All About Lady Gabriella, the Widow of Thomas Kingston and Royal Family Member

Lady Gabriella is the only daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and 56th in line to the British throne

Lady Gabriella Kingston (née Windsor) is mourning the death of her husband Thomas Kingston at age 45.

On Tuesday, Buckingham Palace announced the news and described it as a "great shock to the whole family."

"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,” said a statement on behalf of Lady Gabriella, Martin and Jill Kingston, Joanna Connolly and Emma Murray.

A 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."

Related: Thomas Kingston, Former Boyfriend of Pippa Middleton and Husband to Lady Gabriella, Dead at Age 45

Lady Gabriella, 42, is the only daughter of Prince Michael of Kent, who is first cousins with Queen Elizabeth, and Baroness Marie Christine von Reibnitz, who goes by Princess Michael. She and her elder brother, Lord Frederick Windsor, grew up in an apartment in Kensington Palace and attended events like Trooping the Colour with the rest of the royal family.

Gabriella (who pals call "Ella") went to college in the United States, studying comparative literature and Hispanic studies at Brown University in Rhode Island. After graduation, she began contributing to British publications, according to a royal bio, and later continued her education at Oxford University, earning a master's in social anthropology in 2012.

In September 2018, Buckingham Palace announced that she was engaged to Thomas Kingston, a director at Devenport Capital, and wedding bells rang that spring. Lady Gabriella and Thomas got married at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2019 (nearly a year to the day Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot at the same venue) in a celebration attended by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. The guest list also included Prince Harry, who made a surprise appearance after welcoming son Prince Archie earlier that month.

In a sweet nod to family tradition, the bride wore a Russian Fringe style diamond tiara, which was also worn by her grandmother, Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, and her mother, Princess Michael, on their wedding days.

Gabriella works as a freelance journalist and is currently 56th in line to the throne.

She's also a talented singer — Lady Gabriella released two songs in 2020 to benefit the Playing For Change Foundation, a non-profit that promotes positive change through music.

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Following their marriage, Gabriella and Thomas were frequent fixtures at many royal events. The couple attended Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee festivities in June 2022 and the monarch's funeral that September. Last summer, the pair watched the Royal Ascot with King Charles and Queen Camilla from the Royal Box and stepped out again for a Chanel exhibit at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Thomas previously dated Kate Middleton's younger sister, Pippa Middleton. Although the pair ended their relationship around 2011, Pippa (who is now married to James Matthews) and Thomas remained friends throughout the years. In fact, he and his wife attended Pippa’s May 2017 wedding.

On Tuesday, Lady Gabriella's parents attended the service of Thanksgiving at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle honoring King Constantine of Greece.

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