Inquest opens into death of royal in Gloucestershire

Thomas Kingston - who was the son-in-law of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent - died on Tuesday.

Author: Harry LongPublished 1st Mar 2024

An inquest has heard the son-in-law of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent died from a traumatic head wound.

Today's hearing was told that a gun was found close to Thomas Kingston's body on Tuesday.

His death at his parents' home in the Cotswolds is not being treated as suspicious.

Opening the inquest at Gloucestershire Coroner's Court, senior coroner Katy Skerrett said: "I can confirm I have received evidence of identification of the deceased in written format, which complies with Rule 23 of the Coroner's Rules 2013. That evidence is sufficient for identification, and I can thereby confirm the deceased is indeed Thomas Henry Robin Kingston, 45, whose home address is in London. I have received evidence of the brief circumstances surrounding this tragic incident also in written format, which complies with Rule 23 of the Coroner's Rules 2013.

"These brief circumstances are as follows. Mr Kingston was visiting his parents' home in the Cotswolds. On February 25 2024 he ate lunch with his parents. His father went out to walk the dogs.

"On his return Mr Kingston was not in the house and after approximately 30 minutes his mother went to look for him. His father forced entry on a locked out building when no reply could be gained.

"He found Mr Kingston deceased with a catastrophic head injury. A gun was present at the scene. Emergency services were called. Police are satisfied the death is not suspicious.

"A post mortem has been undertaken by Dr Jones, a consultant histopathologist, and a provisional cause of death has been given as 1a traumatic wound to head.

"Having been satisfied with identification, initial cause of death and the brief circumstances surrounding Mr Kingston's death, I can formally open this inquest. I now adjourn it to a date to be fixed. That concludes the opening of the inquest into the death of Thomas Henry Robin Kingston."

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