Royal Decorator Found Hanged After King Charles Criticised Paint Job, Inquest Hears
A self-employed royal decorator, who painted the bedroom of the Prince and Princess of Wales, was found hanged after King Charles reportedly criticised one of his paint jobs, an inquest has heard. Chris Eadie, 63, had worked at the Sandringham estate for more than three decades, taking immense pride in projects for the late Queen and later King Charles, Norfolk Coroner's Court was told.
Pagoda Painting Incident Sparks Distress
Mr Eadie's brother, Mark Eadie, revealed that Chris became deeply upset after being tasked with painting a pagoda over a Buddha in the gardens of Sandringham House. The colours were specifically requested by King Charles, but Chris felt they were a bit garish, though he painted it exactly as instructed. According to reports, the King was unhappy with the result and ordered it to be repainted.
Mark explained that his brother dutifully stripped the structure and prepared it for new colours chosen by the King. However, the final painting work was then handed to another contractor. After all that detailed preparation, someone else was given the job. He was devastated, Mark said during the hearing.
Mental Health Decline Amid Work and Health Worries
The court heard that around the same time, Mr Eadie began losing weight and suffering from a lack of appetite, becoming convinced he might have cancer. Phone conversations with his brother showed his mental health deteriorating as worries mounted over both his health and the declining amount of work at Sandringham.
Mark described his brother as a talented perfectionist who lived for his work and was frequently appointed for top jobs within the Royal household, including painting William and Kate's bedroom. In recent years, however, work from the estate became less frequent due to management changes and new contractors, which deeply affected him.
Personal Life and Final Days
Mr Eadie's partner, Joanna, described him as a loving father to his two sons who took huge pride in his career and long service to the royals. She said the reduction in work from Sandringham after decades of loyalty deeply upset him, with the pagoda incident becoming a particular source of angst.
Six weeks before his death, she found him sitting in the dark at home and later feared he had been considering harming himself. In the days before he died, he became unusually affectionate, something she now believes was part of saying goodbye. She found him dead in the garden of his home on the Sandringham estate on October 10 last year.
Inquest Findings and Conclusion
PC David Norris of Norfolk Police told the inquest that Mr Eadie was found hanging in a small garden space between sheds. Paramedics attempted resuscitation but were unable to save him. Officers found an open bottle of spirits and a handwritten note inside the house, where Mr Eadie apologised to loved ones.
Toxicology tests showed only a small amount of alcohol and raised levels of paracetamol, though not enough to cause death. A post-mortem examination concluded he died by hanging. Medical evidence revealed Mr Eadie had visited his GP earlier in the year complaining of weight loss and abdominal discomfort, and began taking antidepressants for anxiety and work-related stress. His medication ran out shortly before his death, with no repeat prescription requested.
Edward Parsons, land agent for the Sandringham Estate, stated that Mr Eadie was never directly employed by the estate but was one of many contractors used, with jobs allocated based on requirements. He noted that though Mr Eadie had been awarded jobs in 2025, a decision was later made not to proceed with the work.
Norfolk Area Coroner Yvonne Blake concluded that worries about his health combined with work concerns led to a decline in Mr Eadie's mental health. She recorded a conclusion reflecting mental health deterioration rather than suicide, stating she was not satisfied he intended to die. He took his own life but the deterioration in mental health means I am not concluding suicide, she said, expressing condolences to his family.
