An inquest has heard that a long-serving decorator, Chris Eadie, who worked for the Royal household for more than 30 years, was found dead after becoming deeply distressed following criticism of his work by King Charles III.
Eadie, 63, had carried out painting and decorating projects at the Sandringham estate for decades and was described by family members as a meticulous craftsman who took exceptional pride in his work.
At Norfolk Coroner’s Court, his brother, Mark Eadie, said the King had expressed dissatisfaction with Mr Eadie’s painting of a pagoda on the estate, and the assignment was subsequently given to another contractor.
Credit:Dan Marsh, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
According to his brother, the development left him “devastated.”
The inquest heard that Mr Eadie had previously been entrusted with significant projects within the Royal household, including decorating work in the bedroom of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
His family said he regarded such assignments as a mark of trust and professionalism, and he valued the discretion required in those roles.
However, the court was told that in recent years, the volume of work he received had declined following management changes and the introduction of new contractors at the estate.
His brother described him as a “talented perfectionist” who lived for his craft and struggled with the shift in circumstances.
Mr Eadie was found dead in the garden of his home on the Sandringham estate on October 10 by his partner, Joanna.
A post-mortem examination determined that the cause of death was hanging. The coroner recorded a conclusion of mental health deterioration.
Read Also: King Charles takes the title of His Majesty in historic first Coronation in 70 years (photos)
