King Charles, 77, reflected on surviving a 1988 avalanche that killed his friend Major Hugh Lindsay while speaking at the Assynt Mountain Rescue Team’s 50th anniversary at Castle of Mey. He described the episode as “a close thing,” praising the work of mountain rescuers. The avalanche struck above Klosters, Switzerland, on 10 March 1988; Lindsay was swept roughly 400 metres and later buried at Sandhurst. Charles has revisited Klosters in later years and remains patron of the Braemar Mountain Rescue Team.
King Charles Recalls Narrow Escape From 1988 Avalanche: "It Was A Close Thing"
(Getty Images)
King Charles, 77, spoke candidly this week about a near-fatal avalanche he survived in 1988 while marking the 50th anniversary of the Assynt Mountain Rescue Team at the Castle of Mey, the late Queen Mother’s former home near John O'Groats.
King Charles reflected on his 'near miss' this week (PA)
Addressing the volunteers, the King described the episode as “a close thing,” reflecting on how the experience shaped his appreciation for mountain rescue work. Ben Dyson, leader of the Assynt team, said the King referenced the avalanche when discussing the hazards of mountain terrain and the vital role rescue teams play.
Sarah, Diana and Charles skiing in Klosters before the accident (Photo: Getty Images)
What Happened In 1988
On 10 March 1988 Charles, then the Prince of Wales, was skiing off-piste above Klosters, Switzerland, on the Wang run—an area known for its difficulty—accompanied by a local guide, Bruno Sprecher. Most of the party took cover during the sudden slide, but Major Hugh Lindsay, a former equerry to the late Queen and a close friend of Charles, was swept about 400 metres down the slope and was killed. Patricia Palmer Tomkinson, another companion, was injured.
Prince Charles, Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, return to England with the coffin of their friend Major Hugh Lindsay at RAF Northolt (Georges De Keerle)
Charles and Princess Diana returned to the UK with Major Lindsay’s coffin. His funeral took place at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst on 17 March 1988, where senior royals and a regimental guard of honour paid their respects.
Charles and his sons enjoyed skiing together (Tim Graham Photo Library via Get)
Aftermath and Legacy
The avalanche has remained part of public memory: it was later dramatized in season four of the television series The Crown, a portrayal that reportedly distressed Major Lindsay’s widow. Charles has revisited Klosters in subsequent years, including a 2022 visit, and previously holidayed there with his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. Klosters also figured in royal lore when William and Kate were first photographed together in 2004.
Once regarded as an accomplished skier, Charles was long associated with the Klosters area—two local chairlifts were even named in his honour. In February 2025, during a visit to Teesside, he told a Swiss man he met that he believes his skiing days are behind him.
The King continues his connection to mountain rescue services: he remains patron of the Braemar Mountain Rescue Team, a role previously held by his late father, Prince Philip.
“It was a close thing,” the King told the Assynt team, underscoring how the event has stayed with him and informed his understanding of the risks rescuers face.
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