Jill Dando and her fiancé Alan Farthing's future was ripped away forever when the Crimewatch presenter was murdered by a single gunshot.
The couple had announced their engagement at the beginning of the year and Jill was in the process of selling her Fulham house, ahead of their wedding that September. On the day of her murder, Jill, 37, made Alan breakfast and was returning to her house from his Chiswick home when she was brutally murdered.
Jill's death triggered one of biggest murder inquiries ever seen by the Met Police, which remains unsolved to this day.
As we approach the 25th anniversary of Jill's murder, this is everything we know about Alan Farthing, his relationship with Jill and his strong connection to the royal family.
Television presenter Jill Dando arriving at the Royal Albert Hall (PA Archive/Press Association Images)
Alan introducing Gloria Laycock the Director of the Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science at the University Collage in London (ExpressStar)Jill and Alan, a gynaecologist-surgeon, first met through a mutual friend in 1997, shortly after he had separated from his wife. Not long after, the couple were engaged in 1999 with plans to marry that September. In an interview with the BBC following Jill’s death, Alan said he “couldn’t understand” why she had been killed, saying: “I cannot believe what has happened, I cannot understand what has happened, I do not think for one moment what could go through somebody's mind when they do such a thing to a beautiful, caring and well-meaning person.”
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In an interview with the Daily Mail in 1999, Alan revealed that his fiancé had made him breakfast just before he went to work on the day she was killed. Her body was found by a neighbour just 14 minutes after she was shot on her doorstep - with her keys still in her hand.
Alan, now 60, still works as a gynaecologist, specialising in complex surgery, according to the King Edward VII’s Hospital website. Originally from Hampshire, Alan qualified as a doctor in 1986 from George’s Hospital Medical School, working at a number of London hospitals, before training in Perth and Sydney, Australia.
As well as being Head of Department at the Gynaecological Cancer at Imperial College Hospitals NHS Trust, Alan also has a private practice on Harley Street and works as a part-time consultant at Queen Charlotte's Hospital in West London and St Mary's Hospital, - where Kate Middleton famously gave birth to all three of her children.
The 60-year-old’s medical expertise secured him the role as Queen Elizabeth II’s surgeon-gynaecologist. He initially assisted her previous surgeon-gynaecologist Sir Marcus Setchell, in 2008. Setchell retired from his position in 2013 and Farthing took over the role, assisting other members of the Royal Family.
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One of which was Kate Middleton - with Alan part of the medical team during all three of her births. For Prince George’s birth in 2013, Alan assisted Sir Marcus Setchell and obstetrician Guy Thorpe-Beeston at the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital. Alan returned as part of her medical team for Princess Charlotte’s birth in 2015 and Prince Louis’ in 2018 - alongside a team of 20 medical experts in case of an emergency. In June, Alan was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the 2023 Birthday Honours for services to the Royal Household.
Away from work, Alan found love again, nearly a decade after Jill’s murder, with Dr Janet Stowell, who he met through work. The couple married at a small civil ceremony of relatives and close friends in 2008, In 2010, Janet and Alan welcomed a son into the world, with pictures of them beaming with their baby boy.
Netflix’ new three-part documentary Who Killed Jill Dando? is now available to stream on Netflix almost 25 years later, looking into her murder. Barry George, who was wrongly convicted and served eight years in prison before he was acquitted, features in the documentary. Since then, the hunt to find Jill’s murderer is ongoing.
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