- For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
The husband of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent’s daughter Lady Gabriella Kingston died from a shotgun wound after suffering an adverse effect to medication prescribed by his doctor, a coroner has found.
Thomas Kingston died from a head injury and a gun was found near his body on February 25 at his parents’ home in the Cotswolds.
The 45-year-old financier married Lady Gabriella at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in 2019 with the Queen and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh among the guests.
At an inquest into his death held at Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court on Tuesday, Lady Gabriella, 43, said people need to be warned about the effects of medications used to treat mental health conditions or more people could die.
In a statement read out at the inquest by Ms Skerrett, Lady Gabriella said: “(Work) was certainly a challenge for him over the years but I highly doubt it would have led him to take his own life, and it seemed much improved.
‘If anything had been troubling him, I’m positive that he would have shared that he was struggling severely.
‘The fact that he took his life at the home of his beloved parents suggests the decision was the result of a sudden impulse.’
She said she believed his death was ‘likely provoked’ by an adverse reaction to the medication he had begun, and subsequently stopped taking, in the weeks leading up to his death.
Thomas Kingston (left) died from a head injury caused by a gunshot wound, a coroner has found
Mr Kingston (pictured), the husband of Lady Gabriella Windsor, shot himself following an adverse effect to prescribed medication, an inquest earlier this year heard
Mr Kingston watched the racing alongside Queen Camilla from the Royal Box at Ascot in June 2023
He had initially been given Sertraline – an anti-depressant – and Zopiclone, a sleeping tablet, by a GP at the Royal Mews Surgery – a practice used by royal household staff – after complaining of trouble sleeping following stress at work.
Mr Kingston complained this was not making him feel better and his doctor moved him off Sertraline to Citalopram, another selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used as an anti-depressant.
‘The lack of any evidence of inclination it seems highly likely to me that he had an adverse reaction to the pills that led him to take his life,’ Lady Gabriella said.
‘I believe anyone taking pills such as these need to be made more aware of the side effects to prevent any future deaths.
‘If this could happen to Tom, this could happen to anyone.’
Recording a narrative conclusion, Katy Skerrett, senior coroner for Gloucestershire, said: ‘Mr Kingston took his own life using a shotgun which caused a severe traumatic wound to the head.
‘The evidence of his wife, family and business partner all supports his lack of suicidal intent. He was suffering adverse effects of medication he had recently been prescribed.’
For free, confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
This is a breaking news story and is being updated.
