An inquest into the death of Thomas Kingston, the financier husband of Lady Gabriella Kingston, has revealed shocking new detail.
Thomas Kingston, the husband of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent’s daughter Lady Gabriella Kingston, died from a “traumatic head wound” and a gun was found near to his body, an inquest has heard.
The 45-year-old financier died suddenly in an outbuilding at his parents’ home in the rural Cotswolds region, west of London, on Sunday.
Senior coroner Katy Skerrett told Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court that Mr Kingston had eaten lunch with his parents before locking himself in an outbuilding.
“These brief circumstances are as follows,” she said.
“Mr Kingston was visiting his parents’ home in the Cotswolds. On 25 February he ate lunch with his parents. His father went out to walk the dogs.
“On his return Mr Kingston was not in the house and after approximately 30 minutes his mother went to look for him. His father forced entry on a locked out building when no reply could be gained.
“He found Mr Kingston deceased with a catastrophic head injury. A gun was present at the scene. Emergency services were called. Police are satisfied the death is not suspicious.”
Prince Michael of Kent is the late Queen’s first cousin.
Lady Gabriella and Thomas Kingston were married in St George’s Chapel in May 2019
Ms Skerrett added that a post-mortem had found his provisional cause of death was a traumatic wound to head.
She then adjourned the inquest to a later date yet to be fixed.
The Royal Family are said to still be in shock over the sudden death of Mr Kingston, who married Lady Gabriella in 2019. It’s thought Mr Kingston was adored by King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Prior to joining the Royal Family the 45-year-old had lived a remarkable life.
Mr Thomas graduated from the University of Bristol with a bachelor’s degree in economic history, according to UK newspaper The Telegraph.
He worked in the diplomatic missions unit of the United Kingdom’s Foreign Office, and for almost three years worked in Baghdad as a project officer for the Iraqi Institute of Peace.
Mr Thomas’ job was to mediate conflicts in Iraq and was said to have had countless brushes with death.
He once survived a suicide bombing in Baghdad which killed 22.
Reverend Canon Andrew White, who was based in Iraq with Mr Kingston, once told the Daily Mail: “Tom is one of the most remarkable people I have ever worked with and I would have him back at my side tomorrow, if he would come”.
Thomas Kingston and Lady Gabriella.
“Tom has a fierce determination to make things succeed and great insight into what makes humans tick, both good and bad.
“He uses those to see beyond the impossible and get through to the other side.”
Heartbroken Lady Gabriella and Mr Kingston’s family paid tribute to him in a statement.
“It is with the deepest sorrow that we announce the death of Thomas Kingston, our beloved husband, son and brother,” the statement read.
“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 whole family and we ask you to respect our privacy as we mourn his passing.”
Mr Kingston and his wife were last pictured at London’s Celebration of Shakespeare at the Grosvenor House hotel near Buckingham Palace on Valentine’s Day.
The couple beamed as they posed for cameras with their arms lovingly wrapped around each other.
Friends who saw the couple last week said they seemed “happy and chatty”.
The close friend told MailOnline: “They seemed happy and positive as ever.
“Ella was particularly chatty.”
Another pal said: “It’s utterly shocking. None of us saw it coming.
“I cannot understand it.”
