The British monarch faces a royal dilemma as he is torn between duty and family.
King Charles’ diary collides as it has emerged that the funeral of one of the late Queen’s closest friends, Lady Pamela Hicks, will take place on Saturday, the same day as the King’s official birthday parade, Trooping the Colour.
The annual Trooping the Colour, which sees a spectacular military parade followed by a flyover from Buckingham Palace, is due to take place on June 13.
The annual family event will see the King joined by all working royals, including the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Now it has emerged that on the same day Lady Pamela Hicks will be laid to rest. She was a bridesmaid to Elizabeth II when she married Prince Philip in 1947, died aged 97 last week.
When news of her death emerged, a spokesman for the king said in a statement that the monarch was “deeply saddened” to hear of Lady Pamela’s passing, describing her as a woman whose “warmth, wit and perspicacity always made such an impression”.
Lady Pamela’s death was announced on Friday by her daughter India, who was a bridesmaid at Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding in 1981.
Lady Pamela was the youngest daughter of Lord Mountbatten – Prince Philip’s uncle – and Edwina Ashley.
