An Indian-born polo-playing friend of the King who was 'happy' to be called 'Sooty' by friends including the royals has died suddenly aged 72 at a family wedding in the country of his birth, MailOnline reveals.

Kuldip Singh Dhillon found himself at the centre of a row after it emerged that the then Prince Charles and others at Cirencester Park Polo Club used the nickname considered racist by many.

His controversial nickname, which Mr Dhillon insisted he 'enjoyed', emerged in the press in 2009.  The property developer, who owns a large estate in the Gloucestershire countryside, died in India this week, it is understood, but had reportedly been in good health. 

Neighbours confirmed he had passed away suddenly but his English-born wife Jacqueline and their four children are yet to comment. Mrs Dhillon is understood to have been in India with her husband.

The manager of his 100-acre farm in Gloucestershire, Simon Cox said: 'We can't quite believe it. He was a fit man with no health problems we were aware of. It's a real shock'.

Mr and Mrs Dhillon were in India for a family wedding when he died suddenly on Wednesday. His son Satnam, a professional polo player, has flown out to be with his grieving mother. 

A gardener on the estate said: "His son managed to fly over to be with his mother. It must have been pretty awful for her. We had a call to say Mr Dhillon had died within hours of it happening. As far as we know he just went. No one can quite believe it."