An empty bottle of Gordon’s gin, two empty wine bottles and a half empty bottle of whisky were found in Mr Farquhar’s home.

The pathologist recorded postural asphyxia, inversion of the body and alcohol toxicity as the cause of death, which was also adopted by the coroner.

At the inquest, a statement was read out from Mr Farquhar’s daughter, Victoria, who described his love of horses but said that hunts are where his drinking problem began.

“He went to Eton then joined the military and went to Sandhurst,” Ms Farquhar said.

“He became the queen mother’s equerry. He said he was essentially the queen mother’s bodyguard.

“He was a huge lover of horses and would go on hunts where there would be a dinner afterwards.

“The amount of drinking was considered normal for the activity but as time went on we thought he had a drinking problem.

“He would drink a litre of gin and a couple of bottles of wine in a day.

“He did try and stop and he would for a couple of weeks, doctors advised Ian that if he did not look after himself he would die.”

Area Coroner for Wiltshire Ian Singleton recorded a conclusion of death by misadventure.

He said that Mr Farquhar had probably moved off the bed in a “deliberate act” but he had not intended to die.