on the arm of my eldest son and to say these vows to David in entrance of all our family and friends, within the church the place I had been christened and the place my father lay buried simply exterior. It felt intensely intimate.’

Among the many A-list friends on the swanky occasion was jazz singer Jamie Cullum and his spouse former mannequin Sophie Dahl – granddaughter of legendary author Roald – in addition to American actress Brooke Shields and legendary shoe designer Christian Louboutin. 

The fashionable reception was adorned with cascading foliage whereas dinner was held on a easy oak desk adorned with greenery, white roses and candles, whereas bulb string lights have been scattered across the tent.   

Contained in the church her son Conrad learn a passage by Morgan Harper Nichols, an African American Christian author, whereas good friend of the couple Charles Finch, learn the Psalm of David, which had been printed within the order of service in David’s personal handwriting.

India’s son Felix, 24, walked her down the aisle and the mom carried a bouquet by Pulbrook & Gould London.  The corporate poignantly made her mom’s wedding ceremony bouquet in 1960. 

The bride was pushed to the church – which is the place she was christened and the place her father is buried – by her son Wesley in David’s 1966 Mercedes Cabriolet. India and David adopted Wesley within the Bahamas after his delivery mom died of most cancers.

The bride’s mom, Girl Pamela Hicks, who was herself a royal bridesmaid on the Queen’s 1947 wedding ceremony, additionally joined within the festivities sporting a navy blue silk shirt costume and hat. She joined in a wheelchair.