Prince William's university friend who starred in Big Brother plunges to his death from famous London hotel

"Mr Duncan was at the University of St Andrews with William and Kate when they first started dating. He had been part of their inner circle before becoming a media personality on TV shows, including Big Brother. A Metropolitan Police spokesman told the Daily Mail: Officers responded to concerns for a man on the roof of a building in Cockspur Street, Westminster at 11.02pm 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."

"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."

"As well as the royals, Mr Duncan had a wide network of well-connected friends like Labour grandee Lord Peter Mandelson, Tory Michael Portillo, former WAG Lizzie Cundy and designer Nicky Haslam. Another friend, speaking anonymously, told the Mail: Ben was always the life and soul of the party. 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. It's truly devastating that he's gone so soon."

Benjamin Duncan, a friend of the Prince and Princess of Wales who studied at the University of St Andrews with them, died after falling from the roof of the Trafalgar St. James hotel in Westminster. Officers responded to concerns at 11.02pm on Thursday, October 30; the man fell from height and was pronounced dead at the scene despite ambulance efforts. Police described the death as unexpected but non-suspicious. Duncan was a media personality who appeared on shows including Big Brother and maintained friendships across politics and society, including Lord Peter Mandelson and Michael Portillo. Friends described him as charismatic, recently reclusive, and a sufferer of insomnia.

Read at www.standard.co.uk