King Charles's goddaughter celebrates 'exciting' family news after difficult time

India Hicks is celebrating some very happy news this week – as she revealed her son Wesley is engaged. 

King Charles's goddaughter, who is married to former advertising executive David Flint Wood, brought up her five children in the Bahamas: Felix, Amory, Conrad, Domino, and Wesley. The couple adopted Wesley, 29, in 2010 when he was 12 years old, after his mother sadly passed away from breast cancer. 

On Wednesday, India revealed that Wesley had popped the question to his girlfriend, Dylan Patterson, whom he's believed to have started dating in July 2025. 

Heiress and businesswoman India praised Wesley for getting down on one knee, telling her followers: "Thank God she said YES."

Sharing a family photo, India announced: "What exciting news this week. Wesley got down on one knee (good lad) and asked his most wonderful girlfriend to marry him and thank God she said YES.

"How happy we are to have you join our family, Dylan. Here’s to sharing all the happy times, and holding each other close through sad ones too.❤️"

The newly engaged couple quickly received some royal and celebrity well-wishes, with Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece commenting: "Amazing news. Congratulations," while model Helena Christensen said: "Congrats!"

Dylan runs a travel club called Pink Palmetto, which offers "personalised, elevated travel experiences that feel effortless and unforgettable".

She previously worked in marketing project management in the fashion industry, but made the career switch due to her "deep love of travel", while Wesley is a marine technician who has an XL bully dog called Fiona.

"Couldn’t be more excited to not only have the best fiancé, but also the best future in-laws," Dylan said.

India's close bond with Wesley

India is the daughter of the late Lady Pamela Hicks – a cousin of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth's bridesmaid – while her late father was interior designer David Hicks.

She is an ambassador for the King's Trust and chaired its star-studded Invest in Futures fundraising gala in March in London.

She adopted Wesley, who often used to visit their house as a young child, in 2010 after his mother died.

India had befriended his mother Lynne, a waitress on Harbour Island, when they were both pregnant.

In 2008, Wesley's mother moved 50 miles away to Nassau, but he was reunited with India in 2010 when they sat next to one another on a plane. 

Two days later, Lynne passed away. At the funeral, Wesley's father suggested India should look after him, and he joined their family. 

Describing how he became "absolutely part of our family", India told the Telegraph in 2012: "I knew Wesley’s mother. She was a waitress on Harbour Island, and we were pregnant at the same time [she with Felix; Lynne with Wesley], so we noticed each other."

She added: "The best education kids can have is understanding how other people live. Wesley has brought a lot of goodness to the house. He reminds my children how lucky and blessed they are."

Remembering Lady Pamela Hicks

The Hicks family has had a difficult time in recent months, so Wesley's good news will bring some much-needed joy.

India's mother, Lady Pamela Hicks, passed away on 5 June at the age of 97. 

Her funeral was held at St Bartholomew's Church in Brightwell Baldwin, attended by the family and a handful of royals, including Lady Helen Taylor, the daughter of the Duke of Kent.

However, no senior royals attended because it fell on the same day as Trooping the Colour.  

The King said in a statement that he was "greatly saddened" to hear of Lady Pamela's death, but said he had the "fondest memories and deepest gratitude for her long life".

Wesley also paid a powerful tribute to his grandmother, writing on his Instagram account at the time: "Words will never be able to describe how strong, kind, and caring you were to each and every one of us, and I’m honored to be able to call you G-ma."