Thomas Kingston dies aged 45: How the royal family will form a tight circle of support around much

Release time：2024-05-22 10:24:58 Source：Culture Clutch news portal

Lady Gabriella Windsor has already felt the immediate support of the wider Royal Family following the sudden death of Thomas Kingston at the age of 45 - with the King and Queen paying tribute to her late husband. 

The financier, who wed Lady Gabriella, 42, in 2019 in a ceremony attended by the late Queen and Prince Philip and a host of other senior royals, was found dead at a residence in Gloucestershire on Sunday evening.

Buckingham Palace said it was supporting Mr Kingston's devastated family despite the couple not being working royals, which is testament to just how well liked Lady Gabriella, often known just as 'Ella', is in the highest royal circles. 

In a statement released yesterday, a spokesman for Their Majesties 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.

A highly thought of member of the royal family, Lady Gabriella Windsor, 42, whose husband Thomas Kingston, 45, was found dead on Sunday at a residence in Gloucestershire, is likely to feel strong support from the Windsor family in the coming weeks

The King and Queen issued a tribute to Mr Kingston, pictured far left, on Tuesday after the news of his death broke. Lady Gabriella is known to have a close relationship with Their Majesties (Pictured at Royal Ascot in June 2023)

The minor royal is known for her down-to-earth demeanour, as is clear from the photos of her enjoying Royal Ascot last year with King Charles, who is her second cousin

'In particular, Their Majesties send their most heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Gabriella and to all the Kingston family'.

Last summer, Lady Gabriella, a writer, and Mr Kingston, who during his previous career with the Foreign Office was posted to Iraq, were pictured enjoying the company of the King, her second cousin, and Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot.

In happier times, the two couples were seen laughing and joking as they cheered on their respective horses at the event - with Lady Gabriella's relaxed, chatty nature, which has long endeared her to the senior royals, clear to see. 

As a writer and contributing editor, working with The London Magazine amongst other publications, 'Ella' has clearly experienced a broad spectrum of life in her work, and has a social conscience too.

She's board director for the Playing for Change Foundation, a non-profit organisation aiming to improve education through music.

Lady Gabriella has also dabbled in the arts herself, and in 2020 released two songs as a singer-songwriter - Out of Blue and Bam Bam to help raise money for charity.

Prior to meeting her husband, Lady Gabriella dated journalist Aatish Taseer, who previously wrote a tell-all Vanity Fair article which claimed they swam naked in the Buckingham Palace pool.

She had been dating Mr Kingston for a number of years when he proposed while they were on the island of Sark in 2018.

The couple at St George's Chapel in Windsor on May 18, 2019; the guest list saw many senior royals including the late Queen and Prince Philip attending

Lady Gabriella, pictured with Mr Kingston in 2016 at Cirencester Park Polo Club, three years before their wedding, is a well-liked member of the wider royal family

Lady 'Ella' had been dating Mr Kingston for a number of years when he proposed while they were on the island of Sark in 2018 (The couple pictured at Wimbledon in July 2022)

Since their marriage the couple had attended a myriad of events on the royal calendar - and had become popular figures on the royal social scene (Pictured at Annabel's in 2018)

He was a director of Devonport Capital, which specialises in providing finance for companies in 'frontier economies'.

The Bristol University graduate worked in Baghdad, Iraq, according to the Telegraph, working to procure the release of hostages after joining the Diplomatic Missions Unit of the Foreign Office.

At the couple's wedding on May 18th 2019, the guest list proved the esteem in which Lady Ella is held by the royal family, with the late Queen and Prince Philip joined by other senior royals including Prince Harry, who took time away from his then newborn son Archie.

Prince Philip, who retired from royal duties in May 2017, made a rare public appearance at St George's Chapel and other royals in attendance on the couple's big day included Sarah, Duchess of York, Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Marpelli Mozzi and Princess Anne.

