Charles III recalled a traumatic accident that almost cost him his life in 1988 when an avalanche caught the group he was in during a ski trip in Switzerland, resulting in the death of a close friend.
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23/08/2026
by
News to Minutes
O king Charles III spoke about a traumatic experience that lived, an avalanche, where he almost lost his life in 1988. The monarch recalled the story during an event where he received the mountain rescue team from Assynt at Mey Castle on the northern coast of Scotland.
The tragic incident caused the death of a close friend, Major Hugh Lindsay, former Royal House officer of Queen Elizabeth II, and also injured Patti Palmer-Tomkinson, according to The Times.
“[The King] spoke about the fright he experienced in that avalanche, addressing the dangers that the mountains offer,” team leader Ben Dyson told publication. “He said: That was close. Obviously, after all these years, the episode is still very alive in his memory, but this shows him a sense of the valuable work we do and the dangers we face”, the professional explained.
What happened on the fateful day?
It all happened on March 10, 1988, while the royal entourage skied off the demarcated slopes above the Klosters ski resort in Switzerland.
Major Hugh Lindsay fell about 400 metres down the mountainside when the avalanche hit the group, and Palmer-Tomkinson suffered serious leg injuries, the publication said.
The king and other members of the group managed to reach a safe location and later returned to the site with their guide and the Swiss police to rescue the victims buried by snow, the BBC reveals.
Lindsay and Palmer-Tomkinson went by helicopter to a local hospital in Davos, where the major was declared dead.
Marie Griffiths, a witness, said she saw Carlos being rescued by helicopter from the mountain. “As far as I know, he had no injuries. He seemed very shaken; someone said he was crying, but he walked to the helicopter, so he did not seem to have suffered injuries.”.
Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, were also on the ski trip, but they were at the cottage the moment it happened.
Sarah Ferguson, Princess Diana, Charles III in Klosters, Switzerland, 1988 © Getty Images