Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters around the world
Sign up for our free Morning Headlines email
An inquest heard Thomas Kingston died from a “traumatic head wound” with a gun found near his body.
The husband of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent's daughter, Lady Gabriella Kingston, died suddenly on Sunday in an outbuilding of his parents' home in the Cotswolds.
The king, a second cousin of Lady Gabriella, sent his “deepest thoughts and prayers” to her family after news of the sudden death broke.
Lady Gabriella is currently 56th in line to the British throne, behind her niece Isabella Windsor.
Lady Gabriella Kingston and husband Thomas
(Alexandra Diez de Rivera/Buckingham Palace/PA)
Opening the inquest at Gloucestershire Coroner's Court on Friday afternoon, senior coroner Katy Skerrett said Mr Kingston, 45, had lunch with his parents at their home on Sunday.
After lunch his father went for a walk with the dogs, but when he returned Mr. Kingston was not to be found in the house.
About 30 minutes later, his mother went looking for him. When they heard no response, his father forced his way into a locked outbuilding.
“He found Mr Kingston dead with a catastrophic head injury. There was a weapon at the crime scene. The emergency services were called. “Police are satisfied the death is not suspicious,” Ms Skerrett told the inquest.
“An autopsy was carried out by Dr. Jones, a consultant histopathologist, and the provisional cause of death was given as a traumatic wound to the head.”
After initial details were heard, an inquest into Mr Kingston's death was formally opened and adjourned to a date to be determined later.
A statement released earlier this week on behalf of Lady Gabriella, Mr Martin and Ms Jill Kingston, Ms Joanna Connolly and Ms Emma Murray said: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Thomas Kingston, our beloved husband and son brother.
“Tom was an extraordinary man who brightened the lives of everyone who knew him. His death was a huge shock to the entire family and we ask that you respect our privacy as we mourn his passing.”
Lady Gabriella married financier Mr. Kingston in 2019. The intimate ceremony at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle was attended by several senior members of the royal family, including Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Harry.
Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston at their wedding on May 18, 2019
(Getty)
The late Duke of Edinburgh also made a rare public appearance at the ceremony.
The couple got engaged in the summer of 2018 after dating for several years, and Mr Kingston proposed during a trip to the Isle of Sark.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman 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 the loss of a beloved family member.
“Their Majesties send their heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Gabriella in particular and to the entire Kingston family.”
The financier's death is reportedly not the reason the Prince of Wales withdrew from a memorial service for his godfather, King Constantine II, on Tuesday, which was attended by Lady Gabriella's parents, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent had.
Mr Kingston previously dated Pippa Middleton and the pair remained close friends. Kingston and Lady Gabriella attended Ms. Middleton's wedding to James Matthews in May 2017.
Mr. Kingston was a director at Devonport Capital, which specializes in supporting companies in emerging markets or post-conflict environments by providing access to expansion financing and liquidity bridging solutions.
The University of Bristol graduate had also previously campaigned for the release of hostages in Iraq after joining the Foreign Office's diplomatic missions department.