Lady Gabriella Windsor’s husband Thomas Kingston died of a ‘traumatic head wound’ and a gun was found near his body in an outbuilding of his parents’ Cotswolds home, an inquest heard.
Thomas Kingston, 45, was found dead at his family’s country home on Sunday evening and a post-mortem has revealed the cause of death as a single gunshot, the Gloucestershire coroner was told today.
His father found him after forcing entry into a locked building, senior coroner Katy Skerrett said.
Police and paramedics were called to the scene after a family member called 911. Police said Mr Kingston’s death was not suspicious.
His widow Lady Windsor had paid tribute to her financier husband in a joint statement with his family, describing him as an ‘exceptional man who lit up the lives of all who knew him’ – and calling his death a ‘great shock to the whole family’ .
Thomas Kingston, the husband of Lady Gabriella Windsor, shot himself, an inquest heard
The couple are pictured here at the Wimbledon tennis championships in July 2019
Mr Kingston was seen racing from the Royal Box at Ascot last June with Queen Camilla
A member of the Buckingham Palace press office was present at the inquest, but no family members, nor those from the emergency services involved in the incident, were present at the court.
Buckingham Palace announced that 45-year-old Kingston died suddenly on February 25 at an address in the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire.
Paramedics were called to the large, detached house at around 6pm on Sunday.
Opening the inquest at Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court, senior coroner Katy Skerrett said: ‘I can confirm that I have received proof of identification of the deceased in written form, which complies with Rule 23 of the Coroner’s Rules 2013.
‘That evidence is sufficient for identification, and I can therefore confirm that the deceased is indeed Thomas Henry Robin Kingston, 45, whose home address is in London.
‘I have received evidence of the brief circumstances surrounding this tragic incident, including in written format, which complies with section 23 of the Coroner’s Rules 2013.
‘These brief circumstances are as follows. Mr Kingston was visiting his parents’ home in the Cotswolds. On February 25, 2024, he ate lunch with his parents. His father went to walk the dogs.
‘On his return, Mr Kingston was not in the house and after about 30 minutes his mother went looking for him. His father forced entry into a locked building when no answer could be obtained.
“He found Mr Kingston deceased with catastrophic head injuries. A firearm was present at the scene. Emergency services were called. The police are convinced that the death is not suspicious.
‘An autopsy was carried out by Dr Jones, a histopathologist, and the preliminary cause of death was given as a traumatic head wound.
‘As I am satisfied with the identification, the original cause of death and the brief circumstances surrounding Mr Kingston’s death, I can formally open this inquest. I will now postpone it to a date to be determined. This concludes the opening of the inquest into the death of Thomas Henry Robin Kingston.”
The King and Queen had sent their “sincerest thoughts and prayers” to Lady Gabriella, known as Ella, and Mr Kingston’s parents and siblings.
A statement issued on behalf of Lady Gabriella Kingston, Mr Martin and Mrs Jill Kingston, Mrs Joanna Connolly and Mrs Emma Murray said: ‘It is with the deepest sadness that we announce the death of Thomas Kingston, our beloved husband, son and brother.
“Tom was an exceptional man who lit up the lives of all who knew him. His death has come as a great shock to the entire family and we ask that you respect our privacy as we mourn his passing.”
Lady Gabriella has released a personal photo she took of her husband, showing him smiling, dressed in a casual pink shirt, as he stood by a stretch of water in the sun.
The couple married in 2019 at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, with Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the late Duke of Edinburgh, among the guests.
Lady Gabriella Kingston and Thomas Kingston at Nicky Haslam’s birthday party at The Polish Hearth Club, London, in November 2019
Kingston, pictured here on the day of his wedding to Lady Gabriella Windsor, lived a remarkable life
Lady Gabriella and Thomas Kingston had official photos taken on their wedding day – here with the late Queen and Prince Philip to their right
The death of Thomas Kingston, husband of Lady Gabriella Windsor (pictured together in 2019), was announced by Buckingham Palace
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: ‘The King and Queen have been informed of Thomas’ death and join Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and all who knew him in mourning a much-loved member of the family.
“In particular, Their Majesties send their deepest thoughts and prayers to Gabriella and the entire Kingston family.”
Lady Gabriella is the king’s second cousin. They are both great-grandchildren of King George V.
Mr Kingston was a director of Devonport Capital, which specialized in providing financing to companies in frontier economies.
The University of Bristol graduate had also worked in Baghdad, Iraq, to secure the release of hostages after joining the Foreign Office’s Diplomatic Missions Unit.
He was a close friend of Pippa Matthews, sister of the Princess of Wales, and the pair are said to have dated in 2011.
Lady Gabriella, who has worked as art and travel director for a branding company, is a writer and editor.
She is also a singer-songwriter and released two bossa nova-inspired songs in 2020 to raise money for charity.
Although Lady Gabriella is not a working member of the Royal Family, she and Mr Kingston’s family are supported by the Royal Household.
Friends of Thomas Kingston have been shocked by his death as they told how he and Lady Gabriella were ‘happily married to the end’.
They were last pictured together in public on Valentine’s Day at an event celebrating the works of William Shakespeare.
Lady Gabriella Windsor and Tom Kingston attended the Jerudong Trophy polo match at Cirencester Park Polo Club in June 2016
Kingston pictured next to Lady Gabriella Windsor at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral on September 19, 2022
Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston were pictured at Royal Ascot in June last year
The couple is seen here at the Jungle Part at Annabel’s in London in September 2018
Their wedding was on May 18, 2019 in Windsor
No funeral plans have been released yet.
Lady Gabriella’s parents, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, attended a service for the late King Constantine II of Greece at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle on Tuesday.
Constantine was Lady Gabriella’s godfather and attended her wedding.
The Prince of Wales, also a godson of the former Greek monarch, pulled out at the last minute but his absence was on a personal matter and was not believed to be related to the news of Mr Kingston’s death.
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