THE stepfather of Prince Harry’s girlfriend has been found dead at his Salisbury flat in a suspected suicide.

The body of Christopher Shaw, 76, was discovered by his housekeeper at his rented flat in the Cathedral Close on Friday afternoon. Wiltshire Police have confirmed there are no suspicious circumstances.

Friends told national newspapers he had been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and told he had 18 months to live two years ago. It has also been reported that he was suffering financial difficulties and is believed to have taken an overdose.

Mr Shaw married Cressida Bonas’ mother Lady Mary Gaye Curzon in 1996, and played a big part in the young Miss Bonas’ life before the pair split after six years together when Miss Bonas was 11.

Father-of-three Shaw lived with Mary Gaye at the National Trust mansion, Hinton Ampner in Hampshire and had another large home in Wiltshire as well as a flat in New York. The former merchant banker was known for throwing lavish parties and living a millionaire lifestyle but had dramatically cut back his spending in recent years.

Despite ill-health and financial problems, former Eton head boy Shaw hcelebrated his 76th birthday on New Year’s Day and friends said he had been in good spirits after returning from a holiday in Cuba.

Wiltshire’s coroner has been informed and a post mortem is being carried out.