King Charles’s long-time friend Ian Farquhar was found dead at home by his carer after struggling to breathe, an inquest heard.
The famous 78-year-old hunter was discovered on March 6 at 1:10 p.m. after the alarm was triggered.
At the time he was described as living on the monarch’s Highgrove estate. The inquest heard he lived near Chippenham, Wiltshire.
He was also an equerry to the Queen Mother and even served in the Queen’s Own Hussars, a cavalry regiment in the British Army.
Yesterday, Wiltshire Police said: “There are no suspicious circumstances. »
Ian Farquhar, long-time friend of King Charles, has died aged 78, inquest hears
Mr Farquhar would drive up and dine with the monarch, source told Richard Eden
Mr Farquhar was also Master of the Hunt at Beaufort for 34 years. It is the oldest and largest fox hunt in the West Country. They shared a tribute to him on Instagram
An inquest in Salisbury, Wiltshire, heard that a post mortem showed Ian Walter Farquhar died from postural asphyxia.
This is when the way the person is positioned prevents them from breathing properly.
People can die from it accidentally, when the mouth and nose are blocked or when the chest cannot fully expand.
Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles, Camilla’s first husband and friend, told the Mail’s Richard Eden that the situation was “very sad” and that he had been in poor health for some months.
He described his friend as “wild as a hawk in his youth, but still a lot of fun.” Parker Bowles added that “the Captain”, as Farquhar was called, will be “judged by history as one of the great masters of dogs”.
Farquhar and Charles bonded even further when Prince William briefly dated Rose Farquhar in 2000 after completing his bachelor’s degree at Eton.
The couple met at Beaufort Polo Club in Gloucestershire and she was described at the time as the Prince of Wales’s “first love”.
William and Rose would go on romantic picnics together in the Gloucestershire countryside before meeting Kate at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.
The famous huntsman also served as an equerry to the Queen Mother and even served in the Queen’s Own Hussars, a cavalry regiment of the British Army.
William and Rose (pictured) are still friends to this day, as the prince attended her wedding to George Gemmell in 2022.
They are still friends to this day, as the prince attended her wedding to George Gemmell in 2022.
Farquhar and Pammie-Jane separated and over time they managed to rekindle their friendship, but they continued to live separately.
Mr Farquhar was also Master of the Hunt at Beaufort for 34 years. It is the oldest and largest fox hunt in the West Country.
Fox hunting was made illegal in 2004, but the Hunting Act allows groups to hunt using the animals’ scent.
In an Instagram post, the page shared a video featuring several images of Ian throughout his life and wrote: “It is with broken hearts that we send our love and condolences to the family and friends of our own Captain Ian Farquhar, who piloted us so brilliantly for 34 years and passed away peacefully this week.
“Captain,” as many called him, 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.
“He had an excellent sense of humor and everyone who was lucky enough to be in his company and listen to the stories of his extremely varied and adventurous life, both in the army and in the world of hunting , will keep these memories forever.”
The message said Mr Farquhar’s passions in life were his “dogs, his family and his dogs” and that he was a “true countryman and gentleman”.
The inquest was adjourned to a date to be fixed.
