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 in an outbuilding at his parents' home in the Cotswolds, an inquest opening at Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court heard.
A spokesperson for the court yesterday (29 February) announced that an inquest into the 45-year-old's death would begin at 2pm today.
Buckingham Palace had announced that Kingston had died suddenly on 25 February in the Cotswolds.
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A statement released 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 sorrow 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 whole family and we ask you to respect our privacy as we mourn his passing.”
Speaking at the beginning of the inquest, senior coroner Katy Skerrett began by laying out the details of Kingston's death, and saying that the provisional cause of death was a 'traumatic wound to the head'.
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She said: "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 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.
“A post mortem has been undertaken by Dr Jones, a consultant histopathologist, and a provisional cause of death has been given as a traumatic wound to head."
The King and Queen sent their 'most heartfelt thoughts and prayers' to Kingston's widow, the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, in the statement from Buckingham Palace.
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A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: "The King and the Queen have been informed of Thomas’s death and join Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and all those who knew him in grieving a much-loved member of the family.
"In particular, Their Majesties send their most heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Gabriella and to all the Kingston family."
The couple had married at St George's Chapel, Windsor in 2019 with the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip among the guests.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Royal Family, UK News