• Kuldip Singh Dhillon was chairman of Cirencester Polo Club, founded in 1894.
• He was friendly with Camilla, the Queen Consort, and later Charles and his two sons.
• His son Satnam was especially close to Harry and William, who played polo.

A close friend of King Charles III and his sons who played polo died suddenly at the age of 72.

Kuldip Singh Dhillon, who was born in India, was the chairman of the historic Cirencester Polo Club, which was founded in 1894, and was friendly with Camilla, the Queen Consort, and later Charles and his two sons.

His son Satnam, a professional polo player and businessman, was especially close to Harry and William.

Kuldip, a property developer who owned a large estate in the Gloucestershire countryside, is believed to have died this week at a family wedding in India.

He was said to be in good health.

Kuldip found himself at the centre of a race row in 2009 after it was revealed that Charles “affectionately” referred to him as “Sooty” due to his dark skin.

The nickname was labelled “disgusting” and “unacceptable,” despite Dhillon’s claim that he took no offence.

Kuldip, who had been friends with Camilla since the early 2970s, said his name was acceptable and said “you know you have arrived when you acquire a nickname”.

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