The inquest was opened by senior coroner Katy Skerrett who gave a brief summary of the circumstances surrounding the 45-year-old financier’s passing, telling the court he died after suffering a “catastrophic head injury”, with police concluding his death was “not suspicious”.
She told the inquest: “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.
Queen Camilla, King Charles, Lady Gabriella Windsor and her husband Thomas Kingston at Royal Ascot 2023 in June. Photo / Getty Images
“He found Mr Kingston deceased with a catastrophic head injury. Emergency services were called. A gun was present at the scene. 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 a 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.”
After news of the tragedy was made public, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles, 75, and his wife Queen Camilla, 76, had sent their “most heartfelt thoughts and prayers” to his family.
Its statement on Tuesday, February 27, said: “The King and the Queen have been informed of Thomas’s death and join Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and all those who knew him in grieving a much-loved member of the family.
“In particular, Their Majesties send their most heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Gabriella and to all the Kingston family.”
A separate statement on behalf of Lady Gabriella Kingston, Martin and Jill Kingston, Joanna Connolly and Emma Murray added: “It is with the deepest sorrow that we announce the death of Thomas Kingston, our beloved husband, son and brother.
“Tom was an exceptional man who lit up the lives of all who knew him. His death has come as a great shock to the whole family and we ask you to respect our privacy as we mourn his passing.”
