Ben Duncan, 45, died after falling seven floors from a rooftop bar in London on Thursday, October 30.
15:06, 04 Nov 2025
(Image: Getty Images)
Tributes have been paid to a university friend of the Prince and Princess of Wales who died after falling seven floors from a rooftop bar.
Ben Duncan, 45, was pronounced dead at the scene in London following the tragic accident late on Thursday night, October 30.
Emergency services were called to concerns for a “man on the roof” of the Trafalgar St. James Hotel at around 11pm, reports the Express.
Police and paramedics from the London Ambulance Service were quickly on scene but, despite their best efforts, Ben, who is thought to have fallen 100ft, was pronounced dead at the scene following the incident.
Friends have since said that Ben will be “sorely missed” and police have said his death is not being treated as suspicious.
Broadcaster Mike Hollingsworth wrote on Facebook: “My dear, dear friend Benjamin (Ben) Duncan has left us.
“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.”
Ben attended St Andrews University alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales when they first started dating and was said to be part of their inner circle.
He was one of the first friends to know about William and Kate’s relationship.
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Speaking in 2010, he said: “Because we’d had Will and Kate in our midst, we had royal protection officers swarming the place. We knew that they had hit it off and we knew that something was happening, but they were just left alone to get on with it.”
After graduating, Ben became known to the wider public by appearing in a number of TV shows, including Channel 4’s Big Brother in 2010.
Other shows he appeared in included Come Dine With Me, Ladette to Lady and Celebrity Coach Trip.
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police told the Daily Mail : “Officers responded to concerns for a man on the roof of a building in Cockspur Street, Westminster at 11.02pm hours on Thursday, October 30.
“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 London Ambulance Service spokesperson also said: “We were called at 10:59pm on Thursday, October 30 to reports of an incident on Spring Gardens, City of Westminster.
“We sent resources to the scene, including an ambulance crew, an incident response officer, paramedics in fast response cars and paramedics from our hazardous area response team (HART).
“We also dispatched a trauma team in a car from London’s Air Ambulance. Very sadly, despite the best efforts of our crews, a man was pronounced dead at the scene.”
