UK NEWS

TRAGIC GAMEKEEPER IS FOUND DEAD AT BALMORAL

TRAGEDY: Balmoral gamekeeper found dead

Wednesday April 9,2008

By Stephen Wilkie

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THE Queen’s head stalker and gamekeeper in Scotland has died on the Royal estate at Balmoral four years after his wife froze to death.

Ben Fernie was found dead in his house on the Deeside sporting estate near the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay’s Birkhall holiday home.

Prince Charles and Camilla, who yesterday undertook a series of engagements in Banff and Moray, were told immediately but a spokesman said it was “strictly a private family matter” and refused to comment.

The faithful aide – who worked for the Royals for more than 10 years – was distraught over his wife’s death.

Jane Fernie, 55, mother of four sons, froze to death in December 2004 after leaving her cottage barefoot in sub-zero conditions.

Ben, who led red deer shoots for many of the Royals’ guests on the 55,000-acre estate, was said to be a much valued member of the Balmoral team.

An estate insider said: “Ben, like his wife, was very popular. He was a favourite with the Royals and the Queen in particular.

“He was an expert shot, a superb stalker with a natural affinity with the deer, the estate and the people who live here.

“Everyone is in shock, especially after the tragic death of his wife. Many people think Ben never fully recovered from that.”

Grampian Police said last night that the death was not suspicious and due to “natural causes”.

Mrs Fernie vanished on the eve of the annual Balmoral Christmas party for estate staff, which was cancelled out of respect.

She was found in the snow near staff cottages and taken indoors but died before an ambulance arrived.

Mrs Fernie is believed to have left her house in temperatures of -9C and was not wearing shoes when she was found.

Earlier, before details of the latest tragedy emerged, Prince Charles joked about schooldays as he opened the new head office of Walkers Shortbread at Aberlour House.

Aberlour House was once the junior school of Gordonstoun, which the Prince attended.

He joked: “At least the smell of old socks is gone from here now.”