RAF veteran died from hypothermia after homeless shelter admin error
RAF veteran who was a pallbearer for Princess Diana before becoming Queen’s personal footman died from hypothermia after homeless shelter admin error left him without emergency accommodation
- **EXCLUSIVE**
- Malcolm Livingstone suffered from PTSD and alcoholism after a tour in Iraq
A military veteran who acted as a pallbearer for Princess Diana before becoming the Queen’s personal footman died from hypothermia while sleeping rough after a mix-up which left him without emergency accommodation.
Malcolm Livingstone – who appeared on photos around the world as he helped carry Diana’s coffin – suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder following a tour of Iraq and developed an alcohol problem.
In November 2021 – when a government-backed pandemic scheme was in place to make sure all rough sleepers were housed – he approached a night shelter in Norfolk on two occasions.
Details were sent each time to a specialist service that was meant to notify the local council but the forms were not completed and a room was not found.
Mr Livingstone was issued with a sleeping bag and blanket but was found dead in a church next to the shelter two days after his second visit.
Malcolm Livingstone (pictured) – who appeared on photos around the world as he helped carry Diana’s coffin – suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder following a tour of Iraq and developed an alcohol problem
Princess Diana’s body is carried by airmen after it was brought back from Paris, to RAF Northolt (Mr Livingstone circled)
Recording a narrative verdict, Norfolk assistant coroner Samantha Goward said there had been ‘numerous missed opportunities’ to help him.
His father, Allan, 75, told the inquest in Norwich his son had been left scarred by his experience during the war in Iraq, where he served as an RAF sniper.
He added: ‘Unfortunately, some time along the way he lost sight of life in general and started to seek solace in the wrong place.’
Mr Livingstone went straight into the RAF after gaining three A-levels in modern languages at school and was posted to the Queen’s Colour Squadron, an elite body which represents the RAF at state and ceremonial occasions.
It was in this role that he was asked to join the bearer party for the repatriation of Diana, Princess of Wales’ body, when it was flown from Paris to RAF Northolt in west London on August 31, 1997. He helped transfer the coffin from the Queen’s Flight to a waiting hearse.
He also served abroad in Kuwait, Cyprus and the Balkans. One of his last duties before leaving the RAF in 2004 was serving as a sniper in Iraq in 2003, the year the country was invaded.
He then joined the Royal Household where he became the Queen’s personal footman. He received several promotions until he was appointed Deputy Sergeant Footman.
He was responsible for managing all the household staff at Buckingham Palace and, for a time, was in charge of the Monarch’s travel arrangements for domestic and overseas tours.
Mr Livingstone acted as a pallbearer for the late Princess Diana (pictured in 1996) before becoming the Queen’s personal footman
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Sapper Jayne Elizabeth Hill (pictured) suffered what friends described as a ‘funny turn’ during a night out at a pub on September 18, 2021
But in 2013 his family became aware that he was ‘drinking to excess’ as a result of the mental health problems from serving in Iraq – although the PTSD diagnosis wasn’t made until 2018.
Two years later he was dismissed from his job and soon after had a serious car accident that left him with multiple injuries.
He entered private service in London and later worked in restaurants in Norfolk but was ‘never quite the same’, according to his family.
He moved in with his father and mother Nancy, 78, in West Winch, near King’s Lynn, but left in early November 2021 and began ‘sofa surfing’ before sleeping rough.
The inquest heard that he approached King’s Lynn Night Shelter on November 9 but was told no rooms were available, despite the Government’s pandemic scheme, Everyone In, under which local authorities had to immediately house rough sleepers.
Details were passed to Merchants Terrace, an organisation run by a housing association, that provides out-of-hours homelessness triage.
But a form to West Norfolk Council was not completed, although an officer did call KLNS to say no emergency accommodation was available.
Mr Livingstone was told to attend the council offices the next day but failed to do so.
He returned to KLNS on November 14 but Merchants Terrace again didn’t inform the council.
Mr Livingston’s body was found in bushes in a neighbouring churchyard on November 16.
A toxicology report found no drugs or alcohol in his system.
Following the inquest on Friday, Ms Goward said: ‘Malcolm died as a result of hypothermia after sleeping outside when he found himself without accommodation which should have been provided under the ‘Everyone In’ government initiative.’
Mr Livingston senior added: ‘The man was not perfect, he had demons. But here was a man, a warrior, a son, a friend who cared so much for others he forgot he was important too.’
Lucy McKitterick, of KLNS, said: ‘He had been courteous and helpful. He was a gentleman.
‘This has become a notorious incident which has stayed with us and taught us all an important lesson.’
A council spokesman added Mr Livingston snr said while there were shortfalls in his son’s care, he accepted ‘everyone did their best’.
He added: ‘We have subsequently improved our procedures to ensure that we have a consistently high standard in our approach to helping people who are at risk of sleeping rough.’
The housing association was contacted for a comment.
Mr Livingstone never married or had children.
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