India Hicks has spoken openly about her pain at having to relive her grandfather Lord Mountbatten’s assassination, which is portrayed in season four of The Crown – released on Netflix today.
The British aristocrat, who is the second cousin to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Charles has spoken exclusively to Daily Star Online about the upcoming series, which will focus heavily on moments in history that surround the Hicks-Mountbatten family.
India, 53, was just 12-years-old when her grandfather Lord Louis Mountbatten was assassinated by the Irish Republican Army during a fishing trip.
IRA member Thomas McMahon had placed a radio-controlled bomb under the Prince’s boat, which was later detonated just yards away from the shore.
India Hicks exclusively spoke to Daily Star Online about the murder of her grandfather, which features in episodes 1 and 2 of The Crown (Image: Lady India Hicks)
Lord Mountbatten, then aged 79, died from his injuries before he was taken ashore.
“The Crown, I know the first two episodes, maybe the first three – focus on the murder of my grandfather, by the IRA,” said India.
She went on to tell us: “Apparently, it’s very, very powerful those first two episodes. So this whole series of The Crown, for me, is a deeply personal one.”
Hicks’ grandfather, Lord Mountbatten, was murdered by the IRA during a fishing trip in 1979 (Image: PA)
The mother-of-five continued: “It’s very strange when you have to share thoughts all this time later, then I was 11 when my grandfather was murdered.”
With the eyes of the world now focusing on India’s family, the philanthropist said: “It’s weird when you think the whole world is going to share and relive what happened to us as a family.
“But then you reconcile yourself to the fact that this was history, my grandfather’s murder was part of history. It was a political assassination and there were very complicated reasons all around it.”
India was just 11 when her grandfather was murdered during a family holiday to Ireland (Image: Getty)
Just months after the murder of Mountbatten, India served as a bridesmaid at her cousin and godfather, Prince Charles’ wedding to Diana, Princess of Wales.
“I hardly ever talk about my grandfather’s murder but it’s interesting that the series begins with that and then goes on to the wedding.”
Lord Mountbatten has featured heavily in seasons one to three due to his close relationship with India’s godfather, Prince Charles – something that she takes pride in.
India served as a bridesmaid during the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer (Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images for Cabana)
“I’m very aware that my grandfather was a very dynamic and unusual character in the fact that he had a life of service, he achieved many great feats in his life, he was the last Viceroy of India.
“But, it is undoubtable that he was an amazing man, a very energetic man who for the most part did a great deal of good in trying to play his role in a life of service,” she said.
She continued: “So I am very proud to have him as my grandfather. And in that role of service, one could say that he was a mentor to the Prince of Wales.”
India partnered with disaster relief agency Global Empowerment Mission and provided support on the ground in The Bahamas, where she lives shortly after Hurricane Dorian in August 2019.
The author continues her work for the organisation as well as the Harbour Island Foodbank who provide food for those who lose their jobs following the shut down in The Bahamas.
The Crown season four airs on Netflix on November 15
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
