Captain Ian Farquhar dead aged 78: King Charles’ close friend dies at his Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire
KING Charles' close friend Captain Ian Farquhar has died aged 78.
Ian was a longtime friend of the King and also Queen Camilla's and had served as equerry to the Queen Mother.
He was also known as being a celebrated hunter and adept horseman, serving in the Queen's Own Hussars.
It marks another blow to the King as he deals with his own cancer diagnosis and Lord (Jacob) Rothschild died last week aged 87.
Prince William had dated Ian's daughter Rose Farquhar during his gap year in 2000 with the pair having romantic picnics in the Gloucestershire countryside.
Ian had lived on the King's Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire where, for many years, he rented a farmhouse.
Read more on royals
Andrew Parker Bowles, the first husband of Queen Camilla, told the that Ian had been in poor health.
Andrew said Ian had died at Highgrove on Wednesday morning.
He described the man as a "wild as a hawk in his youth, but always great fun".
He said Ian would be "judged by history as one of the great Master of Hounds."
Most read in Royals
Ian was Master of the Beaufort Hunt for 34 years.
In a post to Instagram, the Beaufort Hunt paid tribute to its former master.
The hunt said: "It is with broken hearts we send our love and condolences to the family and friends of our own Captain Ian Farquhar, who so brilliantly piloted us for 34 years and passed away peacefully this week.
"‘Captain’ as he was known by many was loved and cherished by the entire hunting community, as someone who was supportive, kind and always there with excellent forward thinking advice for anyone who asked him.
"He had a wicked sense of humour and anyone who was lucky enough to be in his company and listen to tales of his extremely varied and adventurous life both in the army and the hunting world will hold onto those memories forever.
"Captain’s passions in life were hounds, his family and dogs - of which we know there’ll be a whole pack waiting for him up there thrilled to be in his company again.
"A true countryman and a true gent - he will be hugely missed."
