Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Former Classmate Dies After 100-Foot Fall From London Rooftop Bar

Kate Middleton and Prince William’s Former Classmate Dies After 100-Foot Fall From London Rooftop Bar

Kate Middleton – Prince William – Ben Duncan, a socialite, reality star and university classmate of Kate Middleton and Prince William, died last week after falling from a rooftop bar in London.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police tells PEOPLE: “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.”

Duncan reportedly fell from the roof of the trendy, seven-story Trafalgar St. James Hotel.

“Despite the best efforts from the London Ambulance Service, he was sadly pronounced dead at the scene,” the MPD spokesperson continues. “His death is being treated as unexpected but non-suspicious.”

Duncan attended the University of St, Andrews in Scotland at the same time as William and Kate, which is where the future royal couple’s budding romance began.

According to the Daily Mail, Duncan gave an interview in November 2010 in which she spoke about the prince and future princess as their relationship blossomed throughout college.

“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,” he said.

Duncan was also present at the now-famous campus fashion show, where Kate is said to have captured William’s attention with her revealing outfit.

“It was the end of their first year. I was there, and in person there were a lot of attractive girls,” he recounted. “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,” Duncan added.

After graduating, Duncan went on to appear on series 11 of the U.K.’s version of Big Brother, the final season to air on Channel 4. He was the sixth housemate evicted from the season, which was ultimately won by Josie Gibson.

Duncan also appeared on shows like Come Dine With Me, Ladette to Lady and Celebrity Coach Tri.

Many of the reality star’s friends paid tribute to him online following his death.

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.”

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