A GP who was part of the medical team serving members of the Royal Family has been found dead at her home near the Sandringham Estate, with her husband now charged with her murder.
Dr Hannah Cain, 45, who was known professionally as Dr Hannah Terry, was found unresponsive in an upstairs bedroom at her home in Fern Hill, Dersingham, Norfolk, in the early hours of Sunday, October 4.
Her husband, Mark Cain, 45, of the same address, was arrested following the discovery and was subsequently charged with her murder. He appeared before Norwich Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, October 7.
The case remains active, and Cain has not entered a plea. Under UK law, the murder charge is an allegation and he remains entitled to a fair trial. The Crown Prosecution Service has specifically warned that the charge itself is not a finding of guilt.
Dr Hannah Terry was found dead in Norfolk (Image: Getty, East Anglia News Service)
Doctor worked with the Royal Family
Dr Cain was a member of the practice team at Grimston Medical Centre and was also part of a pool of doctors who could provide medical care to members of the Royal Family while they were in the area.
Reports have said she treated members of the Royal Family, including Queen Camilla, when they stayed at nearby Sandringham.
Her home in Fern Hill is just over a mile from Sandringham House, one of the King and Queen’s royal residences. Reports that Dr Cain served the royals were initially made by The Sun and have since been reported by several other outlets.
King Charles and Queen Camilla have reportedly been informed of her death. Buckingham Palace has been approached for comment.
Dr Hannah Terry was a mum of three (Image: East Anglia News Service)
The Norfolk doctor reportedly treated Queen Camilla (Image: Getty)
Court hears details of the discovery
Prosecutor Jackie Hanlon told Norwich Magistrates’ Court that the ambulance service contacted police at 2.25am on October 4.
Dr Cain was found “in an upstairs bedroom not breathing, not conscious”, the court heard, before paramedics attended.
A post-mortem examination found a blunt-force injury to the right side of her head. Prosecutors also told the court that there was an injury which could be suggestive of compression of the neck.
Children were present at the property at the time, the court was told.
Police have not publicly disclosed a motive, and the investigation into the circumstances surrounding Dr Cain’s death is continuing.
Husband remanded in custody
Mark Cain appeared in court wearing a black sweater and spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.
He was not required to enter a plea during the short hearing.
District Judge Matthew Bone sent the case to King’s Lynn Crown Court and remanded Cain in custody. He was due to appear there on Thursday, October 8.
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that Mark Cain had been charged following a police investigation into an incident at the Dersingham property.
Michael Devaney of the CPS said the prosecution had worked carefully with Norfolk Police during the investigation and expressed sympathy for Hannah Cain’s family.
A mother of three and respected GP
Dr Cain was a mother of three and was widely known professionally as Dr Terry.
According to the website of Norfolk Sky Aesthetics, a cosmetics business she ran, she had been a qualified doctor for more than 15 years and had worked as a GP for eight years.
She described herself professionally as a caring and professional doctor who continued working as a GP alongside her cosmetics business.
Her family has now spoken publicly about their devastating loss, describing Hannah as a much-loved mother, daughter, sister, auntie, daughter-in-law and friend.
In a statement released through Norfolk Police, they said:
“We are devastated by the loss of our beautiful Hannah.
“She was kind, generous and loving.”
The family also praised the care she gave to her patients, many of whom knew her as Dr Terry, and asked the public to respect their privacy while they grieve.
Local medical practice affected by tragedy
The death has also sent shockwaves through the local medical community.
Grimston Medical Centre, where Dr Cain was listed as a member of the practice team, temporarily closed following the tragedy. A notice on the practice website referred to “extremely difficult circumstances affecting our practice team”.
The practice has since been working to resume normal services, while colleagues and patients have mourned the loss of a doctor described by those who knew her as dedicated and compassionate.
Dr Cain’s family is being supported by specialist officers, while Norfolk Police continues to investigate the circumstances of her death.
Investigation continues
Norfolk Police initially launched a murder investigation after a woman was found dead at the Fern Hill property on October 4.
Detectives were given additional time to question a man arrested on suspicion of murder before Mark Cain was formally charged.
The subsequent court hearing has established some details about Dr Cain’s injuries, but many questions surrounding what happened inside the family home remain unanswered.
As the case moves to King’s Lynn Crown Court, the investigation remains ongoing and the allegations against Mark Cain have yet to be tested in court.
For Dr Cain’s family, however, the immediate focus is on mourning a woman they described as “kind, generous and loving” — a devoted mother and doctor whose death has left both her loved ones and the local community devastated.