Prince William has bid farewell to his beloved former polo teacher at her funeral following her death aged 77.
The Duke of Cambridge attended the service for Claire Tomlinson, a former England national team captain and coach who taught him and his brother Prince Harry how to play polo at Beaufort Polo Club in Gloucestershire.
William joined at least 200 friends and relatives yesterday at the service of remembrance at St Mary's Church in Tetbury, which is located in the Cotswolds a mile away from his father Prince Charles's Highgrove estate.
The Duke attended the funeral with a royal protection officer, but there was no sign of his three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis who would have likely been at home with his wife Kate or at school.
Mrs Tomlinson, who died at home on January 13 after a long battle with dementia, was so well thought of in the polo community that Charles asked her to teach William and Harry at her polo club when they were youngsters.
Her sons Luke and Mark are good friends with William and Harry and were on the guest list for the royal weddings at Westminster Abbey in April 2011 and Windsor Castle in May 2018. She also had a daughter called Emma.
The Duke of Cambridge (left, in Edinburgh last May) attended the funeral for Claire Tomlinson (right, in Chippenham in 2014)
William kisses Claire Tomlinson at the Beaufort Polo Club in Gloucestershire in 2000, where she taught him as a youngster
Prince William with Claire Tomlinson and his father Prince Charles at the Beaufort Polo Club in Gloucestershire in 2009
Prince Charles asked Claire Tomlinson to teach his two sons how to play polo. They are pictured together at Beaufort in 2009
Harry and William were both keen polo players, like their father Charles and late grandfather Prince Philip - and Mrs Tomlinson was credited with much of the brothers' success in the sport, reported the Daily Express.
William is left-handed and so Mrs Tomlinson taught him how to play the sport which can only be done right-handed - and the brothers have since competed against each in other in many charity competitions.
The mourners at yesterday's funeral at the 18th century church included many players Mrs Tomlinson had taught as children, and those leaving the ceremony described it as an 'amazing' and 'beautiful' tribute to her.
She learned how to play polo from her father aged 15 before joining the team at university - where he had to give his permission for her to do so because it was so rare, and at first she was entered under the name of 'Mr Lucas'.
Mrs Tomlinson, whose three children are all senior polo
