Hilary Anne King was born in Cobham, Surrey, on 16 November 1956, the daughter of Charles William King, a structural engineer and Hilda Eileen, née Walker. Her early education was at Rowan Preparatory School in Claygate and at Malvern Girls' College, before entering Leeds University Medical School. After pre-clinical studies she passed the BSc in pharmacology with honours before proceeding to clinical studies and qualifying in 1980. Her house appointments were at Leeds General Infirmary where she worked under F G Smiddy and later she was rotating senior house officer St James's Hospital, Leeds. She passed the FRCS in 1984 and decided to pursue a career in paediatric surgery, taking a post as registrar in London. She enjoyed music and was a keen flute player. Hilary died tragically by her own hand, in 1986, shortly after marrying another doctor.