Lady Gabriella Windsor’s poignant comeback: Thomas Kingston’s widow, 44, stuns at glamorous New York gala as she makes tentative return to the spotlight after her husband’s death

She once donned cheetah print for a ‘jungle party’ at high society nightclub Annabel’s and attended the gallery openings and fashion parties on the aristocratic social circuit. 

However, since her husband’s tragic death 19 months ago, Lady Gabriella Windsor, 44, had retreated from the spotlight, avoiding the kind of glitzy gatherings she would typically have attended with Thomas Kingston, her partner of ten years.

Since Mr Kingston’s death, she’s been surrounded by the family for her public appearances – such as Royal Ascot and Kate’s Christmas carol service. 

However, a recent glamorous appearance at a charity gala in New York showed promising signs that the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, is feeling more confident in going it alone. 

Stepping out in a glamorous turquoise satin gown, adorned with a corsage on the bodice, King Charles’s second cousin looked poised and sophisticated as she attended the 25th annual Foundation Gala at the Plaza Hotel in New York.

The gathering on September 18, raised funds for the Brazil Foundation, an organisation that promotes ‘equity, socio-environmental justice, and opportunities’ in the country.

Gabriella, fondly known as Ella, has long supported the charity, and worked in Brazil, as well as Columbia and Argentina, during her twenties. It’s not her only link to the region, as the royal also specialised in Latin America while working at a PR company.

Wearing her blonde tresses down, and keeping the make-up simple, she smiled while chatting other attendees, signalling a hopeful fresh start. The rare public appearance – amid sparsely being pictured at events like Wimbledon and the Royal Ascot over the summer – comes following nearly two years of heartbreak for Gabriella.

On February 25, 2024, her husband Thomas Kingston, 45, was found dead with a ‘traumatic head wound’ and a gun near his body in an outbuilding of his parents’ Cotswolds home. 

Earlier this year, Gabriella opened up about the harrowing experience, and praised the Princess of Wales in a rare interview as she opened up about working together shortly after her husband’s death.

Gabriella was invited by the Princess to advise on her Together At Christmas carol service last year at Westminster Abbey. 

Speaking exclusively to HELLO! Magazine, the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, and the second cousin of King Charles, said the Princess of Wales was ‘lovely to work with’ and called the royal invitation an ‘honour’.

‘It was such an honour to be involved, and very thoughtful and kind-hearted of the Princess to include me [in the carol concert]’ she told the publication. 

‘I was very touched. She was so lovely to work with, always gracious, very creative and with so much vision and passion for the many charities and causes she supports’.

Gabriella, a singer and songwriter, and the only member of the royal family to publish their own songs, also heaped praise on Kate, and described the annual Christmas gathering as a ‘brilliant idea’.

She told the publication: ‘The Princess’s carol concert is such a brilliant event and idea, to thank and shine a light on hundreds of the most outstanding charities in the UK.’

She also expressed gratitude for having a hand in the project, of which she said her role was ‘to support on the musical side of things, and to put forward artists and ideas’.

The Oxford-graduate opened up about her new role as the patron of the charity Restore The Music.

The foundation supports state school music departments and some of its musicians performed at Kate’s concert last December. 

Founded by equity and managing partner of Elliott Investment, Gordon Singer, the foundation provides top notch musical instruments for schools across the country and has so far helped over 110,000 young people, reported Hello.

‘Music can do so much to help build confidence, imagination and social skills – all of which are, I believe, essential to learning’, said Gabriella in a statement on the Restore The Music website.

‘On a recent visit to a school served by Restore the Music I was dazzled by the student performances, Rachmaninoff on piano, jazz saxophone, drums and Spanish guitar. 

‘They transported us to another place – far from a school classroom. What a stunning snapshot of talent, teaching and world class instruments, funded by Restore the Music. 

‘It is such an honour to serve as Patron to this exceptional charity which creates opportunities for children to thrive through the power of music’.

In February last year, Gabriella’s husband Thomas was found dead at just 45 years old.

His father found him on forcing entry to a locked building after Mr Kingston had earlier visited for lunch with his parents, senior coroner Katy Skerrett said.

Police and paramedics were called to the scene after a member of the family made a 999 call. Police said Mr Kingston’s death was not suspicious.

His now-widow paid tribute to her husband in a joint statement with his family, describing him as an ‘exceptional man who lit up the lives of all who knew him’ – and called his death a ‘great shock to the whole family’.

It was released on behalf of Lady Gabriella, Mr Martin and Mrs Jill Kingston, Mrs Joanna Connolly and Mrs Emma Murray, who said: ‘It is with the deepest sorrow that we announce the death of Thomas Kingston, our beloved husband, son and brother.’

Lady Gabriella released a personal photo she took of her husband, showing him smiling and dressed in a casual pink shirt as he stood near a stretch of water in the sunshine.

The couple married at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in 2019 with Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, the late Duke of Edinburgh, among the guests.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: ‘The King and the Queen have been informed of Thomas’s death and join Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and all those who knew him in grieving a much-loved member of the family.

‘In particular, Their Majesties send their most heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Gabriella and to all the Kingston family’.

Lady Gabriella is the King’s second cousin. They are both great-grandchildren of King George V.

Mr Kingston was a director of Devonport Capital, which specialises in providing finance for companies in ‘frontier economies’.

The Bristol University graduate had also worked in Baghdad, Iraq, working to procure the release of hostages after joining the Diplomatic Missions Unit of the Foreign Office.

He was a close friend of Pippa Matthews – the Princess of Wales’s sister – and the pair were said to have dated in 2011.

Lady Gabriella, who has worked as an arts and travel director for a brand company, is a writer and contributing editor.

She is also a singer-songwriter and released two bossa nova-inspired tracks in 2020 to raise money for charity.

Although Lady Gabriella is not a working member of the royal family, she and Mr Kingston’s family are being supported by the royal household.

Friends of Thomas Kingston were left shocked by his death as they told how he and Lady Gabriella were ‘happily married until the end’.

At the time of the carol concert, Lady Gabriella was said to be a ‘real member of the carol service team’ and influential in choosing the musical performances.

As a singer-songwriter who has previously released a charity single she brought her expertise to the concert.

An insider told the Daily Mail she ‘enjoyed her role within the service and was excited to be a part of it’, while the Princess was ‘incredibly grateful for her contribution’.

A friend added: ‘She was very touched and grateful to the Princess to be asked to contribute to her very special concert. She felt honoured.’

One of Lady Gabriella’s personal touches was helping to engage youth charity Restore the Music, who played to guests as they queued to enter the service.

Polly Moore, CEO of Restore the Music, said: ‘Lady Gabriella is incredibly passionate about music and helping young people find their voice.

‘She has been an ambassador for us for the past five years and often attends our events.

‘When she messaged to ask if I would be interested I said, “Are you kidding, of course!”

‘She was incredibly approachable and a brilliant sounding board in the planning process. She’s the most wonderful person. I’m extremely grateful to her.’

Lady Gabriella helped choose singer Gregory Porter and pianist Rosey Chan to perform a specially-composed lyrical piece that was played alongside a poem read by actress Sophie Okonedo.

Gabriella herself paid a sweet tribute to Kate, as she made the rare public outing. 

Walking side-by-side with Carole Middleton, she was pictured wearing a glittering pair of Kaye’s preferred pieces of jewellery from Missoma. 

The Gold Zenyu Chandelier earrings were famously worn by the Princess of Wales on multiple occasions.

Featuring a gold hoop connected to a splayed fan, they are finished with a trim of delicate gold bobbles, making them both festive and bohemian at the same time. They are plated in 18ct gold and retail for £139.