Harry's ex-Girlfriend's Father Commits Suicide

A dark shadow has been cast over the Jubilee celebrations by the tragic suicide of the father of one of their inner circle.

Charles Harbord, 68, whose daughter Astrid, 30, dated Prince Harry and is a trusted member of the young Royal gang, shot himself last week at his family home in Dorset, the Mail on Sunday reported this weekend.

"It is just so shocking what has happened. I think Charles was very depressed, and it was because of money troubles," a source told the paper.

Ms Harbord and her sister, 26-year-old Davina, were dubbed the 'hardcore sisters' by Tatler because of their rparty-loving lifestyle. Astrid was one of a handful of guests at the Duchess of Cambridge's hen night party last year.

But although the two girls may have projected a millionaire lifestyle, the reality was rather different. In 2010, the family sold their £760,000 home in Wiltshire to move into a rented apartment within Wyke Hall, a converted, Grade II listed manor house after the family ran into financial difficulties.

Astrid told the Mail: "We’re not quite ready to talk publicly about him yet. All I will say is that he was an amazing father. To everyone who knew him he was a legend."

A Dorset police spokesman said Old Harrovian Mr Harbord's death was not being treated as suspicious.

"There are no suspicious circumstances and the coroner is now dealing with this. An inquest was opened and adjourned on May 24 at the Coroner’s Court in Dorchester," she said.

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Tom SykesEuropean Editor at Large

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