The private funeral of Lady Gabriella Kingston’s husband Thomas Kingston has taken place.

Around 140 friends and family of the financier, whose sudden death left the Royal Family in mourning, gathered at the Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace in London.

Buckingham Palace confirmed the service was followed by a reception in St James’s Palace.

The Prince of Wales, the Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra were among those present, alongside Lady Gabriella and Mr Kingston’s family.

Lady Gabriella is second cousin to the King, who is being treated for cancer.

The monarch was not present and the Queen is understood to have had an engagement at Buckingham Palace.

Mr Kingston, 45, died on 25 February at his parents’ home in the Cotswolds from a “catastrophic head injury” and a gun was found near his body, the opening of his inquest heard.

Mr Kingston’s coffin was brought from the chapel of Kensington Palace, accompanied by close family for the hour-long service which began at 11.30am.

A larger scale memorial service is expected to be held in honour of Mr Kingston in due course.

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

She paid tribute to her husband in a joint statement with his family following his death, describing him as “an exceptional man who lit up the lives of all who knew him”.

Mr Kingston was a director of Devonport Capital, which specialises in providing finance for companies in “frontier economies”.

The Bristol University graduate had also worked in Baghdad, Iraq, working to procure the release of hostages after joining the Diplomatic Missions Unit of the Foreign Office.

Mr Kingston is survived by his father, former barrister Martin Kingston; his mother, Jill Kingston; and his sisters, Joanna Connolly and Emma Murray.

Although Lady Gabriella is not a working member of the royal family, she and Mr Kingston’s family are being supported by the royal household.

William is Lady Gabriella’s second cousin once removed – and they were both godchildren of the late King Constantine of Greece.

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