Article by Sean Coughlan, Royal Correspondent, 27 February 2024
Buckingham Palace has announced the death of Thomas Kingston, husband of Lady Gabriella Kingston and son-in-law of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, who was 45 years old.
On Sunday evening, Thomas was found dead at a property in Gloucestershire. Emergency services attended but there were no suspicious circumstances, nor anyone else involved in the incident.
Following the sad news, King Charles and Queen Camilla sent their “deepest thoughts and prayers” to Kingston’s family.
A statement released by Buckingham Palace on behalf of Lady Gabriella and his family remembered Kingston as a shining figure in their lives: “Tom was an extraordinary man who brought joy to everyone who knew him,” it read. His passing has left a deep impact on the family.
Lady Gabriella is the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, making her royalty. Her father, Prince Michael, is a grandson of King George V and a first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
King Charles and Queen Camilla, together with Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, are mourning a beloved member of the family, said a Buckingham Palace spokesperson.
Before his marriage, Thomas Kingston worked in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, with the Foreign Office’s Diplomatic Missions Unit. He played a crucial role in freeing hostages. His wife Lady Gabriella is a gifted writer, singer-songwriter, and also works as a director in arts and travel.
Although Lady Gabriella is not a working member of the Royal Family, they are providing her and the rest of Kingston’s family support during this challenging period. Just days ago, her parents were in attendance at the memorial service for the former King Constantine of Greece at St George’s Chapel.
The local police were alerted to Thomas Kingston’s death by the ambulance service attending a residence in the Cotswolds at about 6:25 pm on Sunday. The police have confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. Soon, a file will be sent to the coroner for further examination.
