Princess Diana's bridesmaid to finally marry - but Prince Charles will not be invited

Princess Diana's bridesmaid, who swore she would never marry, is set to tie the knot.

India Hicks, 53, the grandaughter of Earl Mountbatten of Burma, walked down the aisle with the late princess aged 13.

The 53-year-old, who is the goddaughter of Prince Charles, followed in her mum's footsteps years after she herself had been bridesmaid to the Queen.

But despite being such a vital part of the grand wedding of Charles and Diana, India said she never wanted to marry.

However, last week, the mother-of-five surprised the nation when she announced she was engaged to David Flint Wood, her partner of 25 years.

The couple have Felix, 23, Amory, 21, Conrad, 17, and Domino, 12 , together - and they have also fostered another boy, Wesley, 23, in the Bahamas.

When asked what had swayed her decision, India told the Daily Mail : "Good question. Maybe I've mellowed? The pandemic has been a factor, yes. I've been through quite a difficult few years, in one way and another. I don't know. I feel I want... stability.

"I have surprised myself. I don't just want to get married, I want to get married here, in Oxfordshire, where I grew up and in the church where my father is buried and where I was christened. I want my mother to there. I want her to be wearing a hat.

"The children were just shocked. They didn't see it coming. Domino immediately asked if she could be a bridesmaid, which made me think: 'Haven't I been clever about this. If I'd done things in the traditional way, I wouldn't have had the person I most want to be a bridesmaid'."

The second proposal came years after the first, in which India told her partner that she was independent and didn't wish to be a wife.

However, India has confirmed that Price Charles will not be invited to the wedding as they are only having the godparents of their own children at the event.

India and David are set to marry next year after coronavirus caused their December wedding to be postponed.