Earlier this year, the British Royal Family faced a barrage of bad news: King Charles III and Catherine, Princess of Wales both received cancer diagnoses. Amidst this adversity, Thomas Kingston, a member known as the “most handsome royal,” suddenly passed away at the age of 45 by suicide.
(Image of initial news reports)
In short, the deceased, Thomas Kingston, was married to Lady Gabriella Windsor. She is the daughter of Prince Michael of Kent and is King Charles’s first cousin, making her a member of the extended royal family. 
She is younger than Charles, but her lineage is significant. Her grandfather was Prince George, Duke of Kent, the brother of King George VI, who was Queen Elizabeth II’s father. Her godfather was Constantine II, the last King of Greece. Her mother has four different nationalities in her bloodline. Her family lineage is ancient, and shares ancestors with the Queen.
Royal Connections
The familial ties of European royalty can be intricate. You don’t need to memorize them all! Ultimately, the family is royalty, with an impressive background. Lady Gabriella’s distinguished heritage meant that Kingston naturally became a royal consort.
(Image of Kingston and Lady Gabriella)
Kingston’s death can only be described as “sudden.”
Reports indicated that he had visited his parents that day. He had lunch with them. After lunch, his father took the dog for a walk. When he returned, Kingston was gone. His mother started searching after 30 minutes, but there was no response.
Eventually, they checked the detached garage near the house. The door was locked from the inside. His parents suspected something was wrong. His father forced the door open and found Kingston’s body.
A shotgun was found near him. British media described the gun as having caused “severe trauma to his head.” The scene was likely disturbing for his parents.
(Image of Kingston alive)
The Initial Investigation
He was already beyond help. Police and paramedics declared him dead at the scene. Police quickly determined that his death was not suspicious. The coroner’s report attributed his death to a “head wound.” In short, he had died by suicide.
The question is, why did Kingston commit suicide? He seemed to have a successful career, a happy marriage, and a prominent position. There were no obvious signs of any mental health issues.
Kingston’s Background
Even without the royal connection, Kingston was an accomplished individual. He graduated from the University of Bristol and joined the Foreign Office. He then entered the financial sector, eventually becoming a director.
He had long been associated with the Royal Family. In 2011, Kingston dated Pippa Middleton, Catherine, Princess of Wales’s sister, for a short time. He later married Lady Gabriella in 2019. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip attended their wedding.
Their marital life seemed normal. They often appeared together in public. They attended an event on Valentine’s Day this year. That was their last joint appearance.
Only 11 days after this event, Kingston died unexpectedly by suicide.
(Image of the couple’s last joint public appearance)
The Aftermath
Lady Gabriella cited a need for privacy. She did not disclose the specific reason for Kingston’s suicide. A private funeral was held two weeks later. The media did not publish photos. It was stated that Prince William attended.
(Reportedly Prince William attended the funeral)
Lady Gabriella does not have a royal role. There is little coverage of her. The public has begun to forget the incident. However, recently the investigation into Kingston’s death has been concluded.
The Coroner’s Report and Medication
Lady Gabriella stated that her husband’s suicide was “most likely the result of an adverse reaction to medication.”
Investigators learned that Kingston had difficulty sleeping due to work stress. He consulted a doctor. The royal physician prescribed him sertraline (an antidepressant/anti-anxiety medication) and zolpidem (a sleep aid).
Sertraline is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It is often used to treat depression and anxiety.
(Image of sertraline)
Kingston went back to the hospital a month later. He stated that the medications did not seem to be working. He felt even more anxious. The doctor changed his medication. Sertraline was replaced with citalopram, a more potent SSRI. The sleep aid was changed to diazepam.
Concerns Regarding Medication Management
Prescription medications should be taken under medical supervision. Dosage adjustments and discontinuations must be doctor-approved. Kingston stopped taking his medications a few days before his death. This might have caused a violent fluctuation in his mood. He may have acted impulsively, resulting in suicide.
It is unclear if Kingston’s death was caused by stopping the medication. It is also not known if he never adapted to SSRI antidepressants.
Final Verdict
The coroner’s report indicated that his blood and urine contained only caffeine and a small amount of zolpidem. There were no traces of SSRIs. However, experts stated that SSRIs might “continue to affect one’s thinking” even after they have been metabolized. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the specific cause of death.
The investigation is nearing completion.
Lady Gabriella stated, “While work was a challenge for him for many years, I very much doubt it led to his taking his life. I’m even more sure it was not a case of this, when things appeared to be getting so much better.”
(Image of the couple watching Wimbledon in 2019)
Family and Friends
“If there was anything that was troubling him, I believe he would have shared it with us. The fact that he was at his parents’ house, where he was so happy, speaks volumes.”
“In the absence of any evidence to the contrary, it is most likely that it was an utterly out-of-character episode and was brought on by a reaction to medication.”
The coroner confirmed this. She stated that Kingston’s wife, family, and business associates testified he showed no signs of suicidal intent. The court was told that Kingston had said “suicide is a very selfish act,” suggesting he was unlikely to commit suicide.
(Image of Kingston chatting with Camilla in June last year)
Unanswered Questions
Kingston had foot surgery in 2012. The surgery was unsuccessful. He occasionally needed assistance to climb stairs. He took painkillers. However, for more than ten years, he was resilient. He did not seem like someone easily defeated.
The day before his death, he attended his niece’s birthday party. He was “his normal cheery self.” He enjoyed a relaxed dinner with his parents. He showed them his new pajamas.
The Final Moments
Kingston’s father stated that he had returned home that day to return the shotgun. Both father and son had gun licenses. Kingston had borrowed the gun to go hunting. That day, he returned the gun. He may have suddenly made the decision to kill himself. “It was almost like a switch flicked in his head, and the decision was made in a very short space of time, apparently fuelled by the gun he had brought back,” his father said.
He had not searched for “suicide” related terms. He left no will. He did not leave a note. All of this seems unusual and out of character.
(Image of Charles, Camilla, and the Kingstons)
Typically, a planned suicide involves arrangements made beforehand. The person may suddenly appear relieved. Kingston’s death does not fit this description.
Conclusion: A Call for Awareness
The conclusion is becoming clearer. A psychiatric expert testified at the court. She stated that Kingston complained that sertraline worsened his anxiety. This showed that SSRIs were not appropriate for him. The doctor had later changed his medication to citalopram. This medication is also an SSRI.
The expert did not blame the doctor. She pointed to the medication manufacturers. The instructions were unclear. They did not explain the side effects or the effects of switching medications.
“We need clearer information, so that people are aware that these types of drugs may have a potential to make somebody who would not normally be suicidal take their own life,” the expert concluded.
(Image of the Kingstons)
Lady Gabriella and Kingston’s family stated that they did not blame the doctors. However, they stated that drug manufacturers may not have given doctors enough advice and instructions.
“I believe there needs to be more knowledge given to everybody taking these medications about side effects, in case it happens again. If it can happen to my husband, it can happen to anybody,” Lady Gabriella said.
His death is tragic. Depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder are becoming common. SSRIs are commonly used antidepressants. You or someone you know may be familiar with them.
Always follow medical advice. This includes when taking medication, increasing dosage, reducing dosage, or stopping medication. Otherwise, you may experience “discontinuation syndrome.”
Physical symptoms are minor. However, emotional fluctuations can be severe. If an impulsive act occurs, like Kingston’s, it’s too late.
