Royal decorator discovered hanged after King Charles criticised paint job at Sandringham

Chris Eadie, 56, was found dead at his home in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, on October 10, 2025, after decades working at Sandringham Estate. The coroner recorded mental health deterioration, not suicide

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A decorator for the Royal Family tragically ended his own life after an ill-fated paint job which the King asked to be redone, an inquest has heard.

Christopher John Eadie, known as Chris, was also distraught about dwindling work and was found dead in the garden of his home on the Sandringham estate near King’s Lynn by his partner Joanne. Norfolk Coroner’s Court heard the 63- year-old self-employed decorator had worked at the estate for more than 30 years and took enormous pride in carrying out projects for the late Queen and later King Charles.

His brother Mark said highly skilled Mr Eadie’s “perfectionism” meant he was frequently appointed for “the top jobs” within the Royal household, including painting the bedroom of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

However, in recent years, assignments from the estate dwindled following management changes and the introduction of new contractors – a development that deeply impacted him.

Mr Eadie, during the hearing, described Chris as a “talented perfectionist” who was passionate about his work.

“My brother was absolutely brilliant at his job,” he said. “He had incredible attention to detail and wouldn’t let anything go unless it was perfect.”

He further shared that his brother took immense pride in working for the Royal Family, performing tasks discreetly within Royal residences.

“He was loyal and wouldn’t talk about what he did, but I know he painted William and Kate’s bedroom and even met their children once in the garden. He said they were lovely,” he said. However, one particular assignment left him heartbroken.

Mr Eadie had been assigned to paint a pagoda over a Buddha at Sandringham in colours specified by the King. Despite Chris feeling the colours were “a bit garish”, he executed the task exactly as directed.

Nonetheless, the King was dissatisfied with the outcome and demanded it be repainted.

Mr Eadie revealed that Chris dutifully stripped the structure and prepared it for a fresh coat of paint in new colours chosen by the King, only for the final painting task to be allocated to another contractor.

“After all that detailed preparation, someone else was given the job,” his brother said. “He was devastated.”

The court learned that around the same time, Chris had started losing weight and experiencing loss of appetite, leading him to believe he might have cancer.

Discussions with his sibling revealed his mental state was declining as concerns about both his wellbeing and his role at Sandringham intensified.

His ex-partner, Joanna, portrayed him as a devoted father to his two boys who felt immense pride in his profession and his lengthy service to the royals.

However, she explained that the cutback in duties from Sandringham after years of dedication profoundly distressed him, with the pagoda matter becoming a particular source of anguish.

Six weeks prior to his passing, she discovered him seated alone in darkness at their home and later worried he might have been contemplating self-harm.

In his final days, she told the court he became unusually tender, something she now recognises as his way of bidding farewell.

Police Constable David Norris informed the inquest that officers were summoned to the property after his partner found a note inside the residence and discovered Mr Eadie suspended in a small garden area between outbuildings.

Emergency medical staff tried to revive him after cutting him down but were unsuccessful in their efforts.

Within the property, officers located the handwritten message and an opened bottle of alcohol.

Toxicology results subsequently revealed only minimal alcohol in his bloodstream, alongside elevated paracetamol levels, though insufficient to have been fatal.

A post-mortem examination determined he died by hanging. Medical records showed Mr Eadie had consulted his doctor earlier that year about weight loss and stomach pain, and subsequently started taking antidepressants after reporting anxiety and workplace-related stress. His anxiety medication ran out shortly before his tragic passing on 10 October 2025, and a repeat prescription had not been requested.

Edward Parsons, land agent for the Sandringham Estate, clarified that Mr Eadie was never directly employed by the estate but was among many contractors utilised for various tasks, with assignments allocated based on needs.

Parsons noted that although Mr Eadie had been awarded several jobs in 2025, a decision was subsequently made to not proceed with the work. In his final note, Mr Eadie expressed his heartfelt apologies to his loved ones, penning: “Tell everyone I love them so much. I am sorry.”

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