Huntsman and friend of royals Captain Ian Farquhar found dead by carer, inquest told
A friend of the King and Queen, Captain Ian Farquhar, was found dead at his home by his carer, an inquest has heard.
Farquhar, 78, an Old Etonian and a renowned huntsman, died at his home near Chippenham, Wilts, earlier this month.
An inquest in Salisbury heard a post mortem examination showed he died from postural asphyxia – when a person’s posture impedes their ability to breathe properly.
He was confirmed dead at his home in the afternoon of March 6 after his carer raised the alarm. Wiltshire Police said that there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.
‘Wild as a hawk in his youth’
Farquhar, the third son of Sir Peter Farquhar, Bt, was considered one of the great post-war breeders of the modern English foxhound as well as an exemplary joint master and huntsman.
As a young Army officer, he served as equerry to Queen Elizabeth, the late Queen Mother.
Andrew Parker Bowles, Queen Camilla’s first husband, told the Daily Mail that Farquhar’s death was “very sad” and that “The Captain”, as he was known, had been in poor health for the past few months.
He went on to describe his late friend as “wild as a hawk in his youth, but always great fun”, saying that he would be “judged by history as one of the great Masters of Hounds”.
Prince William briefly dated Farquhar’s daughter, Rose, in 2000 after he had finished his final exams at Eton.
The pair met at the Beaufort Polo Club in Gloucestershire, and she was described as the now Prince of Wales’s “first love” at the time.
They have remained friends to this day and the Prince attended Ms Farquhar’s wedding to George Gemmell in 2022.
Farquhar was well known as joint master and huntsman of both the Bicester & Warden Hill and The Duke of Beaufort’s foxhounds for a total of 46 seasons. The Beaufort Hunt is the West Country’s oldest and largest fox hunt.
Hunt’s love and condolences
Paying tribute to him, the hunt said: “It is with broken hearts we send our love and condolences to the family and friends of our own Captain Ian Farquhar, who so brilliantly piloted us for 34 years and passed away peacefully this week.
“Captain, as he was known by many, was loved and cherished by the entire hunting community, as someone who was supportive, kind and always there with excellent forward-thinking advice for anyone who asked him.”
The inquest was adjourned to a date to be fixed.
