Thomas Kingston, the husband of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent’s daughter Lady Gabriella Kingston, has died suddenly aged 45.

Lady Gabriella paid tribute to her partner, saying in a joint statement with his family that he was 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”.

Mr Kingston, 45, married Lady Gabriella Windsor in 2019 at St George’s Chapel, in Windsor Castle, with Queen Elizabeth II and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh, among the guests.

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Pic: PA

As part of her tribute, Lady Gabriella also released a photo she took of her husband, showing him smiling near a stretch of water in the sunshine.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the King and the Queen had been informed and joined “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,” the statement added.

Emergency services were called to an address in Gloucestershire shortly after 6pm on Sunday, where they found Mr Kingston dead.

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

The hostage negotiator and financier who married into the Royal Family

Mr Kingston studied at Bristol University, gaining a degree in economic history. He was a chartered financial analyst.

His most recent position was as a director of Devonport Capital, which provides finance to companies operating in “emerging economies”.

According to the firm’s website, Mr Kingston’s first job was with the Foreign Office.

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Lady Gabriella Windsor and fiance Thomas Kingston
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Pic: Lady Gabriella Kingston/Buckingham Palace

Groom Thomas Kingston (R) arrives at St George's Chapel

A statement made on behalf of 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.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Kensington Palace said Prince William pulled out of a memorial service due to a personal matter, but his absence is understood not to be connected to news of Mr Kingston’s death.

The Prince of Wales had been due to attend a service for the late King Constantine II of Greece at Windsor Castle.

Lady Gabriella’s parents Prince and Princess Michael of Kent did attend the service, which was held in St George’s Chapel.

Constantine was Lady Gabriella’s godfather and attended her wedding.