Who is Lady Gabriella Windsor? Royal shock as husband dies at 45

Prince and Princess Michael of Kent’s daughter Lady Gabriella Kingston has paid tribute to her husband, Thomas, who has died suddenly aged 45.

Buckingham Palace made the announcement after the financier was found dead at an address in Gloucestershire on Sunday evening.

Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 6pm.

An inquest will be held to establish the cause of death but there are no suspicious circumstances and no other parties involved.

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.

A statement released on behalf of Lady Gabriella and Mr Kingston’s family said: "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.”

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson 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.”

Lady Gabriella and Mr Kingston were engaged in 2018 and married at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 18, 2019. The guests included Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

The wedding reception was held at Frogmore House, the former residence of Prince Harry and Meghan. 

The Duke of Sussex was among the guests at the wedding that included the Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes, designer Nicky Haslam and the family of Catherine, the Princess of Wales, her parents Carole and Michael Middleton and siblings Pippa and James, who were joined by their partners.

Here is what we know about Lady Gabriella.

Who is Lady Gabriella Windsor?

Lady Gabriella is an English consultant, singer-songwriter and freelance writer.

Born on April 23, 1981 at St Mary’s Hospital in London, she studied comparative literature and social anthropology at Ivy League institution Brown University in Rhode Island in the US, which is where she met her husband.

The pair tied the knot at St George’s Chapel, Windsor on May 18, 2019. She wore a gown by Italian designer Luisa Beccaria and the Kent City of London fringe tiara – once worn by her grandmother Princess Marina of Kent.

The 41-year-old is also a board director of the Playing for Change Foundation, a global music and arts education organisation.

She made her singer-songwriter debut in 2020, when she released her first singles to raise funds and awareness for the foundation.

How was Lady Gabriella Windsor related to the Queen?

Lady Gabriella is the daughter of Prince Michael of Kent, the first cousin of the Queen. She is at least 50th in line to the throne, behind her niece, Isabella Windsor.

She had a close relationship with the Queen, who was one of the guests at her wedding.