King Charles has spoken publicly about the near-death experience that has stayed with him for decades, recalling the 1988 avalanche that killed one of his close friends.

The monarch, 77, reflected on the incident while hosting members of the Assynt Mountain Rescue Team at the Castle of Mey in Scotland on Aug. 1. The gathering marked the team’s 50th anniversary.

According to team leader Ben Dyson, Charles discussed the dangers of the mountains and his own experience during the avalanche. The King reportedly described the incident simply as “a close thing,” suggesting that the memory remains vivid more than three decades later.

The 1988 Avalanche

The tragedy occurred on March 10, 1988, while the royal party was skiing off-piste above the Swiss resort of Klosters. An avalanche swept down the mountainside, carrying Major Hugh Lindsay, a close friend of Charles and former equerry to Queen Elizabeth II.

Lindsay was reportedly carried around 1,300 feet down the mountain and later died from his injuries. Patti Palmer-Tomkinson, another member of the group, suffered serious leg injuries and was taken to hospital in Davos. (bbc.com)

Charles and others managed to escape the avalanche. After reaching safety, they returned with their guide and a Swiss police officer to help search for the people caught in the snow.

The incident was particularly devastating for Lindsay’s family. His wife, Sarah, was six months pregnant when he died, according to contemporary reports. The tragedy also left a lasting impression on Charles, who had been close to Lindsay.

A Memory That Stayed With Him

Charles’s latest comments also offer a glimpse into why the work of mountain rescue teams has personal significance for him. Dyson said the King was “very appreciative” of the work carried out by rescuers and understood the dangers they face.

The tragedy did not end the royal family’s connection to skiing. Charles and Princess Diana continued to take their sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, skiing in Klosters during their childhood.

Decades later, however, Charles has indicated that his own skiing days are over. During a visit to northeast England in 2025, he reportedly told a Swiss man that he believed his skiing days were behind him.

For Charles, the 1988 avalanche is more than an old royal anecdote. It was a moment in which a routine skiing trip turned deadly in seconds, and the memory appears to have remained with him throughout his life.