Charles Anthony Palmer-Tomkinson (born 4 January 1940) is an English landowner and philanthropist, a former Olympic skier, and a close friend of King Charles III. Landowner The Palmer-Tomkinson family owns substantial lands in Leicestershire, in and around Birstall and Wanlip, having inherited Wanlip Hall. Circa 2001, Palmer-Tomkinson sold some land at Hallam Fields, Birstall, to Jelson Builders for development as homes, schools, and community buildings over the following ten years. According to the Birstall Post, in April 2004, Palmer-Tomkinson continued to be a major local notable. In the summer of 2010, he donated £1 million to Longslade Community College (as of 2015 The Cedars Academy) to build The Palmer-Tomkinson Centre for post-16-year-old students. Charles Palmer-Tomkinson owns the Dummer Grange estate near Basingstoke, Hampshire. The late Major Ronald Ferguson and his younger daughter Sarah, Duchess of York were close neighbours at the estate Dummer Down Farm. As of 2006, Palmer-Tomkinson and his wife were living on their Dummer estate. He was appointed High Sheriff for Hampshire for 1994. He is regarded as a doyen of the country set. Olympian Charles Palmer-Tomkinson was a competitor in the 1964 Winter Olympics in the giant slalom and downhill events. Royal connection Charles and Patricia (Patti) Palmer-Tomkinson have been close friends of King Charles III since the 1970s. According to tabloid reports, King Charles III became godfather to the younger daughter Tara. However, she is not listed as a godchild in other more reliable reports. Charles and Diana visited their home in Birchall in 1986. Charles was the then Prince Charles' ski instructor, according to newspaper reports. This connection meant that the Palmer-Tomkinsons steadily accompanied Prince Charles, even after his marriage to Diana, on skiing holidays in Switzerland. In 1988, Patricia Palmer-Tomkinson was severely injured, and almost died, in a skiing accident that claimed the life of one of their close friends, Major Hugh Lindsay, a royal equerry, as well as injuring Prince Charles. Major Lindsay and Mrs Palmer-Tomkinson were helicoptered to Davos, where he was declared dead and she was found to have severe injuries to both her legs and her lungs. Her life was saved by her Swiss guide giving her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. She spent four months in a Swiss hospital. After Charles and Diana separated, the Palmer-Tomkinsons and their children continued to spend holidays with Charles and his family three times a year; in 1994 this royal friendship was instrumental in propelling