Lady Gabriella Windsor Inherits £660,000 Following Husband's Tragic Suicide
Lady Gabriella Windsor, the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, has inherited £660,000 from her late husband Thomas Kingston, who tragically took his own life in February 2024. The 45-year-old financier died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his parents' home in the Cotswolds, with an inquest citing an adverse reaction to medication as a contributing factor.
Estate Details and Financial Struggles
Thomas Kingston did not leave a will, resulting in his entire estate passing to Lady Gabriella. According to documents from the High Court, his gross estate was valued at £934,429, but after deducting costs, debts, and taxes, the net amount reduced to £664,429. The court finalized this administration earlier this week, more than two years after his death.
Mr Kingston was the director of Devenport Capital, an investment firm that faced severe financial difficulties. The company had a negative balance of £27.9 million, with creditors owed £19.8 million, leaving an £8.1 million shortfall. Creditors will receive only 71% of what they are owed. In an effort to save the business, Mr Kingston invested £1.6 million of his own money, including a recent £1 million injection.
Inquest Findings and Mental Health Concerns
The inquest into Thomas Kingston's death revealed that he had been prescribed sertraline for anxiety and depression, along with zopiclone for sleep issues, by a GP at the Royal Mews Surgery in Buckingham Palace. He stopped taking this medication in the days leading up to his death. Senior coroner Katy Skerrett concluded that he took his own life while suffering adverse effects from the prescribed drugs.
Lady Gabriella expressed concerns about the side effects of mental health medications during the inquest. In a statement read by the coroner, she warned, '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.' She also noted that while work-related stress had been a challenge for him, it seemed improved, and his decision appeared to be a sudden impulse.
Creditors and Personal Losses
The financial fallout from Devenport Capital's collapse affected several individuals and entities. Key creditors include:
- Christopher Chandler, based in Dubai, was owed £12.8 million and will lose approximately £3.7 million.
- HMRC was owed £788,226 and will receive around £560,000.
- Martin Kingston, Thomas's father and a respected barrister, is owed £162,000, of which he will receive £115,000, incurring a £47,000 loss.
Personal Life and Royal Connections
Thomas Kingston and Lady Gabriella met through mutual friends in 2014. He had previously dated Pippa Middleton, the sister of the Princess of Wales. The couple became engaged during a trip to the Isle of Sark in 2018 and married in May 2019 at St George's Chapel, Windsor, in a ceremony attended by many royal family members, including the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
Following his death, Buckingham Palace released a statement on behalf of Lady Gabriella and the Kingston family, describing Thomas as a 'beloved husband, son and brother' and 'an exceptional man who lit up the lives of all who knew him.' The couple was often seen together at high-profile events, such as the 2023 Wimbledon Tennis Championships and Royal Ascot, where Thomas appeared in high spirits while speaking to Queen Camilla.
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