Reflections of a Royal Bridesmaid
Published On:Wednesday, April 27, 2011
By MEGAN REYNOLDS
Tribune Staff Reporter
mreynolds@tribunemedia.net
AS the Bahamas' own inhabitant constituent of the British regal family India Hicks organises for the regal marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton on Friday, she recognises fond recollections of her own participation in Prince Charles and the late Lady Diana Spencer's marriage when she was just 13.
On July 28 1981, the progeny of Lord Louis Mountbatten, the last Viceroy of India, and goddaughter of His Royal Highness Prince Charles the Prince of Wales, was ascribed with the monumental blame of devising his bride, Lady Diana's 25ft dress train.
The task was as intimidating as the record-breaking extent of the train itself for the tomboyish teenager who favoured jodphurs to frills and finery.
She had slash off her long hair and was on vacation with her family at their dwelling in Windemere Island
Brown Bridesmaid Dresses, in Eleuthera, when she obtained the swamping request from her beloved Godfather.
Although shocked by the outlook of wearing not only wearing a dress, but wearing it in front of an assembly of 750 million, Ms Hicks said she was pleased to have been inquired by the "caring, considerate and involved" godfather who she adored as much then as she does today.
Ms Hicks, who has dwelled in Harbour Island for 16 years and increased her young children in the community, said she had expended time on vacation with Prince Charles at the family dwelling in Eleuthera as a child.
Her function as bridesmaid permitted her to spend value time with his new bride in the weeks before the marriage
Ivory Bridesmaid Dresses, in the intimate setting of dress designer's David and Elizabeth Emmanuel's studio, where the bridesmaids patiently remained hour after hour as the dress's every line and bend was perfected.
Young India was whisked away from her British boarding school and up to London under a shroud of secrecy to bypass the famished press photographers.
There Ms Hicks and the Queen's niece Sarah Armstrong Jones performed bending and developing a 25ft dustcloth joined to Diana's waist with fastidious precision
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"Manipulating that much ivory taffeta and antique lace in and out of little state carriages impersonated substantial complications," she said.
"Needless to state on the day itself, with close to a billion persons observing, fright took over, and we resorted to rather many of impelling and shoving and creasing."
As with the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton, Prince Charles and Lady Diana's marriage was announced a nationwide holiday
"Royal marriage rush grew," Ms Hicks said.
"People arranged to commemorate with road parities. Bonfires were constructed
Mermaid Bridesmaid Dresses, so they could flare up over the homeland, in commemoration on the day itself."
On the eve of the marriage
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Ms Hicks and Sarah Armstrong Jones observed the brandish with remainder of the Royal family, and as the rushing gatherings dispersed
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Princess Margaret asked for India to stay at Kensington Palace, and even suggested her the use of her toothbrush, departing a lasting effect on India.
Early the next forenoon she was taken to Clarence House, the Queen Mother's house, where she contacted a fresh-faced Diana, clothed in vintage casual trousers and precious gem tiara, observing herself on a minute TV computer display in the nursery, in a playful mood.
"She would flick any individual who got in the way," India said.
"During one financial shatter the advert for Cornetto ice elite came on and she begun vocalising, shortly we all connected in."
The bridesmaids were escorted below as Diana was clothed, and India said she apparently recalls the instant the Princess-to-be emerged at the peak of the staircase and every individual dropped silent.
Crowds topped up the roads of London for glimpse of Lady Diana and her dress, as she was propelled to St Paul's Cathedral in the glass carriage.
India and Sarah contacted her at the Cathedral to assist her out of the carriage and organise her train and veil.
"State trumpeters rang out fanfare. A hushed quiet pursued before the marriage stride began. It took Diana
Knee-length Bridesmaid Dresses, on the shaky arm of her dad Earl Spencer, with her five bridesmaids and two sheets in attendance, three-and-a-half minutes to stroll up the red-carpeted aisle, before the large-scale accumulating of European crested heads and foreign royals, an asked for congregation of 3
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As the world's most-watched marriage observance drew to a close, India and the bridesmaids were conveyed to Buckingham Palace in the glass carriage Diana had reached in.
"Of course at the time it appeared a flawlessly usual mode of transport, trotting down the shopping centre in a equine drawn adviser, only somewhat wrecked by the tears of six year vintage Catherine Hambro, who turned out to be highly allergic to horses. However looking back that should have been my fairytale moment.
" The newlyweds took the open-topped state landau to Buckingham Palace, where they appeared on the balcony to give the gatherings the kiss they had been yearning to see."
"Nothing could have arranged me for the view of the gatherings that day.
"We observed in awe as the micro dimensions, navy azure line of climbed on policeman were compelled to brake grade as the swarming masses inundated through from the shopping centre to the barriers of the castle, shouting happily for Charles and Diana."
The marriage morning serving of food was joyful, talks by Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, light-hearted and funny, and when the baked cake had been slash, Diana went to change into her going-away outfit with aid from her sisters and her bridesmaids.
" The feeling was girly and giggly and Diana provided us each a present, and a kiss, thanking us for being there," India said.
"And then she was gone. Whisked away over the Buckingham Palace enclosed backyard, with a 'just married' signal and vintage containers adhered to the landau by Andrew and Edward, lifting grins from The Queen, The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, who hotfooted after it, joking and waving. An odd view indeed.
The wed twosome was propelled over Westminster Bridge to get the train to Hampshire, to start their honeymoon, in my grandfather's dwelling, Broadlands. "
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