Camilla's security chief found dead after 'shooting himself' at home

'Deeply shocked': The Duchess of Cornwall

Police Sergeant Richard Fuller, 55, was married with three grownup children.

Camilla and Prince Charles were told of the death while they were on board the yacht Leander sailing in the Caribbean.

A spokesman for Clarence House said: "The Duchess of Cornwall was very saddened to hear of the death of Sergeant Richard Fuller."

His body was found at his home near Calne, Wiltshire, yesterday morning.

He is thought to have blasted himself with a shotgun, rather than a police weapon.

The armed response officer lived with his wife Jill, 45, and their three children, Daniel, 19, who is understood to be serving in the Armed Forces in Iraq, Jennifer, 21, and Stephanie, 18.

The officer, who was nearing retirement, had seemed happy and showed no signs of depression.

A source close to Camilla said: "This is terrible news. She's deeply shocked and upset.

"The Duchess had a good working relationship with him. She is obviously upset for his wife and family."

Sergeant Fuller, who spent 29 years in the force, was in charge of security at Ray Mill House, Camilla's six-bedroom country home. She bought the property, set in 27 acres, after her divorce from Andrew Parker Bowles in 1996 for £850,000.

Despite rarely staying there, she insisted on a round-the-clock team of armed officers, which was led by Sergeant Fuller, costing the taxpayer £2.6million.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Marsh said: "I can confirm that an investigation is taking place into the sudden death of a Wiltshire police officer at an address near Calne.

"The officer was a highly regarded member of the force and will be sadly missed by his colleagues and friends in Wiltshire Police.

"Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this time."

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Sergeant Fuller and his family had moved to the cottage six years ago.

Fredrica Muir, a property manager in her 50s who lives 200 yards from the Fullers' home, said: "I'm absolutely shocked. Richard always seemed to be very together.

"He and Jill are lovely, competent, hard-working people. I feel awful for her and her children.

"I had no idea he was protecting Camilla. He would have been perfect for that - very able and utterly discreet.

"I would never have thought he had sufficient problems or depression to kill himself."

Yesterday, a lone uniformed officer stood watch on the driveway of the secluded white cottage. Sergeant Fuller was Wiltshire Police's chief firearms instructor at its headquarters in Devizes.

In 1995, he received a Crown Court Commendation for the arrest of a man armed with a shotgun who was threatening a colleague.

In 2001, he received a long service and good conduct medal.