King Charles is expected to face an emotional day this weekend as two major royal events are scheduled to take place on the same date.
On June 13, the King will lead the annual Trooping the Colour, one of the most significant occasions in the royal calendar. The ceremony marks the monarch's official birthday and includes a military parade, public celebrations and the traditional Buckingham Palace flypast.
However, the event coincides with the funeral of the King's cousin, Lady Pamela Hicks, a longtime friend of the royal family and former lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth II.
The funeral is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. in Oxfordshire, while Trooping the Colour is expected to conclude around 1 p.m., raising the possibility that Charles could attend both engagements.
Lady Pamela died at the age of 97. She maintained close ties with the royal household throughout her life and shared a strong bond with Charles and his late parents.
Announcing her mother's passing, India Hicks wrote in a social media statement: "My mother died peacefully today. Whilst there is no tragedy in the death of a 97-year-old who has lived a full life, I know grief will be unavoidable, lurking around waiting for me, but today I am simply grateful that she was my mother."
India also paid tribute to Lady Pamela's character, saying she "made incomparable company" and retained her grace "right up to the end."
The overlapping events mean the King could find himself moving from a highly public celebration of monarchy to a private family farewell within the span of a few hours, making it a particularly poignant day for the royal family.
