As King Charles’s godson and maid of honor when he married Lady Diana Spencer, India Hicks is used to grand ceremonies.
Now I hear that the designer made a heartfelt trip to war-torn Ukraine to become a godmother herself.
India, a granddaughter of the first Count Mountbatten of Burma, took part in the baptism at the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, the holiest monastery in the Ukrainian capital Kiev.
Her godson is Zakhar, the son of a Ukrainian couple with whom she became close friends through her work at the disaster relief organization Global Empowerment Mission.
“One of the team leaders of the frontline areas is Vitaliy Kubushka,” she says. ‘We have been on several missions together over the past two years and he and his wife Olga have become good friends.
India (right), a granddaughter of the first Count Mountbatten of Burma, participated in the baptism at the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, the holiest monastery in the Ukrainian capital Kiev
Her godson is Zakhar, the son of a Ukrainian couple with whom she became close friends through her work at the disaster relief organization Global Empowerment Mission.
As King Charles’ godson (pictured) and maid of honor when he married Lady Diana Spencer, India Hicks is used to big ceremonies
India said: ‘It was a great honor to be invited this weekend to be godmother to his second son, Zakhar’
‘It was a great honor to be the godmother of his second son, Zakhar, this weekend.’
India, 56, has been traveling to Kyiv every few months since she became a board member of Global Empowerment Mission.
At the following party, she gave a speech in honor of her godson’s mother.
“Your husband puts himself in danger every week, and he’s there, but you sit at home every week and worry,” she told her.
‘You are strong. All these women in the war are so strong to be at home. Great mothers who do important work, like giving birth.’
India took her son Amory Flintwood, 24, along on the trip and the couple remained in Ukraine this week to provide aid to eastern parts of the country with the charity.
At the following party, India gave a speech in honor of her godson’s mother. “Your husband puts himself in danger every week, and he’s there, but you sit at home every week and worry,” she told her
India took her son Amory Flintwood, 24, along on the trip and the couple remained in Ukraine this week to provide aid to eastern parts of the country with the charity.
India, 56, has been traveling to Kyiv every few months since she became a board member of Global Empowerment Mission
India wrote on Instagram: ‘What an incredible honor to be Zakhar’s godmother. This baptism in Ukraine will stay with me forever’
Her own baptism was held at St. Bartholomew’s Church in Brightwell Baldwin, Oxfordshire.
“Tea was served after the intimate service,” she later wrote. ‘There was a distinguished collection of godparents, including the future King of England.’
The future king would dutifully send her a present every Christmas: a gravy boat one year, a saucer the next.
India admits that she was not thrilled with these gifts at the time, but today she is grateful to have a complete set of fine English china from Thomas Goode.
India is fond of hosting large baptisms and in 2009 invited 1,600 guests to the ceremony for her daughter Domino Flintwood.