A inquest into the death of the King’s cousin Thomas Kingston is going to examine whether medication he was taking had an impact on his death.
The Royal Family was plunged into a state of shock after the financier was found in the Gloucestershire manor, where his parents have lived since 1996.
During a pre-inquest review hearing at Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court today, Martin Porter KC said the Kingston family had been ‘advised that there could be a connection’ between medication he had taken and his state of mind before his death.
Mr Porter told the court: ‘The inquiry shouldn’t be limited to the very final cause of death, which is clear and obvious. In support of my submissions, the family have been advised that there could be a connection… for your court to investigate.’
The family’s lawyer told the court the possible link between medication and his state of mind ‘therefore justifies investigation’.
Mr Porter said Mr Kingston’s death was ‘unexpected’ and ‘impulsive’, adding: ‘There was no pre-planning – on the contrary, there was planning for the future.’
Katy Skerrett, senior coroner for Gloucestershire, said the ‘recent prescription… should be part of the scope’, adding: ‘I agree with Mr Porter, however I do caveat strongly that whether a causative link will be established is a very different matter.’
At the beginning of an inquest into his death in March, Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court was told the 45-year-old died from a ‘traumatic head wound’.
Senior coroner Katy Skerrett said Mr Kingston had been visiting his parents Martin and Jill for Sunday lunch.
After they ate, his dad went out to walk the family dogs – but upon his return, his son was nowhere to be found.
The court was told his dad forced entry on a locked out building in the manor and discovered his son with a ‘catastrophic’ head injury.
Lady Gabriella previously paid tribute to her husband in a joint statement with his family, describing him as an ‘exceptional man who lit up the lives of all who knew him’.
The King and Queen sent their ‘most heartfelt thoughts and prayers’ to Lady Gabriella, who is known as Ella, and Mr Kingston’s parents and siblings.
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