After the early death of Thomas Kingston
Looking back on his “incredible life”
Thomas Kingston and Lady Gabriella attended the Ascot horse race together in June 2023. He died unexpectedly eight months later.
© IMAGO/i Images
Lady Gabriella’s husband, Thomas Kingston, was only 45 years old. His life was so eventful.
The sudden death of Thomas Kingston, who died on Sunday at the age of 45, shocked the British royal family. How The “Daily Mail” reported that the husband of Lady Gabriella (42), née Windsor, led an “extraordinary” life. He survived a suicide attack, saved countless lives in Iraq and finally found his way into the fine circles of the British aristocracy.
He escaped a suicide attack 20 years ago
Lady Gabriella Kingston is the great-niece of Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) and is 56th in line to the throne. Her father, Prince Michael of Kent (81), is a cousin of the late Queen. Lady Gabriella and businessman Thomas Kingston married in 2019 – now the young woman is a widow. Her husband had come into contact with death several times throughout his life. The “Daily Mail” describes his career as “unbelievable”. In 2004, Kingston survived a suicide attack in Baghdad in which 22 people died. In addition, as a member of the Foreign Ministry’s diplomatic missions department, he negotiated with “militias” over the handover of hostages and was able to save countless lives. That’s why he’s a “hero”.
Unlike his wife, Kingston did not have blue blood. His family is not part of the aristocracy. His father was a self-made man – he managed to become a successful lawyer. Kingston himself graduated from the University of Bristol with a bachelor’s degree in economic history. He then worked in the diplomatic mission department in Baghdad. During this time he worked closely with Reverend White. He now mourns with the Royal Family and paid tribute to the deceased to the Daily Mail with the words: “He worked with me in Iraq during the worst phase of the Iraq War. He was a great man of deep faith and wisdom.”
After being deployed to Baghdad, Thomas Kingston became project manager for the Coventry-based International Center for Reconciliation to negotiate the release of hostages. According to media reports, in this role he saved the lives of countless people. After that, his career focused primarily on finance. He was most recently managing director at Devonport Capital.
He came into the spotlight through a relationship with Kate’s sister Pippa
Thomas Kingston attracted attention with his private life: until 2011, the financial expert was in a relationship with Pippa Matthews (40), the sister of Princess Kate (42). They are said to have remained good friends even after that. In 2015, Thomas Kingston met Lady Gabriella Windsor – their wedding in 2019 made him part of the Royal Family. The Queen and Prince Harry (39), among others, also came to the wedding in St. George’s Chapel in Windsor.
Thomas Kingston and Lady Gabriella were last photographed together at an event on Valentine’s Day. On February 27th, Buckingham Palace announced that Kingston had died on February 25th at the age of just 45. Rescue workers were called to his address in Gloucestershire in southwest England on Sunday evening, but found him dead there. British media said there were no suspicious circumstances. Nevertheless, there should be an investigation into the circumstances of death.
The royal couple mourns the loss of “a very beloved family member”
Lady Gabriella is not one of the so-called “working royals”, i.e. the family members who work for the British royal family. Nevertheless, King Charles III told her. (75) and Queen Camilla (76) expressed their support. Buckingham Palace released a statement from the royal couple saying: “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 much-loved family member.”