The funeral service for Thomas Kingston, the late husband of Lady Gabriella Kingston, was attended by members of the royal family on Tuesday.
Alongside Lady Gabriella and her parents, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, Prince William also paid his respects at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace in London, at 11:30 am.
Notable attendees included the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra, as well as Thomas’ family and close friends, comprising around 140 people in total.
Absent Royals
The absence of the King at the service was understandable due to his ongoing cancer treatment. Similarly, the Queen did not attend as she was hosting a reception at Buckingham Palace in celebration of International Women’s Day, where she concluded the WOW Girls Festival Bus tour.
The Princess of Wales was unable to attend the funeral due to her recovery from abdominal surgery. Additionally, the Duke of Sussex, a guest at Lady Gabriella and Thomas’s Windsor wedding in 2019, did not travel from California to attend.
Funeral Details
Just before the funeral, the coffin was transported from the chapel at Kensington Palace to St James’ Palace, accompanied by close family members. The service was conducted by the Sub-Dean of the Chapel Royal, Reverend Canon Paul Wright, and featured a sermon delivered by the former Bishop of London, the Right Reverend Richard Chartres.
Following the one-hour service, a private cremation took place, with no information disclosed regarding Thomas’s final resting place.
Thomas’ Relationship with the Royal Family
Lady Gabriella’s husband was well-liked by the royal family. At the time of his death, King Charles and Queen Camilla called Thomas a “much-loved member” of their family and sent their “most heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Gabriella and to all the Kingston family”.
While Thomas remained on the outskirts of The Firm, he did occasionally accompany Gabriella to notable events such as Wimbledon, Royal Ascot, the thanksgiving service for Prince Philip, and the committal service for the late Queen.
The couple exchanged vows at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 18, 2019, with a multitude of royals present, including Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.
Thomas’ Cause of Death
The financier’s passing was announced by the palace on 27 February. He was found dead at the age of 45 on 25 February at his parents’ home in the Cotswolds.
An inquest on 1 March found that Thomas died from a “catastrophic head injury” and a gun was found near his body.
Gabriella 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”. They described his death as a “great shock to the whole family”.
