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 can reveal today.

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, shortly after it was revealed that Prince Harry had called an Army colleague 'our little P**i friend'.