The husband of royal family member Lady Gabriella Kingston, Thomas Kingston, left an estate valued at £660,000 following his tragic death in February 2024. The 45-year-old financier, who took his own life, passed the entire sum to his widow as he had never written a formal will.
Financial Struggles and Personal Tragedy
Thomas Kingston was the director of Devonport Capital, an investment firm facing severe financial difficulties at the time of his death. Records reveal the company was grappling with an £8 million shortfall, having accumulated debts of £27.9 million against assets worth only £19.8 million. In a desperate attempt to salvage the business, Kingston had invested over £1.6 million of his personal funds prior to his passing.
Coroner's Findings and Family Statements
The inquest into Kingston's death concluded that his suicide was likely linked to adverse reactions from medication he was taking. Lady Gabriella, in a statement read at the Gloucester inquest, expressed her belief that a combination of sertraline, antidepressants, and zopiclone sleeping tablets contributed to his sudden and impulsive actions. She noted they had exchanged upbeat messages on the morning of his death, and he had never shown signs of suicidal thoughts or significant stress.
Estate Details and Legal Proceedings
According to a letter of administration recently signed off by the High Court, Kingston's initial estate was valued at £939,429. After deductions for costs, debts, and taxes, the net amount left to Lady Gabriella was £664,429. The document, which came to light more than two years after his death, confirms the estate's distribution in the absence of a will.
Family Involvement and Firm Liquidation
Kingston's father, barrister Martin Kingston, had attempted to help bail out his son's failing firm and is owed £162,000. Devonport Capital is now in liquidation, with creditors expected to receive repayments at a rate of 71 pence for every pound owed. The tragic circumstances of Kingston's death were compounded by the financial turmoil surrounding his business ventures.
Circumstances of Death
Thomas Kingston was found deceased from a traumatic head injury in a locked building on his parents' property, with a gun discovered near his body. His father made the grim discovery. Lady Gabriella suggested that his decision to take his life at his parents' home, where only they would find him, indicated a sudden impulse possibly triggered by the presence of the firearm.
The couple, who married in 2019, shared a life that intertwined with the British royal family, as Lady Gabriella is the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent. This case highlights the profound impact of mental health issues and medication side effects, set against a backdrop of personal and financial challenges.
