Captain Ian Farquhar, a close friend of the King and Queen Camilla, has passed away at the age of 78. Farquhar had a long-standing friendship with both the King and Queen and had also served as the Queen Mother’s rider. Known for his expertise as a hunter and horseman, he served in the Queen’s Own Hussars and spent 34 years as Master of the Beaufort Hunt.
This loss adds to the King’s recent challenges, as he is currently facing his own cancer diagnosis. Additionally, Lord (Jacob) Rothschild passed away last week at the age of 87. Farquhar had rented a farmhouse on the King’s Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire for many years, and his daughter, Rose Farquhar, dated Prince William during his gap year in 2000.
The Beaufort Hunt honored Farquhar on Instagram, expressing their heartbreak and sending condolences to his family and friends. They described him as a beloved figure in the hunting community, known for his helpfulness, friendliness, and forward-thinking advice. Farquhar was remembered for his wicked sense of humor and his exciting life in the army and as a hunter. He was deeply passionate about hounds, his family, and dogs, and he will be hugely missed as “a true countryman and a true gent.”
