A 'friendly and courteous' friend of King Charles died in Wiltshire after it 'appeared he had fallen out of bed', an inquest was told.
During an inquest into the death of Ian Farquhar, who was found dead at his home in Littleton Drew near Chippenham, on March 13 this year, his daughter Victoria and carer Stuart White paid tribute to him.
The 78-year-old was born in Dorset and went to Eton College before joining the army.
He later became the Queen Mother's equerry and was a firm friend of King Charles after the pair reportedly grew close during the early 2000s.
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At an inquest at Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner’s Court on Wednesday, October 23, area coroner Ian Singleton ruled Mr Farquhar’s death was a case of misadventure.
Remembering his life, his daughter Victoria said he had a “huge passion for horses” while his main hobby was hunting.
He was the Master of the Beaufort Hunt for 34 years.
His regular carer Stuart White, who visited daily, said Mr Farquhar was someone who “liked to chat” and the pair would regularly discuss the state of the world.
He remembered him as someone who was “friendly and courteous” and would often tell stories from his past.
Mr White added: “He knew everyone, and everyone knew him.”
During the last years of his life, the 78-year-old was described as unsteady on his feet and suffered a series of falls.
His family believed that he suffered from chronic neck and back pain which led to “extreme drinking” and his carers added that he had a history of alcohol abuse which meant he was often unable to get back to his feet.
On the day he died, he was found on the floor by a carer head down, and appeared to have fallen out of bed.
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It is believed this position compressed his airway and resulted in his death.
A toxicology report found the level of alcohol in his system was over four times the legal drink drive limit.
Coroner Singleton concluded it was unclear how Mr Farquhar came to be in this position, but that it was the result of a 'deliberate action that unintentionally led to death'.
Following the news, Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles, Queen Camilla’s first husband, paid tribute to his friend via the Daily Mail.
He said Mr Farquhar was "as wild as a hawk" in his youth and "always great fun".
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