Kate’s sister, Pippa Middleton (Image: Max Mumby )
Princess Kate’s sister Pippa walked side by side with a lesser-known royal relative who has had a devastating year, as the pair arrived at the .
the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, was among members of the wider Royal Family who showed up to attend the future Queen’s carol concert on Friday evening.
just before the service started.
Gabriella’s brave public appearance came only
This week, a coroner found that Kingston had died from a shotgun wound to the head after suffering an adverse effect to medication prescribed by his doctor.
:
Pippa and Lady Gabriella walking side by side. (Image: Ian Vogler)
The 45-year-old financier was found back in February at his parents’ home in the Cotswolds.
Lady Gabriella, 43, called for greater awareness about the potential side effects medication for treating mental health conditions can bring.
Katy Skerrett, senior coroner for Gloucestershire, read out a statement by the royal, which said: “(Work) was certainly a challenge for him over the years but I highly doubt it would have led him to take his own life, and it seemed much improved.
“If anything had been troubling him, I’m positive that he would have shared that he was struggling severely. The fact that he took his life at the home of his beloved parents suggests the decision was the result of a sudden impulse.”
Lady Gabriella said she believed his death was “likely provoked” by an adverse reaction to the medication he had begun and subsequently stopped taking in the weeks leading up to his passing.
[REPORT]
Kingston had initially been given sertraline, a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat depression, and the sleeping tablet zopiclone by a GP at the Royal Mews Surgery, the inquest was told.
He visited the practice after complaining of trouble sleeping due to stress at work. Kingston later returned to the surgery and said the drugs were not making him feel better and was moved from sertraline to a similar drug, citalopram, the inquest heard.
Mr Kingston had stopped taking medication in the days leading up to his death, and toxicology tests showed caffeine and small amounts of zopiclone in his system.
His heartbroken wife said: “The lack of any evidence of inclination, it seems highly likely to me that he had an adverse reaction to the pills that led him to take his life.
“I believe anyone taking pills such as these need to be made more aware of the side effects to prevent any future deaths. If this could happen to Tom, this could happen to anyone.”
Pippa wasn’t the only member of Kate’s immediate family in attendance at the concert, as their parents Carole and Michael Middleton were also spotted.
For mental health support, contact the on 116 123, email them at [email protected], or visit samaritans.org.