Thomas Kingston, the hostage negotiator and financier who married into the Royal Family

Financier Thomas Kingston, who married into the Royal Family, has died at the age of 45.

He was the husband of Lady Gabriella Windsor, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent's daughter.

The King and Queen have sent their "heartfelt thoughts and prayers" to both families.

Mr Kingston studied at Bristol University, gaining a degree in economic history. He was a chartered financial analyst.

His most recent position was as a director of Devonport Capital, which provides finance to companies operating in "emerging economies".

According to the firm's website, Mr Kingston's first job was with the Foreign Office.

In 2003, he became project manager for a "government-sponsored conflict resolution project in Iraq", it added.

According to The Telegraph, he was a hostage negotiator in Baghdad.

Reverend Canon Andrew White, who spent 10 years running the Anglican church in the Iraqi capital, previously described Mr Kingston as an "exceptional young man", the Daily Mail reported.

In 2006, Mr Kingston joined Schroder's Asset Management in London before moving to Voltan Capital Management in 2012.

He became a director of Devonport Capital in 2017.

Mr Kingston had been dating Lady Gabriella for several years when he proposed on the island of Sark in August 2018.

They married at St George's Chapel in Windsor in May 2019, with the late Queen and Duke of Edinburgh among the guests.

Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes was there too.

The reception was at Frogmore House, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had their wedding dinner.

Mr Kingston was a close friend of the Princess of Wales's sister, Pippa Middleton, and attended her wedding to James Matthews in May 2017.