4. Distinguished Visitors; Royals in the Family, Movie Stars and the Maharajah Who Died at Lunch

With Royals, ‘Subroyals’, Grand Dukes and Duchesses, Tsars and Tsarinas in the family, having the likes of Noel Coward, Grace Kelly, Douglas Fairbanks, Wallis Simpson and Eisenhower visit was not so out of the ordinary. On this episode Lady Pamela tells stories of the grandmother she shares with Prince Philip, the extraordinary other family members and some of the wonderful characters the Mountbattens called friends. What highly unusual gift did Wallis Simpson bring for supper? Was the chef really a lion tamer? And what DO you do with a dead Indian Prince at the dining table?

Om Podcasten

A wonderfully intimate look into the life and work of India Hicks and her extraordinary family. In Season One we’re talking Movie Stars, Matadors and Maharajas as we have tea and cake with Lady Pamela, daughter of Lord and Lady Mountbatten and of course India’s much moved mum. Now in her 90s Lady Pamela’s stories will astound you; she’s first cousins with Prince Philip, travelled the world on the famous Commonwealth tour when Princess Elizabeth became Queen, befriended everyone from Grace Kelly to Gandhi and had a front row seat as her father, the last Viceroy of India, oversaw the complicated process of partition. We ask that if you have listened to this podcast would you be so kind as to consider making a donation to The Princes Trust - a charitable organisation with which India is actively involved. Many thanks. www.princes-trust.org.uk Produced by Lisa Francesca Nand and edited by Alex George.