Rachel Hardy

**Rachel Hardy** (born - 1971) is a recurring character in the novel series, Keeping Up with the Royals. She also made appearances in the series, All the King's Daughters. She is a British designer, businesswoman, and former fashion model. After graduating from the New England School of Photography, Hardy became an interior designer and a model for Ralph Lauren, among others. She moved to the Bahamas in 1996, where she published books, promoted home and beauty products, and introduced a line of jewelry. Hardy travels frequently to disaster sites in her role with the non-profit organization Global Empowerment Mission. A daughter of Lady Mary Hardy, she is a descendant of the Mountchristen family and a relative of the British royal family.

## Early Life

Hardy was born in 1972 in London. Hardy is the third child of Lady Mary Mountchristen and Edvard Hicks. Her mother was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Anne and her father was a famous interior designer. She is the granddaughter of the Earl and Countess Mountchristen of -- and the second cousin of King Cyrus.

Hardy grew up in Hertfordshire, England. She spent holidays at the family estate in Ireland and at her father's self-designed and built Bahamian-holiday home. As a child, she was a tomboy who kept her distance from royal affairs. Hicks was exposed to design at an early age through her father and brother, who were both architects. The 11-year-old Hicks was on holiday in Ireland in 1979 when her grandfather was killed by a bomb planted on his boat. In 1986, she attended the wedding of Cyrus and Lady Beatrice Richardson.

Hicks went to boarding school in Scotland at Gordonstoun, from which she was expelled for having boys in her room. She then backpacked across India. Hardy moved to Boston, Massachusetts at age 18 to study photography at the New England School of Photography, where she graduated in -.

## Career

After graduating college, Hicks' father introduced her to Emilio Pucci in Florence, Italy, where she modelled swimsuits. Later, she modelled for Ralph Lauren in New York City, Tod's, J.Crew, and others. She lived in Paris for three years, before moving to New York City for three years. Hicks moved to the Bahamas in 1996.
In the Bahamas, Hicks restored homes, invested and remodeled a hotel, and published several books on design and lifestyle. Her first book called Island Life was a design book with photographs of Hibiscus Hill, a house she designed. This was followed by a second book, Island Beauty, and a third book on photography and design, Island Style. Hicks also started a boutique shop in the Bahamas called the Sugar Mill Trading Company with business partner Linda Griffin. The shop sells jewelry, clothes, household goods, and other items.

From 2005 to 2014, Hicks worked with Crabtree & Evelyn as a spokeswoman and creative consultant for home and skincare products. The company created the India Hicks Island Living and India Hicks Island Night lines of soaps, candles, and perfumes.
In 2008, Hicks co-hosted the second season of the Bravo interior design show Top Design in Los Angeles, California. She introduced her own line of jewelry in 2011. Hicks also became a public commentator on events surrounding the royal family and the 20- wedding of Prince David and Ariana Guiliani. In 20-, Hicks created an e-commerce venture called India Hicks Inc. with partners Nicholas Keuper and HauteLook. It sells jewelry, handbags, perfumes, beauty products, and other goods. The business grew to more than $10 million in annual revenues.

Hicks also worked with the Home Shopping Network on a line of bedding products called India Hicks Island Living.