Prince and Princess Michael of Kent were secretly grieving son-in-law’s shock death at royal memorial service

28 February 2024

Prince and Princess Michael of Kent secretly grieved over the shock death of their financier son-in-law as they attended King Constantine of Greece’s memorial service.

Prince and Princess Michael of Kent secretly grieved over the shock death of their financier son-in-law as they attended King Constantine of Greece’s memorial service

The couple were photographed dressed head-to-toe in black for the ceremony at Windsor Castle, held on Tuesday (27.02.24), hours before it emerged Thomas Kingston had passed away aged 45.

They were seen speaking in hushed tones to one another as they sat in pews to pay tribute to the Prince of Wales’ late godfather at St George’s Chapel – where Thomas married their daughter Lady Gabriella Kingston, 42, in 2019.

Thomas was found dead at an address in Gloucestershire on Sunday (25.02.24) but his death was only revealed by Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, in the wake of the late King Constantine’s memorial.

Prince William, 41 – whose wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, 42, is recovering from abdominal surgery – was forced to pull out of the morning memorial service at the last minute for unspecified “personal reasons”.

But it is understood his absence was not related to Mr Kingston's death.

Lady Gabriella, known to her family as Ella, had her wedding reception with Thomas after their wedding in St George’s Chapel in Frogmore House, the former residence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Thomas had been the director of private equity firm Devonport Capital since 2017, and he spent time in Baghdad, Iraq, where he helped with the release of hostages while working in the foreign office's Diplomatic Missions Unit.

Thomas previously dated Princess Catherine’s younger sister Pippa Middleton, 40, who is now married to James Matthews.

Even though they ended their romance in 2011, they are understood to have stayed close friends.

Lady Gabriella has worked as an arts and travel director for a brand firm and is a writer and singer-songwriter who released two tracks in 2020 to raise money for charity.

The last photo of Thomas with Lady Gabriella emerged after news of his dearth broke, and was taken on Valentine’s Day at a Shakespeare event in London, also attended by Queen Camilla, 76.

His death is the latest in a string of shocks to rock the royal family, who are coping with the news King Charles, 75, is battling an undisclosed form of cancer.