King and Queen Face Tragic Loss: Inquest Reveals Charles III and Camilla's Friend Died While 'Trapped Between Wall and Bed While Drunk'
King Charles, 75, and Queen Camilla's, 77, long-term friendships have "formed a major component of their lives," and their grief over retired Army Captain Ian Farquhar, 78, who died March 6, likely "hit them hard."
A completed inquest revealed the ex-serviceman drunkenly passed away "with his legs in the air" stuck between a wall and his bed.
His careworker Beth Gillingham found the captain's lifeless, "suspended" body.
Farquhar's daughter, Victoria, shared that her dad developed "a drinking problem in his old age" before adding, "He would drink a liter of gin and a couple of bottles of wine in a day."
The Salisbury Coroner's Court revealed that the famed hunter, and "lifelong" friend of His Majesty had a blood alcohol content nearly five times the legal limit for driving at the time of his death.
According to the pathologist, the cause of death was determined to be a combination of "alcohol toxicity, postural asphyxia and body inversion."
The inquest also noted that the former equerry to the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother had been dealing with health challenges in recent years, requiring the aid of a walking stick. Known affectionately as "the Captain," he was the father of Rose Gemmel, who was once publicly linked to Prince William in his first well-known relationship.
At the scene, investigators discovered an empty bottle of Gordon's gin, two empty wine bottles, and a half-empty bottle of whisky, shedding light on the "extreme" extent of alcohol consumption prior to Farquhar's death.
Farquhar also witnessed the decades-long romance between the King and Queen develop, as well as the scandals their love caused.
"They have had this deep love since they were both very young. We're talking about a 50-year-plus romance," royal expert Darren Stanton dished about Their Majesties.
"They've been in love a long time, and it's been an intense relationship where they've had to overcome a lot. Even looking at pictures of them when they were younger, whenever Camilla was photographed, it's so clear they had this deep intensity for one another, and it has continued to grow," he added.
Stanton continued: "They have the same passion for each other still to this day. During public events, Charles is often looking around and fidgeting when Camilla isn't by his side, which shows how dependent he is on her."
Although both are said to have never stopped loving one another, Camilla insisted on marrying Andrew Parker-Bowles in 1973, and the Prince of Wales went on to wed Lady Diana Spencer in 1981. Both couples divorced in 1995 and 1996, respectively, which was followed by Diana's tragic death in a car crash on August 31, 1997. Charles and Camilla finally married on April 9, 2005, at a registry office near Windsor Castle.
Farquhar is survived by his three daughters.
GBN reported on Farquhar's inquest.