King’s friend found dead after bed mishap
Ian Farquhar found trapped between wall and bed, alcohol involved
King Charles’ longtime friend and former equerry to the Queen Mother, Ian Farquhar, died after becoming trapped between a wall and his bed while intoxicated, an inquest revealed today.
Ian Farquhar, aged 78 and a former Etonian, was discovered with his legs elevated above his bedside table at his residence, as heard in a coroner’s court. The coroner determined that the retired Army Captain, passionate about horses and hunting, likely attempted to move off his bed.
Farquhar, who rose to the rank of Captain in the esteemed Queen’s Own Hussars cavalry regiment, served as equerry to the Queen Mother, accompanying her to public engagements. His daughter, Victoria, disclosed that he consumed “a litre of gin and a couple of bottles of wine daily.”
A CLOSE friend of King Charles died after he became trapped between a wall and his bed while drunk, an inquest heard today.
Old Etonian Ian Farquhar, 78, was found dead with his legs up in the air above his bedside table at his home. pic.twitter.com/34DpkxOi7V
— Qᴀɢɢ.ɴᴇᴡꜱ (@qaggnews) October 24, 2024
Post-military, he became the Master of the Beaufort Hunt, one of the UK’s largest and oldest fox hunts, and frequently dined with King Charles and Queen Camilla at their Highgrove home in Gloucestershire. The inquest revealed that Farquhar struggled with health issues in recent years, becoming unsteady and reliant on a walking stick, and unable to lift himself after falls.
On 6 March, care worker Beth Gillingham arrived for her daily visit and received no response upon entering his Chippenham home. She found Farquhar trapped between the wall and his bed. Unable to detect a pulse, Gillingham called the police, who pronounced Farquhar dead shortly after 1pm.
The Salisbury Coroner’s Court inquest heard that Farquhar’s blood alcohol level was 4.5 times over the drink-drive limit at his time of death. An empty gin bottle, two empty wine bottles, and a half-empty whisky bottle were found at the scene. The pathologist cited postural asphyxia, body inversion, and alcohol toxicity as the cause of death, a conclusion adopted by the coroner.
Victoria Farquhar’s statement detailed her father’s love for horses and noted that his drinking problem began with hunting activities. She shared that doctors had warned him about the health risks. In 2022, as Farquhar began experiencing falls, the family enlisted care agency Helping Hands for daily support. Stuart White, his main carer, developed a close bond with him and often listened to stories about his past.
White mentioned that Farquhar was often depressed due to his inability to care for dogs and horses as he once did. White was on annual leave when Farquhar died but visited the house to speak to police when notified. Area Coroner for Wiltshire Ian Singleton concluded that Farquhar’s death was due to misadventure, suggesting that while he deliberately moved off the bed, he did not intend to die. Singleton expressed his condolences to the family for their loss.
What Other Media Are Saying
- The Telegraph reports on Ian Farquhar’s tragic death, detailing how the King’s close friend was found trapped between his bed and wall after a night of heavy drinking, highlighting his long-standing health struggles and drinking problem.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
How did Ian Farquhar die?
He died from postural asphyxia, body inversion, and alcohol toxicity.
What was Ian Farquhar’s relationship with King Charles?
He was a longtime friend and frequently dined with King Charles and Queen Camilla.
What was Ian Farquhar’s blood alcohol level at the time of his death?
His blood alcohol level was 4.5 times over the drink-drive limit.
What role did Ian Farquhar have with the Queen Mother?
He served as equerry to the Queen Mother, accompanying her to public engagements.
Who found Ian Farquhar after he died?
Care worker Beth Gillingham found him trapped between the wall and his bed.