Affection: The late Queen Elizabeth II is seen, dressed in pink, at the 2019 wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston in a newly resurfaced video. The royal family has been left shocked by the tragic death of Mr Kingston at the age of 45

Following their nuptials, Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston were seen smiling from their wedding car as they passed the waiting royal party

The Queen looked delighted as she smiled outside St George's Chapel, carrying the order of service for the wedding. Pictured right, Prince Harry and The Queen shared a smile as they spoke after leaving the royal wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston

Rare appearance: Prince Philip, who died in April 2021, pictured attending the wedding in 2019

Mutual affection: In 2022, Lady Gabriella appeared to collapse as the late Queen 's coffin arrived at Westminster Hall, Hello reported. Pictured with Mr Kingston at the Committal Service for Queen Elizabeth II in 2022

A video showing the late Queen appearing to be overcome with emotion following the nuptials - dubbed 'the society wedding of 2106' - has resurfaced this week.

The emotional clip shows the late Queen, who died in September 2022, wiping away a tear of joy as she waved the happy couple off. 

Waiting patiently outside Windsor's famous chapel, the late monarch is seen patiently standing with her late husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, and her sons Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.

Later, Queen Elizabeth appears to wipe away a tear of emotion. The affectionate was clearly mutual. In 2022, Lady Gabriella appeared to collapse as the late Queen's coffin arrived at Westminster Hall, Hello reported.

She attended the intimate service with her parents and husband and was seen standing in line with other members of the Royal Family as Her Majesty's coffin was brought inside.

Close: It's likely Lady Gabriella, left, is being supported by her close family, including her brother, Lord Freddie Windsor (third from left), and his wife Sophie Winkleman (fourth from left), who recently re-located back from the US. Pictured right and second from right: the Prince and Princess Michael of Kent; the family are seen during The Queen's Birthday Parade Trooping the Colour at Buckingham Palace in 2019

The young royal was born on April 23 1981. Her mother, Princess Michael, has made headlines over the years for her outspoken comments, being dubbed 'Princess Pushy' by the press. Pictured when she was young, with her parents and brother

Lady Gabriella with her father enjoying the tennis at Wimbledon in 2023

Supportive: The grieving Lady 'Ella' will lean on her closest family in the coming weeks; pictured in 2010 with Princess Michael and Prince Michael of Kent at the Greek royal wedding of Prince Nikolaos and Tatiana Blatnik

The family pictured in 2006 at Badminton Horse Trials In Gloucestershire, from right: Prince And Princess Michael Of Kent, Lady Gabriella and Lord Frederick Windsor

Kingston, the son-in-law of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, was found dead at his home on Sunday, February 25

READ MORE HERE: The Kents put on a brave face at King Constantine's memorial at Windsor Castle after shock death of their son-in-law Thomas Kingston

In the days following her husband's shock death, Lady Gabriella, who studied at both Brown University in the US and the University of Oxford - and boasts degrees in Comparative Literature and Social Anthropology, is likely to turn to her closest family. 

Her parents, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, married in 1978 and she has one older sibling, Lord Frederick 'Freddie' Windsor. 

Freddie, 44, and his wife Sophie Winkleman, 43, half-sister of Strictly presenter Claudia, live close by after re-locating back to the UK from California.

In an interview with Tatler magazine in December, Sophie said she loved 'all the Kents', suggesting the family share a close relationship.  

Her parents, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, enjoyed a close relationship with their son-in-law. 

The couple put on a brave face yesterday as they attended a memorial for King Constantine of Greece, hours before news of their son-in-law's death broke.  

Despite their own family tragedy, the couple were determined to pay tribute to the late Greek monarch. 

Dressed in all black for the memorial service, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent quietly spoke to each other as they sat in the pews at St George's Chapel. 

Prince William was a notable abesentee after cancelling at 'the last-minute' due to a personal matter, even though he was due to give a reading. 

The last-minute decision resulted in the Greek royal family posting online an old order of service containing his reading and a eulogy given by Lord Soames in which he spoke about how 'very touched and proud' King Constantine would have been that it had been given by his godson. 

No further detail was given on William's absence, with royal sources saying his wife the Princess of Wales is 'doing well' at home as she continues to recover after her abdominal surgery last month.

Queen Camilla was instead the most senior member of the Royal Family in attendance - with Prince Andrew also enjoying a prominent role as he led fellow royals on foot to the service at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. 

Mr Kingston's family are also likely to encircle Lady Gabriella with a ring of support. The minor royal and Mr Kingston's family have put on a united front following their loss. 

A statement released by the Palace on behalf of Lady Gabriella, Thomas's parents and his sisters, read: '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.'

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