A British reality star and socialite, who was college friends of Prince William and Kate Middleton, has died in a shocking fall near a famous landmark in London.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Ben Duncan fell 100 feet, seven stories, from a rooftop bar at an upscale hotel near Trafalgar Square in London's West End.
The 45-year-old was friends with William and Kate at University of St Andrews, where the royal couple started dating.
The Metropolitan Police told the Daily Mail that Duncan's death Thursday, October 30 was "unexpected" but "non-suspicious."
According to the Daily Mail, the Trafalgar St. James, where rooms go for up to $1,300 a night, has plastic screens as a safety feature on its rooftop.
"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," police said.
"The man sadly fell from height. Despite the best efforts from the London Ambulance service, he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene."
"His death is unexpected but non-suspicious."
A well-connected member of British society, Duncan was present at the pivotal moment when the future Princess Kate caught William's eye at a university fashion show.
"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," Duncan recalled in 2010.
"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."
After his college days, Duncan became known for appearing on various reality shows, including Big Brother in 2010.
A friend, speaking anonymously, told the Daily Mail that Duncan was the life of the party, but had recently turned reclusive and suffered from insomnia.
"Ben was always the life and soul of the party," the friend said. "Although he appeared on reality TV shows, Ben's true passions were politics and music."
"In recent years, he had become more reclusive - and had struggled with insomnia," the person added. "It's truly devastating that he's gone so soon."
Duncan's body was found in Spring Gardens, which is a dead-end street nearby Trafalgar Square.
"My dear, dear friend Benjamin (Ben) Duncan has left us," broadcaster Mike Hollingsworth wrote on Facebook.
"He lived life as Peter Pan - the boy who never grew up. He will be sorely missed by his many, many friends, who grew to love his charm, his wit, his infectious laugh and his innate sense of style. The world is a poorer place for his passing. RIP Benji."
