Thomas Kingston—a relative of Prince William—had a "sudden impulse" to take his own life after a change to his medication, his wife has told an inquest.
Gloucestershire Coroner's Court heard how Kingston had not expressed any suicidal intention prior to his death, which took place at his parents' home in the Cotswolds, in the west of England.
The coroner recorded a narrative verdict, rather than a verdict of suicide, allowing her to map out a slightly more complex account of the end of his life.
Lady Gabriella Kingston, his wife, submitted a statement which was read out in court: "[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."
"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," Lady Gabriella's statement added.
"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."
Kingston had been prescribed sleeping tablet Zopiclone alongside Sertraline, a "selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor"—a particular type of anti-depressant.
After anxiety, his doctor moved him from Sertraline to Citalopram, another SSRI. However, a medical expert testified that his difficulty with the first drug indicated SSRIs had a bad effect on him.
Dr. David Healy told the court: "We need a much more explicit statement saying that these drugs can cause people to commit suicide who wouldn't have otherwise."
The senior coroner for Gloucestershire, Katy Skerrett, said: "Mr. Kingston took his own life using a shotgun, which caused a severe traumatic wound to the head.
"The evidence of his wife, family and business partner all supports his lack of suicidal intent. He was suffering adverse effects of medication he had recently been prescribed."
The Kingston family's lawyer said they do not blame the doctor who prescribed the medication.
Quoted by the Mail, Martin Porter, their attorney, said: "The family don't blame Doctor Naunton Morgan, she was acting as good doctors do.
"But the question is whether there is sufficient advice to doctors on SSRIs."
Jack Royston is Newsweek's chief royal correspondent based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
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