King Charles III suffered the loss of yet another loved one with the death of retired army captain Ian Farquhar. The 78-year-old, who had been a steadfast companion of the King for decades, passed away under tragic circumstances earlier this year.
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The old Etonian and a prominent figure in the hunting community was a frequent visitor to King Charles' Highgrove estate. Known for his solid bond with the Royal Family, Farquhar’s passing was a significant blow to members of the Firm. The details of his death have been revealed now, months after his passing.
The details of Ian Farquhar’s tragic death
Ian Farquhar’s life came to a tragic end when he was found dead at his home near Chippenham, Wiltshire. According to the inquest, Farquhar had struggled with a drinking problem in his later years. He had died after getting trapped between his bed and a wall, reports The Telegraph.
His daughter, Victoria, revealed that he started relying heavily on alcohol. She told the coroner:
He would drink a litre of gin and a couple of bottles of wine in a day.
Reportedly, his blood alcohol level was 4.5 times over the drink-driving limit at the time of his death. There were empty bottles of gin, wine, and whisky discovered at the scene.
In a statement read to the court, Victoria described how he would often stop drinking for a couple of weeks and then start again, reports Tatler. She said:
He did try and stop – and he would for a couple of weeks. Doctors advised Ian that if he did not look after himself he would die.
Farquhar - who was known as The Captain - was found in the tragic condition by his care worker Beth Gillingham in his home. After he failed to respond to her calls, she went to his bedroom and discovered him in a position where his legs were up in the air above his bedside table, with no pulse. After police were informed, he was pronounced dead at 1 p.m.
The coroner’s report concluded that Farquhar likely tried to move off his bed which led to an accidental fall causing his death. His death was officially recorded as due to postural asphyxia, body inversion, and alcohol toxicity.
Who was Captain Ian Farquhar?
Ian Farquhar was a well-known and respected figure within the royal and equestrian circles. Born into privilege, Farquhar attended Eton and later Sandhurst Military Academy before serving as an equerry to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Victoria said in her statement:
He became the Queen Mother’s equerry, he said he was essentially the Queen Mother’s bodyguard.
Farquhar is understood to have spent much of his career in the Queen's Own Hussars cavalry regiment and eventually reached the rank of captain. His passion for hunting made him a master of Beaufort Hunt, one of the oldest and largest hunts in Britain.
His personal life was also intertwined with the royals as his daughter Rose is known to be Prince William’s first serious girlfriend. The two remained friends even after the end of their romantic relationship. He was also good friends with Queen Camilla and her former husband Andrew Parker Bowles.
The two were among the 500 people who attended his memorial service held on the Duke of Beaufort’s Badminton Estate in Gloucestershire in May. Andrew described him as ‘wild as a hawk in his youth, but always great fun.’
Read more:
King Charles' forgotten love interest: The tragic story of Lady Dale Tryon
King Charles and Queen Camilla's former butler joins Big Brother: Who is Nathan King?
Sources used:
The Telegraph: King’s friend died after getting trapped between wall and bed while drunk, inquest told
Tatler: Farewell, Captain: Ian Farquhar, legendary huntsman and longtime friend of the King’s, died after becoming trapped in his home
