Thomas Kingston, the husband of Lady Gabriella Windsor, tragically took his own life in February after being prescribed antidepressants and sleeping drugs. The 45-year-old financier, who became part of the royal family through his marriage to Lady Gabriella in 2019, was found dead at his parent’s home with a gun nearby. An inquest revealed that he had suffered adverse reactions to medication prescribed by a royal doctor, including sertraline and zopiclone, which led to impulsive behavior.
Kingston’s wife, Lady Gabriella, stated that his work had been challenging but doubted that it would have led him to take his own life. She described their marriage as deeply loving and trusting and emphasized that he had never expressed any suicidal thoughts to her prior to his death. The coroner’s narrative conclusion stated that Kingston’s lack of suicidal intent was supported by statements from his family and business partner, and that adverse effects of medication likely triggered a sudden impulse that led to his suicide.
The inquest found that after Kingston stopped taking sertraline due to feeling anxious, he was prescribed diazepam and citalopram, and his sleep medication was increased. The sudden adverse reaction to these medications was believed to have been a factor in his impulsive decision to take his life. Kingston’s father discovered him in a locked bathroom with a gun, which he had borrowed for a hunting trip. There were no signs of suicide preparations or a note left behind, making his death seem out of character and unexpected.
Expert witness Dr. David Healy testified that Kingston’s adverse reactions to sertraline should have been a warning sign that SSRIs did not suit him and that he should not have been prescribed a similar medication. Lady Gabriella called for more awareness of the side effects of such drugs to prevent future tragedies. The family expressed that they did not blame the prescribing doctor but highlighted the need for clearer guidelines on prescribing SSRIs.
Known as Tom to his friends and family, Kingston was described as an exceptional man who was well-liked by those who knew him. He had a close friendship with Pippa Middleton and worked briefly at the Foreign Office, where he was involved in efforts to aid the release of hostages. Lady Gabriella, who is 56th in line to the throne, mourned the loss of her husband and emphasized his positive impact on those around him. The family’s counsel called for more explicit warnings about the potential risks associated with SSRIs to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
