Police statement issued as sudden death of Prince William's friend and Big Brother star Ben Duncan announced
Tributes have poured in onlineBig Brother star Ben Duncan, a friend of Prince William, has died at the age of 45.
Ben appeared as a contestant in Season 11 on the Channel 4 edition of the British show.
According to The Sun, he attended St Andrews University with William and Kate Middleton when they first became a couple.
Before starring on reality TV, he was allegedly part of their inner circle.
Big Brother star and Prince William’s friend Ben Duncan dies aged 45
According to reports, he died last Thursday (October 30) after falling seven floors from the rooftop bar of the Trafalgar St James Hotel in London.
It’s reported that officers from the Metropolitan Police were sent to investigate reports of a “man on the roof” at the five-star hotel.
Despite the best efforts from the London Ambulance service, he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
“Officers responded to concerns for a man on the roof of a building in Cockspur Street, Westminster at 23:02 hours on Thursday, 30 October,” a spokesperson told the Daily Mail.
“The man sadly fell from height. Despite the best efforts from the London Ambulance service, he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.”
The spokesperson added that his death is “unexpected but non-suspicious”. His body was reportedly found in Spring Gardens, which is near Trafalgar Square.
‘So shocked and heartbroken’
Following the horrific news, tributes immediately appeared for Ben.
“So shocked and heartbroken to hear my friend Ben Duncan has passed away. A beautiful soul with a large, fun character. We laughed so much about the silly things in life. God bless you dear Ben. You are a one-off. Thoughts and prayers with all his family,” Lizzy Cundy wrote on X.
“So sorry to hear of this. Sincere condolences,” another person shared.
“I remember him on Big Brother. So sad and sorry for your loss x,” a third remarked.
Ben spoke about his association with William and Kate in previous interviews. He addressed Kate’s iconic catwalk moment in 2002, where she wore a sheer black lace dress over a bandeau bra and black bikini bottoms.
Ben said in an interview, according to the Daily Mail: “It was the end of their first year. I was there, and in person there were a lot of attractive girls. She was in a very daring dress, in a sheer stocking-like dress. He was sitting front row and his eyes were like stalks.
“She brushed by him on the way to the catwalk and things were never the same again – the whole history of the monarchy had been altered.”
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