Tragedy Strikes Royal Circle as Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Close Friend Dies After Fall from London Hotel
Prince William and Kate Middleton are mourning the shocking loss of their former university friend, Ben Duncan, who tragically died after falling from the roof of a luxury hotel in London. The heartbreaking news has sent waves through the royal couple’s close circle, as Duncan was one of the earliest friends to witness their romance blossom during their time at St Andrews University.
According to Express.co.uk, the 45-year-old fell from the roof of the Trafalgar St. James Hotel on Thursday night. Emergency services were called to the scene after reports of a “man on the roof,” but despite their swift response, Duncan was pronounced dead at the scene.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed the incident, saying, “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. The man sadly fell from height. Despite the best efforts from the London Ambulance Service, he was pronounced dead at the scene. His death is unexpected but non-suspicious.”
A representative from the London Ambulance Service also added, “We were called at 10:59pm on Thursday 30 October to reports of an incident on Spring Gardens, City of Westminster.”
Ben Duncan was known among royal insiders as part of the close-knit group of friends who surrounded William and Kate during their early university days. He studied alongside the future King and Queen Consort at St Andrews University, where the royal couple’s relationship quietly began to develop under the radar of public attention.
Duncan, described by friends as intelligent, charming, and full of life, had often spoken about his time with William and Kate. In a 2010 interview with Express, he reminisced about their early days together at university, saying, “Because we’d had Will and Kate in our midst, we had royal protection officers swarming the place. We knew they had hit it off and that something was happening, but they were just left alone to get on with it.”
He was reportedly one of the first people to know about William and Kate’s budding romance and was part of their inner circle throughout their university years. His passing marks a deeply personal loss for the couple, who have yet to make a public statement on his death.
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At the time of Duncan’s tragic fall, Prince William was in the United Kingdom but departed soon after for Brazil, where he is currently on an official visit for his Earthshot Prize awards ceremony. The trip marks a significant environmental engagement for the Prince of Wales, but sources close to the palace say the news of Duncan’s death has cast a somber shadow over the visit.
Friends of Duncan have taken to social media to express their grief, with one close acquaintance writing, “Ben was the heart of every room he entered. His kindness, humor, and warmth will be missed more than words can say.” Others have remembered him as a loyal friend with a sharp wit and generous spirit.
Those who knew him at St Andrews have recalled his closeness to William and Kate, noting that he was among the first to treat their relationship as something serious, long before the world took notice. One former classmate shared, “Ben was always protective of them. He valued friendship deeply and never sought the spotlight that came with knowing the royals.”
The tragic news comes as both William and Kate are in a period of transition, having recently moved with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis into their new home at Forest Lodge in Windsor. The timing of Duncan’s passing makes the loss even more poignant, as the couple had only just begun settling into what they called their “forever home.”
Though the palace has not yet issued a formal statement, royal sources indicate that the couple are “devastated” by the sudden death of their old friend. Both William and Kate are expected to reach out privately to Duncan’s family in the coming days.
As investigations conclude and tributes pour in, Ben Duncan will be remembered not only as a cherished friend of the royal couple but also as a vibrant figure who left a lasting impression on all who knew him.
