A POLICE officer who headed the security for Prince Charles' wife Camilla has been found dead at his home.

Sergeant Richard Fuller, 55, was married with three grown-up children.

The Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles were told of the death while on board the yacht Leander during a Caribbean tour.

A spokeswoman for Clarence House said: "The Duchess of Cornwall was very saddened to hear of the death of Sergeant Richard Fuller."

Sgt Fuller, a trained armed response officer with Wiltshire Police, was found dead at his home at Bremhill, near Calne on Sunday.

It is believed he shot himself with his own gun, which is thought to have been a shotgun.

He was in charge of security at Ray Mill House, Camilla's six-bedroom country home at nearby Lacock.

Despite rarely staying there since her marriage, the Duchess insisted on beefing up security to a round-the-clock team of armed officers, led by Sgt Fuller, costing the taxpayer £2.6m.

Part of the increased protection was a guardhouse, which Sgt Fuller used to run, which has an office, lavatories and meeting rooms.

Wiltshire Police assistant chief constable Andy Marsh said: "I can confirm that an investigation is taking place into the sudden death of a Wiltshire police officer at an address near Calne.

"The officer was a highly-regarded member of the force and will be sadly missed by his colleagues and friends in Wiltshire Police.

"Our thoughts go out to his family and friends at this time."

Sgt Fuller had led an exemplary 29-year career and was Wiltshire Police's chief firearms instructor at its headquarters in Devizes.

In 1995 he received a crown court commendation for the successful arrest of a man armed with a shotgun who was threatening a colleague.

In 2001, he received a long service and good conduct medal.